Overview

Supermayorista Vital, a leading Argentine company in mass-consumption products, embarked on a bold transformation to reimagine its work environment and spatial presence. The 5,000 m² building, spanning a basement, ground floor, and four upper levels, required modernization to accommodate new work dynamics while honoring its architectural character.

Contract Workplaces guided this evolution through workshops led by their Workplace Management team, shaping the values, behaviors, and culture that would define the new office. Recognizing the symbolic weight of the building, the design emphasized openness, flexibility, and horizontal connectivity. The four-level central atrium became the heart of the project: the “Vital” ecosystem. Each floor hosts plazas or “agoras” that open to the central void, fostering collaboration, interaction, and community.

A sculptural wooden staircase and bridge traverse the atrium, linking levels and creating a focal point for movement, visual connection, and contemplation. The ground floor functions as a vibrant plaza, anchored by a tall tree, circular tiered seating for town hall gatherings, and a large media wall, complemented by a cafeteria that supports multiple functions. Upper levels balance open-plan workstations with quiet areas for meetings, storage, and technical support. The fourth-floor terrace extends the dining area outdoors, with seating ranging from domestic-style furniture to urban-scale concrete elements.

Artistic interventions enrich the environment, featuring works by emerging national artists selected through a federal competition, creating a layered dialogue between architecture and art. Biophilic design, including native vegetation inside and out, strengthens the connection to nature. The renovation of Supermayorista Vital harmonizes corporate identity with a modern, open, and collaborative workspace, elevating employee experience, engagement, and well-being.

It is a vibrant, inspiring, and distinctly Vital office—where design, culture, and human connection converge.

Project Details & Challenges

The Supermayorista Vital project began with a clear understanding of the client’s desire to transform both the spatial and cultural dynamics of their workplace. From the outset, the building’s symbolic importance for the company’s leadership was recognized, and the CEO was actively involved in every stage of the process. The planning phase was guided by workshops conducted by Contract Workplaces’ Workplace Management team, which included sociologists tasked with aligning the company’s values and operational dynamics with the new office design. These workshops helped define the functional and behavioral principles that would shape the project, ensuring that the space would support collaboration, flexibility, and employee engagement.

The design process faced the challenge of modernizing a building that, while of excellent original quality, was constructed under standards and aesthetics of a previous era. The goal was to update the architecture while accommodating new workplace behaviors and integrating contemporary aesthetics. A key design requirement was to create open, permeable spaces that encouraged interaction and visibility, moving away from enclosed, segmented floors. This led to the reorganization of circulation around the central four-level atrium, which became the heart of the “Vital” ecosystem. Plazas or “agoras” on each floor were designed to open to the atrium, promoting informal gatherings, collaboration, and social interaction.

One of the most technically demanding aspects of the project was the construction of the large wooden staircase and connecting bridge. These elements were designed to traverse multiple levels, connecting previously isolated work areas while providing both functional circulation and points for visual connection. Their installation required careful structural planning to integrate with the original building framework, ensuring stability without compromising the spatial openness.

The project also addressed diverse user needs by creating a multi-functional ground floor, which includes a central plaza with a tall tree, circular tiered seating for townhall-style gatherings, a large media wall, and a cafeteria to support different functions. Upper levels combine open-plan workstations with quieter, supportive areas such as meeting rooms, storage, lockers, and technical support zones. The fourth-floor terrace was designed as an extension of the dining area, accommodating a variety of exterior furniture that ranged from domestic-scale pieces to urban-scale concrete elements.

Additional design considerations included the integration of art, which was curated through a federal competition featuring emerging national artists. These works were distributed throughout the building, enriching the user experience and establishing a dialogue between architecture and art. The project also incorporated biophilic elements, with native vegetation both indoors and outdoors, reinforcing a sense of connection to nature.

Throughout the project, close collaboration with the client and iterative workshops were key to addressing unexpected challenges, including aligning the structural modifications for the staircase and bridge with the existing architecture and maintaining the original character of the building. The careful balance between preserving historical elements, introducing new structural features, and creating open, collaborative spaces exemplifies the project’s complexity and innovative approach.

