Kirchberg District Centre
Kirchberg District Centre is a mixed-use complex in Luxembourg City's Kirchberg district combining a shopping centre, offices, and major public and commercial tenants.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Kirchberg District Centre is a large mixed-use development in the Kiem section of Kirchberg, Luxembourg City. It combines a retail destination known as Kirchberg Shopping Centre with a substantial office complex commonly identified as the Joseph Bech building. The development occupies a prominent position in northeastern Kirchberg, close to Kinepolis Kirchberg, Luxexpo The Box, the European district, and major roads serving the plateau. The centre's retail component is anchored by an Auchan hypermarket, which occupies two floors in the northeastern part of the shopping gallery. The mall opened to the public on 26 November 1996 and was conceived partly to retain consumer spending within Luxembourg rather than allowing shoppers to cross the country's borders for large-scale retail purchases. The shopping gallery has developed into a broad convenience and destination-retail offer, with approximately 66 shops and 16 restaurants reported in the reference material. Its facilities include a later food court and extensive underground parking. The office component is associated with Joseph Bech, a Luxembourg prime minister and early advocate of European integration. Since the office building opened, its principal occupier has been Eurostat, the European Commission's statistical office. Eurostat's presence gives the complex an institutional and international dimension that distinguishes it from a conventional shopping mall. The European Commission planned to move Eurostat personnel to the Jean Monnet 2 building as its existing lease approached its end, while the future use and ownership arrangements of the office space remained separate from the retail operation. Construction began in October 1993. The shopping facilities were completed in 1996, while the offices were completed in September 1998. The main structure is an elongated, five-storey steel-framed building organized around two parallel galleries and a central atrium covered by a glass and polytetrafluoroethylene canopy. Retail uses occupy the lower shopping levels, with offices above and additional office wings along rue Carlo Hemmer. The complex has approximately 3,500 parking spaces in its basement levels. A food-court extension completed between 2008 and 2009 added a dedicated dining area to the shopping offer. Kirchberg District Centre functions less like a standalone consumer brand than like a place-based commercial and civic asset. Its identity is built around accessibility, a large hypermarket anchor, everyday retail and dining, office tenancy, and integration into Kirchberg's transport network. Since December 2017, the centre has been served by the Alphonse Weicker stop on the Luxembourg City tramway, positioned near its Avenue John F. Kennedy entrance. The official office address is 5 rue Alphonse Weicker, while the shopping centre has public entrances from Avenue John F. Kennedy, Circuit de la Foire Internationale, and rue Carlo Hemmer.
History
Kirchberg District Centre was developed as part of the continuing transformation of Luxembourg City's Kirchberg plateau into a major commercial, institutional, and European quarter. Construction began in October 1993. The project was designed as a combined shopping and office complex rather than as a single-purpose retail property, reflecting the area's growing population, employment base, and importance to European institutions. The shopping component was completed first, in 1996. The Kirchberg Shopping Centre and its Auchan hypermarket opened to the public on 26 November of that year. Auchan became the principal retail anchor, occupying two floors in the northeastern portion of the shopping gallery. Contemporary descriptions of the project's commercial rationale emphasized the opportunity to capture Luxembourg consumer spending that otherwise flowed to retailers outside the country. The mall was intended to complement, rather than simply displace, existing local businesses by providing a large-scale retail destination in Kirchberg. The office portions were completed in September 1998. They are collectively associated with the name Joseph Bech, commemorating the Luxembourg statesman and European integration figure. The European Commission became the principal office tenant, using the building for Eurostat. The tenancy helped establish the complex as a hybrid location serving both consumers and international public administration. The office property was held between 2004 and 2018 within a closed-end real-estate fund associated with Commerz Real before being sold to an undisclosed buyer. The retail areas had been acquired by the French retail group Auchan, but the reference material does not identify a single owner for the entire complex. The building's design was led by Martin Lammar of Atelier A+U, working with Lars Iwdal of the Swedish firm arkitektbyrån ab and Murray Church of Hochtief Luxembourg. The principal structure is an elongated, five-storey steel-framed building extending between Avenue John F. Kennedy and Circuit de la Foire Internationale. Two parallel galleries flank a central atrium covered by a glass and PTFE canopy. Shopping uses occupy the lower levels, while office areas occupy the upper levels and additional wings along rue Carlo Hemmer. The building follows the changing elevation of the site, creating different entrance levels on its eastern and western sides. Parking facilities were expanded between 1999 and 2001. The complex ultimately incorporated about 3,500 parking spaces across three basement levels, supporting its role as a regional shopping destination. Between April 2008 and July 2009, a new food court was added to the shopping mall. The extension provided additional dining space and created a more distinct food-and-leisure element within the retail offer. The work was carried out by CBL and designed by Moreno Architecture & Associates. Kirchberg District Centre is positioned among several significant Kirchberg landmarks, including Kinepolis Kirchberg, Luxexpo The Box, the Kubik building, and the European district. Public transport access improved when the Alphonse Weicker stop on the Luxembourg City tramway began service in December 2017. The stop is located in front of the principal Avenue John F. Kennedy shopping entrance. The complex's later history has included changes in office occupancy and property arrangements. The European Commission planned to move Eurostat staff to the Jean Monnet 2 building as the existing lease neared its end, potentially changing the balance between retail and institutional uses at the site. The shopping centre itself remains an active commercial destination, with Auchan as its best-known anchor and a range of shops and restaurants serving Luxembourg City, Kirchberg employees, residents, and visitors.
