The Arkinova business generator at Anglet has been unveiled.

The Arkinova business generator dedicated to sustainable construction and planning was inaugurated on 8 December. The unmistakable building, fitted with state-of-the-art facilities can host over 25 specialist companies. Three companies have already moved in.

Three companies have already moved into the Arkinova business generator opened on 8 December: Hiru, C3, and EgileSolution. And their management all laud 'the advantages of bringing together diverse skills in the specialist domain of sustainable construction in the same place, the links created between eco-construction stakeholders in the area, and high-quality facilities.'

Completed this autumn, the new business accelerator is the latest asset to arrive at the Arkinova technology park, which is dedicated to eco-construction and occupies a fifty-hectare site in Anglet. The generator could eventually host over 25 businesses and start-ups, as well as teams from more mature construction companies developing R&D (research and development) projects in the field of sustainable construction and planning, but also teams of architects and engineers working on collaborative projects, and 'spin-off' companies specialised in eco-construction.

Occupying nearly 2,500 m², this light and comfortable building features 550 m² of individual and shared offices and coworking spaces; a 340 m² technical workshop fitted with high-quality digital modelling and 3D printing equipment; and external experimentation platforms. 'The shared spaces are devoted to "open innovation". And as there is no creativity without collaboration, this space is ideal for friendly competition', says Sylvie Durruty, Vice-President of the Agglomeration and responsible for economic development and areas of excellence. Another of the building's strengths is that it completes the on-site training and research provision with an entrepreneurial component. But it also builds bridges between various stakeholders at Arkinova such as ISA BP, Cantau, Nobatek, and the Fédération Compagnonnique des Métiers du Bâtiment [Federation of Construction Professions], and in doing so it creates a real community', continues Claude Olive, the President of the Agglomeration.

Elected representatives of the Côte Basque–Adour Agglomeration, alongside Jean-Jacques Lasserre, President of the Department Council, and regional councillor Sandrine Derville, took turns to praise the benefits of this site in terms of economic development and express their pride in having contributed to financing, alongside the Agglomeration, this new facility.

An original facility in more ways than one. Unlike the two other accelerators within the Agglomeration, at Izarbel and Technocité, the Arkinova business generator will be directly managed by the Agglomeration.

In addition, this unmistakeable building, forming a dialogue between architecture and landscape, is energy-positive. It has been designed to minimise energy consumption with the aim of using less energy than it produces. Its energy-saving qualities have earned it HQE and BREEAM double certification. And its various assets have even been recognised with a prize given to architectural firm Guiraud-Manec for the 'prix de la première œuvre de l’Equerre d’argent 2016' newcomer award.