The renovation successfully modernized the building while transforming workplace culture, aligning corporate values with a dynamic, open, and collaborative environment.

Key Products 

Equipment – Interieur Forma

Carpets – Atlantis

Wood Paneling – Patagonia Flooring

Lighting Fixtures – Signify & Emporio de Luz

Overall Project Results

At the heart of the building lies the four-level central atrium, the “Vital” ecosystem, which establishes a visual and social axis connecting every floor. Plazas or “agoras” open to the void at each level, creating layered moments of encounter and informal gathering. This vertical openness allows employees to engage with one another across floors, fostering interaction, curiosity, and serendipitous connections. 

The ground floor functions as a central plaza and social heart, centered around a tall tree and circular tiered seating that invites assemblies, townhall-style meetings, and casual exchange. A large media wall and an adaptable cafeteria complement the space, enabling flexibility for diverse functions and daily interactions. Upper levels balance active collaborative zones with quieter, supportive areas, including open-plan workstations, meeting rooms, lockers, storage, and technical support, ensuring both focus and connectivity. The fourth-floor terrace extends the dining area outdoors, featuring a mix of domestic-style furniture and urban-scale concrete elements, offering spaces for reflection, informal gatherings, and a tangible connection to nature.

Art is interwoven throughout the office, curated from emerging national artists through a federal competition, generating visual dialogue and enriching the spatial narrative. Native vegetation, both inside and outside, further reinforces biophilic principles, connecting employees with the natural world and enhancing sensory engagement.

Ultimately, Supermayorista Vital embodies a workspace that is alive with energy, creativity, and movement. Standout features—the central atrium, sculptural staircase and bridge, terraces, plazas, and curated art—create memorable experiences, elevating daily routines into moments of inspiration. By harmonizing architectural innovation, cultural expression, and human-centered design, the project has not only modernized the building but also transformed the way employees inhabit, interact with, and experience their workplace. The result is a distinctly Vital office: open, flexible, and vibrant, where design and culture converge to support collaboration, well-being, and enduring organizational identity.

Meet the Design Team

Contract Workplaces

Photography

Andrés Negroni

The post A Living Atrium: How Contract Workplaces Transformed Supermayorista Vital into a Vibrant, Connected Ecosystem appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Puma, one of the world’s leading sports brands, continues to grow in Argentina with the complete renovation of its headquarters in Pilar, a suburban area of Buenos Aires known for its accessibility and improved quality of life. The project aimed to transform an existing building into a dynamic workspace aligned with Puma’s Forever Faster brand philosophy and thetowncompany’s evolving work culture.

To achieve this, Puma partnered with Contract Workplaces to carry out a comprehensive redesign that would reflect its identity, support new ways of working, and promote a more agile, collaborative, and attractive environment for its employees. A key challenge was adapting the existing structure to new workplace models without major structural changes.

The goal was to merge collaborative, operational, and social areas in a seamless, fluid way that would enhance the employee experience.

The design process was grounded in a deep understanding of Puma’s needs, moving beyond aesthetics to address organizational and cultural shifts. This included rethinking space usage, integrating flexibility, and focusing on employee wellbeing. Strategic interventions prioritized natural light, acoustic comfort, and open, connected spaces that encourage interaction and creativity.

With over 1,600 m² of redesigned space, the new headquarters incorporates standout features such as a central Town Hall, flexible work areas, reconfigured restrooms, and dedicated collaboration zones on every floor. These elements not only support day-to-day operations but also strengthen team engagement and express the brand’s identity in a physical form.

The result is a workplace that is modern, functional, and inspiring—one that celebrates Puma’s culture and propels it into the future with a strong visual and spatial narrative.

Project Details & Challenges

The redesign of Puma Argentina’s headquarters involved transforming an existing building in Pilar, Buenos Aires Province, into a workspace aligned with new ways of working—without making major structural changes. One of the main challenges was to integrate collaborative, operational, and social areas harmoniously while enhancing flow and the overall user experience. The project was based on an in-depth understanding of the company’s past limitations and the cultural and organizational shifts it needed to accompany.