- 2017
Tram access introduced
[1]The Alphonse Weicker stop began serving the centre on the Luxembourg City tramway in December.
- 2009
Food-court extension completed
[1]A new food court was added between April 2008 and July 2009, extending the shopping centre's dining facilities.
- 2001
Parking expansion completed
[1]The complex's parking facilities were expanded during works carried out between 1999 and 2001.
- 1998
Office building completed
[1]The office portion, later known as the Joseph Bech building, was completed in September.
- 1996
Shopping centre opens
[1]The Kirchberg Shopping Centre and its Auchan hypermarket opened to the public on 26 November.
- 1993
Construction begins
[1]Construction of the Kirchberg District Centre began in October as a combined retail and office development.
Products and positioning
A large, accessible Kirchberg destination combining everyday and destination retail anchored by Auchan with office accommodation serving major institutional tenants, including Eurostat.
shopping centre · 1996
Kirchberg Shopping Centre
The retail gallery is the consumer-facing part of Kirchberg District Centre. It contains an Auchan hypermarket as its anchor together with dozens of additional shops, services, and restaurants. Public access is provided from Avenue John F. Kennedy, Circuit de la Foire Internationale, and rue Carlo Hemmer. The centre is designed for both routine shopping and broader destination visits, supported by extensive basement parking and tram access.
hypermarket · 1996
Auchan Kirchberg hypermarket
Auchan's hypermarket occupies two floors in the northeastern section of the shopping gallery and serves as the principal retail anchor. Its presence gives the centre a large-format grocery and general-merchandise offer intended to attract customers from Luxembourg City and the surrounding catchment area.
office accommodation · 1998
Joseph Bech building
The Joseph Bech building is the name used for the office portions of the complex. It includes the upper levels of the main structure and attached office wings. Eurostat, the European Commission's statistical office, has been its principal tenant since the building opened, making the office component an important institutional presence within Kirchberg.
food and dining · 2009
Kirchberg Shopping Centre food court
The food court is a later extension to the shopping centre's second storey. Developed between 2008 and 2009, it added a dedicated dining area and broadened the centre's use beyond shopping. The extension is located toward rue Carlo Hemmer and forms part of the complex's restaurant and leisure offer.
Brand decisions
2023
Planned relocation of EurostatStrategyBackground
The European Commission's lease arrangements for the Joseph Bech building were approaching their end, while the Jean Monnet 2 building was being developed in Kirchberg.
Action taken
The European Commission planned to move Eurostat staff to Jean Monnet 2.
Aftermath
The planned move could alter the future office occupancy of the Joseph Bech building, although the available reference does not establish the final outcome.
2017
Integration with the Luxembourg City tramwayStrategyBackground
The centre is located in a heavily developed district where public transport connectivity is important for shoppers, workers, and visitors.
Action taken
The Alphonse Weicker tram stop began service in December 2017 in front of the centre's Avenue John F. Kennedy entrance.
Aftermath
The centre gained direct access to Luxembourg City's tram network.
2008
Addition of a new food courtProduct launchBackground
The shopping gallery expanded its dining offer with a dedicated food-court extension.
Action taken
Construction took place from April 2008 to July 2009, adding space to the mall's second storey.
Aftermath
The extension became part of the centre's restaurant and visitor amenities.
Sources2 sources
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