Studios Architecture sets up McKinsey on Boulevard des Invalides

To celebrate its sixty years in France, McKinsey is turning a new page by moving to Boulevard des Invalides in Paris. Boasting 12,000 square meters, this new address, scheduled for completion in 2025, was designed by Studios Architecture, which is also responsible for the programming and interior design, orchestrating a transformation that goes beyond simple relocation to become a statement of identity.

The project reflects the firm's desire to offer its 800 employees a warm, open, and sustainable "home," welcoming both teams and clients. The group's values—inclusion, excellence, and openness—find clear spatial expression here. It's a place to work, exchange ideas, and meet: the building becomes a collective tool, a catalyst for internal life and client relations. To understand user expectations, the agency conducted a comprehensive approach: benchmarking the group's international offices, co-design workshops, surveys, on-site observations, and analysis of actual rhythms and uses. The result is a meticulously planned program: adaptable, open, and capable of sustainably responding to the changes accelerated by the post-Covid era. The nine floors thus prioritize a non-hierarchical structure, driven by flexibility. While individual offices still exist, they can be converted into team rooms. Fixed workstations represent less than a third of the space, leaving ample room for collaborative areas: open spaces with alcoves, multiple meeting rooms, phone booths, and hybrid spaces accessible continuously. On the ground floor, the café becomes a natural extension of the workspaces, complemented by a restaurant facing the inner courtyard. Above, the sixth floor transforms into a daily coworking space, then into an event venue or a private event space to energize the firm's ecosystem. In the basement, beneath the large glass roof, the rotunda acts as a chameleon: training center, auditorium, conference room, or coworking space, reflecting a strong commitment to modularity. The client spaces—the fourth-floor suite, the auditorium, and the premium meeting rooms—extend this focus on hospitality and personalization. The aesthetic approach developed by Studios Architecture creates a refined, luminous, and welcoming environment. The building's Art Deco spirit is reflected in the reception areas and client spaces, while the workspaces draw inspiration from Parisian apartments: natural materials, soothing tones, diffused comfort, and a deliberately inclusive atmosphere. Light, omnipresent, flows freely thanks to the transparent partitions on each floor and between levels. The outside world is invited inside through views, terraces, the rooftop and the inner courtyard, while vegetation plays a structuring role in patios, collaborative spaces and rest areas, extending the domestic aspect of the whole.

The project boasts a comprehensive sustainable approach: bio-based and locally sourced materials, a strong presence of wood, acoustic panels made from recycled PET, chairs upholstered in coffee grounds, and extensive reuse of existing furniture after a thorough inventory. Nothing is merely decorative; everything is deliberate. The Well Gold and BREEAM Fit-Out Very Good certifications confirm the rigor of this approach, which combines well-being, technical performance, and environmental responsibility.

Photo credits: Antoine Mercusot