The architectural design, led by Contract Workplaces, centered around three key ideas: using space to motivate, conveying dynamism through spatial configuration, and evoking the brand’s history and essence. A central feature of the project is the Town Hall—a multifunctional, tech-equipped space on the ground floor that connects directly to the cafeteria and the exterior patio. It serves as the heart of the office, supporting both institutional events and hybrid meetings, and improving interaction between teams.

Also located on the ground floor is an operational area integrated into the overall program. The upper levels follow a base structure tailored to each floor’s functional needs. Workstations are placed along the perimeter, following the building’s curved façade, while meeting rooms and “office for a day” spaces are concentrated near the service core. Each floor includes a coffee point and adjacent collaborative areas designed for rest, social interaction, and teamwork. These areas are acoustically and visually separated from workstations by phone booths. On the third floor, a boardroom and the CEO’s office were designed to host visitors and project a strong institutional image. The restrooms were entirely reconfigured, replacing gender-separated areas with individual, unisex stalls that optimize space and allowed room for storage and other operational functions.

The material palette played a crucial role in reflecting the urban, sporty spirit of the brand. A wide color range was used to stimulate the environment, while more subdued tones in the reception and Town Hall allowed brand elements to stand out. Graphics were drawn from Puma’s visual identity but subtly applied to avoid replicating retail formats.

Furniture selection was essential for both functionality and aesthetics, with pieces by Interieur Forma, Crotti, Giuliani, and Fauna. Acoustic comfort—especially in phone booths and focus areas—was addressed with custom solutions from Ruido Blanco. Lighting, supplied by Indigo Lumieres, was designed to create flexible and pleasant environments throughout the workspace. Technical elements were supported by Atlantis, who developed custom welded architectural details.

Technology was another key component. The Town Hall includes a large video wall that enables impactful communication, while meeting rooms feature plug & play videoconferencing tools to ensure smooth hybrid interactions.

Finally, natural light, ventilation, and exterior views were prioritized, alongside acoustic control, to improve employee wellbeing and promote a healthy, sustainable work environment.

Overall Project Results

The redesign of Puma Argentina’s offices successfully met the challenge of transforming an existing structure into a workspace that reflects the company’s brand identity and supports new ways of working. By focusing on the limitations of the previous office, the project offered a superior, more flexible solution aligned with Puma’s goals for agility, collaboration, and employee engagement. 

One of the most impactful outcomes was the creation of a layout that promotes a fluid connection between collaborative, operational, and social spaces, enhancing the user experience and enabling greater team interaction. The Town Hall, a central space equipped with advanced technology, became a standout feature—serving not only as a multifunctional hub for meetings and events but also as a connector between indoor and outdoor areas, fostering a sense of openness and community. 

Material and color choices played a key role in shaping a stimulating and emotionally positive environment, while graphic interventions subtly reinforced brand identity without relying on retail-style repetition. The complete redesign of restrooms, shifting from gendered divisions to individual stalls, improved both functionality and spatial efficiency. 

The result is a workspace that authentically expresses Puma’s Forever Faster culture, enhancing productivity and wellbeing while aligning with sustainable design practices. The project has not only elevated the day-to-day experience of its users but also reinforced Puma’s position as an employer committed to innovation, flexibility, and the evolving needs of its workforce.

Main Contributors:

Design & Construction: Contract Workplaces

Furniture: Interieur Forma, Crotti, Giuliani, Fauna

Lighting: Indigo Lumieres, Emporio de Luz, DIAlux

Acoustics: Ruido Blanco

Welding: Atlantis

The design and construction of the project were led by Contract Workplaces, a company specializing in workplace strategy and architecture across Latin America.

