FM Science and Technology Center Europe

FM's decision to establish its European headquarters in Luxembourg was no coincidence. Not only does the Grand Duchy benefit from a strategic location in the heart of Europe, but the American insurer also found high-quality, trustworthy partners who have supported it for many years.

As Malcom Roberts recalled during the groundbreaking ceremony, the story between FM and Luxembourg began in 2017. That year, the American insurer chose to establish a presence in Luxembourg following Brexit in order to maintain its operations within the European Union.

In 2022, ties were further strengthened following the visit of HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke to the FM Global Research Campus in Rhode Island, USA. At the end of this visit, a memorandum of understanding was signed for cooperation between the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) and FM in the field of research.

Luxembourg was once again able to demonstrate that it is a fertile ground for hosting the future Science and Technology Center. All that remained was to find the right location—and the right partner...

However, FM's construction project had a specific feature: it did not follow the traditional promotional development model. “FM wanted to purchase the land and be free to choose its own builder. Typically, we work in a 'design and build' model, meaning the same company handles both design and construction. It just so happened that we had a plot of land in our portfolio that fit the requirements perfectly: the former Citroën garage site on Rue Robert Stumper in Gasperich. FM was convinced by its potential, and our next goal was to prove we were the ideal partner to build their campus under the best conditions.”

Meeting specifications

Our company’s strength lies in the diversity of our skills and our ability to internally manage a project from A to Z. This versatility and independence are real assets, allowing us to be efficient, responsive, and to ensure maximum client satisfaction. For this project, it was essential to offer FM full control over development and strict adherence to a particularly demanding set of specifications. “Our teams—Asset Management, Development, Special Techniques, and Functional Buildings—conducted a thorough and rigorous analysis of the requirements. Since our own construction standards are already very high, we had no doubt about our ability to meet FM’s,” says Paul Feider.

Aware of the project’s scope and specifics, our experts in functional buildings, developers, engineers, and project managers, accompanied by the Fabeck Architecture firm, traveled several times to the United States, including to FM's Boston campus. These immersive visits enabled them to deeply understand FM’s philosophy, practices, and expectations, ensuring a perfect alignment with its requirements.

It was ultimately during a visit to Ferrero Luxembourg’s headquarters at Findel that Kevin S. Ingram, Senior Executive Vice President and CFO of FM, confirmed—with a handshake with Marc Giorgetti—FM’s decision to entrust us with the development and construction of its European headquarters. “From our first meeting, we had complete trust in the Félix Giorgetti team. Their expertise, knowledge of materials and the terrain, and their experience allow them to execute this project with a level of know-how few companies can match,” added FM COO Randy Hodge on March 17.

"This success is the result of a collective effort, embodying both our family values and our passion for construction!"

Paul Feider, Managing Director, Félix Giorgetti

From the development phase, our teams deployed expert knowledge to ensure perfect control of legal and financial aspects. They managed every stage rigorously to offer tailored support, meeting our client’s expectations precisely while ensuring deadlines and budgets were respected.

A collective success

“In my 35-year career at Félix Giorgetti, I can say this project ranks in the top 10 in terms of scale and complexity. We created a proposal that convinced FM they had chosen the right site and the right team. The trust they placed in us is a tremendous source of pride,” adds our managing director. “This success is built on our open-mindedness, our capacity for innovation, our expertise, our adaptability, our deep understanding of the local market, and our reputation for quality construction.”

And to conclude: “I would like to congratulate all our collaborators for their commitment. This success is the result of a collective effort, embodying both our family values and our passion for construction!”