Construction on Jean Monnet II, as the new office block has been dubbed, officially began on Monday at the new site along boulevard Konrad Adenauer in Kirchberg, and partially overlapping the old building’s footprint.

The first phase should open in February 2023, consisting of a 23,800 square metre building with six levels, offering capacity for 2,400 staff. A 23-storey tower will be constructed in the second phase, spanning 12,800 square metres and providing 1,200 work posts.

The €526.3 million new building will be constructed along A energy standards and is expected to meet the Breeam environmental “excellent” standards. It will also include a library, health and medical centres, a shopping centre, conference centre with capacity for u p to 1,260 people and three different food outlets.

The former Jean Monnet building, which was completed in 1975, was closed in 2016 after the discovery of traces of asbestos in the air. Staff were relocated to a temporary building in Kirchberg, and buildings in the Cloche d'Or. At least four people connected to the building have been diagnosed with illnesses related to asbestos exposure.