La LOCO: A New Sustainable Community Hub Opens in Lille's Fives-Cail
La LOCO, a new community space focusing on sustainability, opens in Lille's Fives-Cail area, promoting social economy and collaboration.
Key Points
- • La LOCO inaugurated on June 19, 2025, is a sustainable community hub in Fives-Cail
- • The project repurposes an old industrial site, promoting social and economic collaboration
- • It spans 2400 m² and incorporates eco-friendly building practices
- • La LOCO aims to create jobs and supports local projects, fostering community engagement.
La LOCO, an innovative and sustainable community space, was officially inaugurated on June 19, 2025, in Fives-Cail, Lille, marking a significant transformation of the former locomotive manufacturing site into a mixed-use facility. This ambitious project is spearheaded by ETIC - Foncièrement responsable and aims to foster collaboration among businesses, associations, and engaged citizens.
Spanning 2400 square meters over three floors, La LOCO features a variety of installations including offices, meeting rooms, and shared kitchens, designed with high environmental standards in mind. The building is on track to achieve Haute Qualité Environnementale (HQE) certification and adheres to the E+C- labeling (Positive Energy and Carbon Reduction). Eco-friendly materials were utilized in its construction, including concrete blocks made from 30% recycled aggregates, and insulation sourced from recycled textiles.
The construction phase itself is notable for its focus on sustainable practices, having diverted approximately 13 tons—83%—of projected construction waste through initiatives like the "chantier propre" program. Furthermore, La LOCO has actively contributed to local employment, creating 15 insertion jobs equivalent to 4,400 work hours, and is expected to generate 20 direct jobs. It also aims to support over 140 existing jobs within the social economy sector.
La LOCO positions itself not only as a workspace but also as a catalyst for local projects and social innovation, emphasizing shared governance and participatory building practices. The space is designed to be inclusive, accessible to local residents, and a nurturing ground for young entrepreneurs, strengthening Lille's commitment to a sustainable and socially responsible economy.