Towards a collaborative and sustainable future
Introduction
Initiated in 2015 and then formally launched in 2020 with a call for projects, the transformation of the NTN Europe site in Annecy is entering a new phase. The foundation stone for the new head office and European technical centre was laid on 10 July. The bearings manufacturer, a leader in the industrial, automotive and aerospace sectors, has decided to modernize this historic site, where the company has been based for over 100 years.
This project is part of a modernisation and optimisation strategy aimed at boosting productivity, entrepreneurship, and interdepartmental exchanges. It is also a further step in the NTN Group’s commitment. to innovation, sustainable development, and local economic growth.
Dominique Lavilla, Managing Director of NTN Europe:
” Our head office, located on a site that is over a hundred years old, is no longer adapted to the company’s current needs or activities. We are therefore going to replace it with a modern building that will meet our current needs and be able to evolve as NTN Europe undergoes future transformations. This project meets our Group’s requirements in terms of reception and working environment, while offering an exemplary design from an environmental point of view “
NTN Europe: a presence in Annecy for over 100 years
A long-standing player in the Annecy region
- In 1880, the Swiss Jacques Schmid invented the first rings and balls for mechanical bearings and founded the company S.R.O. (Schmid Roost Oerlikon).
- In 1894, it registered a patent, then became a supplier to the French naval air arm during the First World War.
- In 1916, the company moved to Annecy to meet the high demand. The factory, close to the station, was ideally located for its electricity supply from Forces du Fier in Brassilly, and its steel supply from the Ugine steelworks.
- In May 1944, the factory was totally destroyed by bombing, bearings being a strategic product in wartime. It was bought and rebuilt by Régie Renault at the end of the Second World War.
- In 1946, S.R.O became S.N.R (Société Nouvelle de Roulements).
- From 1955 onwards, the company enjoyed 20 years of continuous growth. It built many more buildings on its premises in Annecy and set up its own training and further training centre.
- In the 50s and 70s, new production sites were set up in the Annecy area: in Meythet in 1956, Argonay in 1964, Seynod in 1966 and Cran-Gevrier in 1974, where a new logistics centre was opened in 2014.
- In 2007, SNR was acquired by the Japanese group NTN Corporation and became NTN-SNR, and subsequently NTN Europe in 2023.
The company now employs nearly 2,400 people at its 5 sites in the Annecy area, including 800 in Annecy itself, making it the leading industrial employer in the Savoie region. Over the last 2 years, NTN Europe has hired 550 people on permanent contracts in the Annecy area.
A necessary transformation of the site
Over time, changes in the company, the town of Annecy and the lifestyles of the people of Annecy have made it essential to transform the site. Over the last ten years or so, NTN Europe has decided to reduce its industrial activity within the city centre and redeploy it to other sites in the region, with a total repositioning of employees, with the aim of closing it down definitively in the city centre in 2025. With some of the buildings no longer in use, the company has decided to gradually sell off a third of the 11 hectares it used to own and reorganise its activities.
The sale in 2023 of two of the three lots to Cogedim will enable NTN Europe to finance the reconfiguration of the site and the construction of its new head office. It will also encourage the regeneration of a new part of the city, with the construction of 675 homes, a new police station and the creation of new streets, with the reorganisation of traffic flows to relieve the pressure on the avenues leading to the city centre.
The new head office project
Located in the immediate vicinity of Annecy’s old town and open to the city, the building will preserve the architectural character of the area while complying with current environmental standards. Entrusted to the Patriarche agency following a call for projects, this programme is anchored in an approach to integration into the city and eco-responsibility that is of prime importance to NTN Europe.
The new building, with 10,000 m2 of floor space and a capacity of 650 people in the offices, will be able to accommodate up to 850 people using the collaborative spaces. It will house NTN Europe’s administrative departments and the central operational teams of the Business Units, which will be spread over three levels, with easy circulation between departments and floors to facilitate meetings. A Research and Development centre will be attached to and connected to the main building.
Jean-Loup Patriarche, Architect – Chairman of the Design Board at Patriarche:
“Co-designed with NTN’s teams to reflect new ways of working, the new European Headquarters has a simple compact, and durable design, enabling it to meet the challenges of efficiency and resilience. Located at the entrance to the city on their historic site, it was necessary to consider existing urban and landscapes issues before talking about Architecture, and to work in harmony with the city and the neighborhood, to meet the challenges of the moment without sabotaging the future.”
Employees and communities at the heart of the project
Proximity and cohesion are part of NTN Europe’s DNA, which is why the structural choice of the new headquarters was made around the collective. Half of the surface area will be dedicated to workspaces, while the other half will be made up of places for exchanges, which aims to encourage co-activity, the circulation of people, minds and projects.
