The project
Built by WO2, the Arboretum was the largest European timber construction site in 2024 – boasting a surface area of 125,000 m² – and one of the first office campuses with an entirely timber structure. Mathis, following a fully prefabricated approach, was responsible for the design, manufacture, and installation of the main structural elements.
The Arboretum represents a remarkable achievement in large-scale engineering and coordination. Completed within strict deadlines and a highly regulated environment, it marks a new era of low-carbon architecture where performance, coherence, and aesthetic appeal blend seamlessly.
The construction of the Arboretum – the world’s largest timber campus – required a total understanding of our building system, which uses solid wood as the primary structural material.
We therefore chose to entrust this ambitious project to Mathis, who fully rose to the challenge. With close collaboration, we brought to life this remarkable office complex of 125,000 m², built with 30,000 m³ of cross laminated timber (CLT) and glue-laminated timber sourced from sustainably managed forests.
Mathis teams advanced simultaneously across the five new buildings, enabling the structural work to be completed in record time.
The key challenge was to maintain the pace enabled by timber prefabrication while upholding to the strict quality standards required for a structure with exposed wood.
Ultimately, the project’s carbon footprint was reduced by half compared to a conventional build, earning the Arboretum the “BBCA Excellent” certification.
© Kamel Khalfi
