Safran inaugurates flagship regional site: Safran Toulouse

Safran's regional figurehead

Safran has deep roots in the Occitania region of southern France. It is the third largest aerospace employer in the region, with a strong local footprint represented by the newly consolidated site, Safran Toulouse. Safran Toulouse spans some 25,000 square meters (270,000 sq ft) in the heart of the Andromède business zone in Blagnac. With a total of 1,300 employees, it consolidates Safran's service businesses that had previously been scattered in the greater Toulouse area. Safran Toulouse houses the Group's regional office and several shared services centers (payroll, purchasing), along with Safran Electrical & Power's headquarters and research labs dedicated to 'more electric' aircraft, Safran Engineering Services' headquarters and design department, and local branches of Safran Electronics & Defense and Safran Aircraft Engines. From the laying of the cornerstone to commissioning, the construction project took 19 months.

Fostering cross-functionality and wellbeing

From the outset Safran wanted a building design that encouraged cross-functional collaboration. Architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte designed this office complex as a sort of hub, inspired by modern airports, to foster exchanges at all levels. The three buildings are joined by a common space, the Agora (Greek for marketplace), offering employees a restaurant, cafeteria, fitness center and concierge service

While the interior design is mostly open-space, there are also 90 meeting rooms available to staff. Meetings can be organized between remote sites, using interactive whiteboards. Safran Toulouse features a state-of-the-art environmental design, and has been certified to the HQE NF high-quality environmental standard for service sector buildings.

'In May 2016 we brought together all Group companies under a single brand name, Safran, to bolster our technological leadership and accelerate our growth in France and around the world,' said Philippe Petitcolin, Chief Executive Officer of Safran. 'Our new Safran Toulouse site will help us meet these same objectives, while further expanding our renown. It also strengthens our employees' feeling of belonging to a single enterprise, by breaking down barriers, supporting cross-functional projects and bolstering cooperation in general.'