Motorists who use the A4 on a daily basis can see how the Gridx project has evolved since groundbreaking in January 2020.
With some 42,000m2 of usable space, the construction and property development group Félix Giorgetti is building the largest economic complex in the municipality of Reckange-sur-Mess. The concept is intended to be innovative in Luxembourg and in the Greater Region and is based on three pillars: passion and mobility; gastronomy, art and leisure; work and accommodation.
When unveiling the details of this project on the morning of Thursday 9 June, the managers of the family business used two key words to illustrate the spirit of the future activities on site: synergy and experience. Synergy between the economic players present on the site and an experience that is intended to be unique for individual visitors and communities. The name Gridx evokes the grid that lies at the crossroads of these synergies.
A circular route
Conceived as a circular route, Gridx is spread over three above-ground levels of 1km each, with specific allocations illustrated by key figures, including 1,000m2 of driving and e-sports simulators, 1,000m2 of digital art museum, 1,500m2 of sports area, 1,500 parking spaces in a central eight-storey car park accessible via a two-way spiral ramp.
Car enthusiasts (past, present and future) are a prime target for the site, which has been designed in collaboration with Motorworld, the German brand (a family business run by Andreas Dünkel) dedicated to beautiful cars. A partnership has also been concluded with Mauto, the National Automobile Museum of Turin, which will permanently exhibit pieces from its collection.
Owners of top-of-the-range or classic cars will have access to one of the 200 storage spaces and to craftsmen who can perform maintenance and servicing of the vehicles.
From the general public to business tourism
The general public is also being targeted by what the developers call “retailtainment”--a combination of retail trade, crafts and entertainment. Gridx already seems to be meeting a demand, since 50% of the commercial surface has been pre-booked, including to representatives of the automobile sector (the Losch group, for example).
“What is important is that the product offered is unique and does not exist several times elsewhere in Luxembourg,” says Félix Giorgetti, head of development for the project and representative of a fourth generation that is gaining momentum within the group. “People should have an experience here that should not be that of a shopping centre, which we do not want to be and which we are not.”
In total, 140 units will be dedicated to commercial and craft activities on this site, which is also opening up to B2B and business tourism with, on the one hand, a 140-room hotel, and on the other hand, a 900m2 business centre as well as a 1,400m2 event hall with a seating capacity of 900.
Companies will also be able to set up their teams in the 10,000m2 of office space available in the complex. TotalEnergies Luxembourg has already planned to move its headquarters there.
As for catering, Gridx will include a food hall with 18 food stations and two or three gourmet restaurants. A space will be dedicated to the discovery of new culinary talent.
“We will be working with a large number of tenant partners as well as operating certain functions ourselves,” says Roland Lammar, head of operations for the future centre. “Félix Giorgetti will retain the hotel, the Business & Driver Club, the car park, the business centre and the event centre. Everything else will be rental space.”
A new pillar
Félix Giorgetti points out that the beams that support the mainly concrete structure are made of ArcelorMittal's XCarb steel, which has a reduced carbon footprint.
“The hotel is made up of pre-assembled walls including concrete and insulation for faster assembly, but also a reduction in transport,” the group states. The company is relying on its experience, techniques and choice of finishing materials to reduce energy consumption--the site that will be equipped with more than 4,000m2 of solar panels.
Representing an investment of some €200 million, the project is one of the largest building sites currently underway in the country. It also reflects Giorgetti's desire to add “hospitality” to its range of activities. It had already diversified into catering via its shareholding in Concepts+Partners--which will also be associated with the development of the catering aspect at Wickrange, without being the sole provider.
“We are aiming at least at the Greater Region, but we think that Gridx will be able to spread abroad and that it will enable us to promote the country,” says Félix Giorgetti.
Built on land acquired a dozen years ago by Roland Kuhn (whose company is integrated into the Giorgetti group), Gridx is due to open in September 2024 and will employ 200 people on a permanent basis. The next few months will see the completion of the structural work before the finishing touches are put in place in 2023. Tenants will be able to start taking possession of the premises from March 2024.