The workspaces have therefore been designed as ‘neighbourhoods’ to encourage interaction, with nondedicated offices forming living areas. These will be complemented by closed collaborative spaces for 1 or 2 people, bubbles for 4 people, alcoves set back a little further and meeting rooms.
These individual and group workspaces will be connected to a collaborative hall in the centre of the building. A restaurant and cafeteria will be available to employees, while a concierge service will be offered to improve their daily lives and contribute to their well-being at work. Upstairs, an atrium will offer a relaxation area, with bleachers for a coffee or an informal internal presentation.
Outdoor facilities will be available for dining and relaxing, as well as loggias on the upper floors and a rooftop.
Aware of the importance of uniting all its employees around this project, the company’s management is supporting this transformation. A space that can accommodate around twenty people has been set up in one of the existing buildings to present employees with their future working environment, which they are all encouraged to come and try out to get a better idea of what it will be like. They can also take part in a competition to find a name for the new head office and will be also invited to help decorate the workspaces.
Laurent Guiot, Director of Human Resources at NTN Europe, explains:
“This represent a real transformation in the way the company works, which is why one member of my team is now dedicated to supporting this change. In addition to the 150m2 area showcasing these future open and closed collaborative spaces, support for department managers in managing their teams through this transition is also planned.”
An eco-responsible head office
In line with the Group’s raison d’être ‘We make the world Nameraka’, NTN Europe is committed to contributing to a more fluid, mobile and harmonious society, based on a more efficient use of energy. Fully integrated and connected to the city, and designed according to bioclimatic principles, this new headquarters is perfectly in line with this philosophy.
With its wooden façade and bright, open spaces, the new building will also feature an innovative architectural design, in keeping with the Group’s image.
An environment designed for comfort and energy efficiency
NTN Europe has therefore chosen wood as the main material for the construction of this new building because of its many environmental and architectural advantages. Particular attention is being paid to excellent thermal and acoustic insulation, which will provide a comfortable and energy-efficient interior environment. As a renewable resource, wood will significantly reduce the building’s carbon footprint and guarantee excellent energy performance thanks to its natural insulating properties. The warm, natural appearance will blend in perfectly with the surroundings, creating a pleasant and inspiring environment for employees.
The building will also feature a shed roof, an effective architectural solution for maximising natural light and ventilation, while offering a distinctive and functional design. The roof will be made up of a number of sloping solid and hollow roof surfaces, arranged in sequence. A steep glass slope will face north to avoid direct sunlight but provide constant, high-quality light, while a softer solid slope will face south to avoid excessive heat.
This structure will maximise natural light and therefore reduce the need for artificial lighting. In addition, 520 m2 of photovoltaic panels will be installed on the tiled roof, and photovoltaic shades on the car park. All this will enable NTN Europe to reduce its energy consumption by 70% and its CO2 emissions by 380 tonnes a year, making it virtually self-sufficient in electricity for its tertiary activities.
In terms of outdoor spaces, the car park will encourage soft mobility, with capacity for 248 bicycles, while 30% of parking spaces will be dedicated to electric vehicles. The soil will provide drainage for rainwater, reducing demand on urban drainage systems, while contributing to the replenishment of the water table.
Finally, in keeping with its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, the company has decided to green the areas around the building, planting no fewer than 130 trees on its grounds. This will create a pleasant working environment and improve air quality, while regulating local temperatures.
Laying the foundation stone
The foundation stone for the new headquarters was laid on 10 July in the presence of Mr Eiichi Ukai, CEO of NTN Corporation, the Executive Committee of NTN Europe, and numerous officials and guests. The foundation stone was a ‘symbolic’ wall made of recycled wood bricks, bearing the logos of NTN Europe and the Patriarche agency.
This ceremony was also an opportunity for Mr Ukai to plant a Japanese cherry tree, the meaning of which he explains as follows:
“Planting a Japanese cherry tree has a special meaning for us as a Japanese group. These trees are an emblematic symbol of Japanese culture and represent the importance of living each moment to the full. Their blossoming heralds renewal and hope, and this is a promising new chapter for NTN Europe. Beyond its cultural symbolism, this Japanese cherry tree and the other trees that will be planted will create a pleasant environment that will promote the well-being of our employees and visitors. It will also serve as a reminder of our commitment to the environment and our desire to create a lasting positive impact for future generations.”
This event highlights the importance of this new headquarters to NTN Europe and to the local community. The support and involvement of the public authorities illustrates the vital cooperation between the private and public sectors not only to support the local economy, but also to promote environmentally friendly construction practices.
Contacts:
NTN Europe
Nathalie JUBAULT
nathalie.jubault@ntn-snr.fr
