Inauguration of Campus Chartreuse, the new headquarters of Pierre Fabre Laboratories

Located at the entrance to Castres, on the approach from Toulouse, this new head office required an investment of €25 million and is a reminder of the company's unwavering commitment to its home region, into which the forthcoming arrival of the A69 highway will breathe new economic life.   

The inauguration of Campus Chartreuse, a 10,000 m² architectural complex that has accommodated over 600 employees since June this year, took place in the presence of Pierre-André Durand, Prefect of the Occitanie Region, Jalil Benabdillah, Vice-President of the Occitanie Region in charge of the economy, Pascal Bugis, Mayor of Castres and President of the Castres-Mazamet Intermunicipal Authority, Pierre-Yves Revol, President of the Fondation Pierre Fabre and Éric Ducournau, CEO of Pierre Fabre Laboratories. During the inauguration, some 400 participants—including representatives from the main businesses in the area—had the opportunity to take a tour of the building, which was designed by Toulouse-based architecture firm Séquences.       

In his speech, Éric Ducournau outlined the project's objectives:

Campus Chartreuse is the product of a threefold ambition: to show our attachment to the Castres region, to endow the company with a head office designed to the highest environmental standards, and to host our colleagues in transparent, contemporary workspaces. We wanted to project ourselves into the future while remaining rooted in our company’s history.

The design of the new head office was entrusted to the architectural firm Séquences, represented by architect Jérôme Terlaud, founding partner: 

We worked closely with the teams at Pierre Fabre to create an architectural ensemble that embraces modernity while drawing its inspiration from history. The site was in fact home to a Carthusian monastery from the 14th century up until the French Revolution. For example, the juxtaposition of workspaces and collaborative areas evokes the Chapter House of a monastery, a quintessential place for gathering and dialog. The patios and gardens, reminiscent of the cloister, bring natural light and fluidity, while encouraging employees to discuss or reflect on their work. Finally, the materials used are raw and sober, such as wood, stone and aluminum, reflecting the purity of a monastery.

The building's interior layout was designed to facilitate exchanges between employees in the same team through open spaces, as well as exchanges between different teams, via fluid and varied paths that lead from one space to another.

The site has been awarded the exacting High Environmental Quality – Sustainable Building (HQE-BD) certification, “Excellent” level¹. Campus Chartreuse uses geothermal energy to regulate temperatures: 37 probes installed in the ground at a depth of 150 meters gather heat in the winter and cool temperatures down in the summer. The site is also equipped with 732 m² of solar panels. This dual system means that the site is largely carbon-free and virtually self-sufficient in terms of energy. The building also makes use of ecologically responsible materials such as the wood used in its structural framework and low-carbon concrete. Last but not least, drought-resistant plant species from the local biodiversity have been planted at the site, to minimize water consumption.

Local companies were contracted to build this new head office: 90% of the design offices and construction companies called upon are based in the Tarn or Haute-Garonne regions. This commitment to short supply chains is illustrated by a highly symbolic choice: the wooden beams in the halls and shared spaces come from the forests of the Domaine du Carla, the company's reception site straddling the municipalities of Castres and Burlats. Other examples of this commitment include the seating in the main meeting and reception rooms, which is covered using denim made in Occitanie, while local leather from Graulhet is used to great effect in the reception hall.

Discover the history of Chartreuse Saïx

Pierre Fabre Chartreuse Campus address: 
Parc Industriel de la Chartreuse
40 Rue Albert Calmette, 81100 Castres

Project supported by ADEME, the Castres-Mazamet Intermunicipal Authority and the Region of Occitanie.

About Pierre Fabre Laboratories

Pierre Fabre Laboratories is the world’s second-largest dermo-cosmetics company and one of Europe’s leading pharmaceutical laboratories. Its Dermo-cosmetics & Personal Care portfolio includes international brands such as  Eau Thermale Avène, Ducray, Klorane, A-Derma, René Furterer, Même Cosmetics, Darrow and Elgydium. Its Medical Care activity covers 5 main therapeutic fields: oncology, dermatology, rare diseases, primary care and family health care.     

In 2024, Pierre Fabre Laboratories posted 3.1 billion euros in revenues, 70% of which came from international sales in 120 countries. Based in southwest France since its creation and manufacturing nearly 90% of its products in France, Pierre Fabre Laboratories employs 10,200 people worldwide. Its R&D budget amounted to 219 million euros in 2024, of which 60% was allocated to targeted therapies in oncology and 35% to skin health and care solutions.    

Pierre Fabre Laboratories’ majority shareholder (86%) is an eponymous humanitarian Foundation. Employees constitute the company’s other shareholder. This capital structure guarantees the company’s independence, long-term vision and contribution to the common good. The dividends paid to the Pierre Fabre Foundation contribute to 35 healthcare-access programs deployed in 22 of the least developed countries in the world.   

Pierre Fabre Laboratories’ CSR policy has been assessed by AFNOR Certification and has been awarded the “Exemplary” level of its CSR label (ISO 26 000 standard for sustainable development).  

For more information, visit www.pierre-fabre.com, @Laboratoires Pierre Fabre, @Pierre Fabre Oncology

Press contact 

Dorothée Kohler

dorothee.kohler@pierre-fabre.com

06 08 09 22 41

1. Certified by CERTIVEA, a COFRAC-accredited organization. Certification was obtained during the design phase and is currently being validated for the completed project.