Program: office building Location: Avenue Emile Zola, Boulogne-Billancourt, France     The internationally active architectural firm Baumschlager Eberle Architekten, the client HEDF and the investor Ivanhoé Cambridge are pleased to receive the pre-certification „LEED Platinum“ for the recently opened office building Ardekoin Boulogne-Billancourt (F). Tested according to the standards of the U.S. Green Building Council, Ardeko gained the highest rating level. Location, concept, water consumption, energy consumption, protection of the atmosphere, use of building ma¬terials and interior design were all evaluated. Full-Certification will be made following a period of time the building is in use.     Located in the attractive development area near the Seine, Baumschlager Eberle Architekten won the competition for the “Ardeko building on Avenue Emile Zola. The novelist’s name reflects the aim: to perpetuate the late 19th century city. A perimeter block develop¬ment with inner courtyards has been designed to generate a classical urban feel.How have Baumschlager Eberle Architektenaddressed this familiar motif? The characteristic features of the new development are density and transparency. The site is to be developed along mo¬dular lines with a strong impact being achieved by the height of the buildings. Three office blocks are to be erected here, with noble facades made from Portuguese limestone.     The slender proportions of the southernmost block at the corner of Rue Marcel Bontemps create the impression of a tower, while the other buildings with their stepped upper levels acknowledge the depth of the avenue. The buildings are connected by bridges there¬by creating incisions in the elevation of the ensemble and underline the sculptural feel of the architecture. This stepped effect is achie¬ved at the ground floor level in the form of two gateway situations that draw attention to the common inner courtyard. Here the high density along the road pays off for the occupants of the building in that they benefit from the largely uncluttered green area. Above the imposing entrance areas there are multi-purpose office spaces spanning the facades and the access cores. The working environments here can be developed or adapted to meet the needs of a service economy.     Talking of benefit: Ardeko is one of four buildings in France which received pre-certification according to LEED- standards.