As sustainable construction gains momentum across Europe, Luxembourg is now home to ekxo, a premium office building that proves timber can be both eco-conscious and commercially viable.
Wrapped in a sculptural white exoskeleton that doubles as both a bioclimatic feature and an architectural signature, ekxo is Luxembourg’s first large-scale timber office building.
“The use of timber significantly reduces construction-related emissions, while remaining economically competitive thanks to a now well-structured supply chain,” said Olivier Vandenhove, development director of office and retail.
Timber also provides speed of construction, adaptability, and long-term value. While initial costs may be slightly higher, the growing maturity of the local timber supply chain is making large-scale wood construction increasingly viable for premium office projects.
Design Meets Sustainability
“The building’s white exoskeleton acts as a passive solar shade and reflects our desire to combine environmental performance with architectural identity,” said Vandenhove. Both a bioclimatic element and a visual signature, it shows how Luxembourg developers are integrating sustainability into commercial projects. In Luxembourg, sustainability in construction is being driven by market demand and regulation.
According to 10-7 Group, a real estate agency, 70% of office transactions in Luxembourg have been for modern, sustainable, and strategically located “Grade A” buildings.
To meet this demand, ekxo aims to achieve WELL Gold, BREEAM Outstanding, and full carbon footprint optimisation, an ambitious combination of standards. “The challenge was to reconcile environmental performance, user well-being, and economic viability,” said Vandenhove.
Positioning for Business and Urban Growth
Nestled among a number of architecturally striking buildings in Luxembourg City’s Cloche d’Or district, ekxo connects new developments with green corridors linking Gasperich and Kockelscheuer parks. Its four defining pillars: strategic positioning, architectural identity, low-carbon commitment, and flexible use, anchor it firmly in the district’s evolving narrative. Modular interiors and landscaped terraces provide adaptable, human-centered spaces, ensuring the building can evolve alongside the needs of its tenants, which include Baker McKenzie, while reinforcing the area’s identity.
Looking beyond ekxo, Luxembourg is positioning itself as a European leader in sustainable office design. “With ekxo, we are taking another step forward. This project could inspire other initiatives, while recognising that the large-scale development of wood remains a collective path to be built,” said Vandenhove.
By integrating timber construction, bioclimatic strategies, and international sustainability standards, it demonstrates that innovation, design, and responsibility can coexist in a single structure. It sets a precedent for the next generation of premium office spaces: locally rooted, globally relevant, and consciously built.
Luxembourg’s office market is undergoing a structural shift toward sustainability, as tenants and investors alike prioritise efficiency and well-being alongside prestige. Leasing activity rose 63% in Q2 2025, with over 70% of transactions focused on Grade A, environmentally certified buildings, according to JLL. Within this sector, ekxo exemplifies how timber construction is evolving from experimental design choice to market differentiator.
Its low-carbon structure, reducing embodied emissions by up to 60% compared with concrete, aligns with EU climate benchmarks and Luxembourg’s ambition to lead the Greater Region in circular, low-impact development. The project’s certification goals (BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Gold) reflect measurable standards rather than marketing claims, signalling a maturing approach to ESG in real estate investment.
Location Anchoring
Yet ekxo’s real influence lies in how it redefines value creation in the built environment. Situated in Cloche d’Or, one of Luxembourg City’s fastest-growing districts, it blends flexible, modular interiors with landscaped terraces that support employee well-being and community connectivity. Firms such as Baker McKenzie, which chose ekxo for its adaptive design and environmental performance, illustrate how workspace quality is becoming a strategic asset in talent retention.
With prime office rents around €54 per m² per month and vacancy below 5%, demand is shifting decisively toward buildings that combine sustainability with economic sense. Ekxo’s success, therefore, is less about architectural novelty and more about what it represents, a case study in how ecological design can drive market relevance and long-term commercial resilience in Luxembourg’s evolving office sector.
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