Photography

Andrés Negroni

The post Puma Argentina’s New HQ Champions Agility, Brand Identity, and Employee Wellbeing appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Albemarle, one of the world’s largest lithium producers, has been operating in Chile for over 40 years. When the company decided to search for a new location to relocate its offices in Santiago, the choice fell on Tower 1 of the Mercado Urbano Tobalaba (MUT) in the Las Condes district. The building, part of a mixed-use complex, meets the company’s needs and values: a sustainable environment conducive to collaboration that promotes well-being, encourages a healthy lifestyle, and offers a wide variety of dining options and services.

The new headquarters, entirely developed by Contract Workplaces, spans an area of 1,875 m² distributed over two floors.

The 9th floor was designated exclusively for meeting and training rooms, complemented by a Work Coffee designed as a versatile space to encourage interaction. The 10th floor houses private offices, meeting rooms, and operational workstations arranged in an open-plan layout. The heart of the project is a large central plaza that, like lithium, acts as an energy generator that empowers and motivates the work team. Both levels are connected by an internal staircase that ensures smooth circulation between spaces.

Project Details & Challenges

The project represents a challenge successfully met: projecting a corporate image aligned with the company’s identity. Inspired by the Atacama salt desert and its vernacular architecture, the design offers a diversity of spacious areas interconnected through a journey that includes multiple perspectives.

The project’s aesthetics drew inspiration from the landscape of northern Chile, incorporating elements that evoke its vegetation, local colors, and textures, as well as the hues of the evaporation ponds. The hexagonal structure of molecular salt — the foundation for lithium extraction — is reflected in the shape of the light fixtures and suspended acoustic panels. Selected materials, such as wood, pastel-toned fabrics, and wicker lamps, along with a palette of greens and turquoise, reinforce the company’s identity.

This atmosphere harmoniously coexists with the subtle graphic elements throughout the space and the salt sculpture that graces the main entrance — a piece by architect Malé Uribe, crafted from byproducts of the natural brine evaporation process used to extract lithium. In this way, the company seeks to support local culture and art through products derived from its productive activity.

Sustainability Story

In line with its philosophy of commitment to sustainability in all its operational activities, the company also decided to promote strategies to make its work environment healthier, more efficient, and environmentally friendly. This effort earned it the LEED Platinum v4 certification in the Commercial Interiors category in 2024, becoming the first office of a chemical and mining company in Chile to achieve this recognition. Notable initiatives include:

-Location and transportation: The chosen location offers convenient access to public transportation and is situated in an area with a wide range of available services. Additionally, the offices provide amenities for cyclists, helping to reduce vehicular traffic, enhance livability, and encourage physical activity.

-Water use efficiency: Aiming to contribute to efficient water use, low-consumption fixtures and faucets were installed in the restrooms.

-Energy efficiency: Strategies were implemented to reduce energy consumption without sacrificing comfort or hindering activities. These include maximizing natural light, using low-consumption lighting fixtures, and installing timers or occupancy sensors. As a result, a 26% reduction in energy consumption for lighting was achieved.

-Indoor air quality: To enhance indoor air quality and occupant comfort, entry mats and CO₂ sensors were installed. The furniture, paints, and flooring were selected for their low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

-Materials and resources: Priority was given to natural materials with low environmental impact, such as wood and wicker. Circular economy practices were also encouraged, including recycling through the placement of specific containers in common areas.

Key Products 

Furniture: Steelcase; BRWN

Floor covering: Milliken

Carpet: Modulyss OMV

Lighting: Home Control

Overall Project Outcomes

The design of the workspace was key to reducing the environmental impact of this new headquarters. By prioritizing the allocation of areas based on functional needs rather than hierarchies, the occupied space and its associated consumption were minimized. Additionally, the implementation of solutions such as the use of glazed fronts in closed spaces and the placement of operational areas along the perimeter, maximizing natural light and views to the outside, enhances energy savings and improves the well-being of its occupants.

The result is a workspace that demonstrates how sustainability can be integrated into every detail, creating environments that combine efficiency, functionality, and respect for the environment.

Key Contributor:

The salt sculpture was designed and built by the architect Malé Uribe.

Contract Workplaces Team:

Mariana Soulages

Rodrigo Contreras

Dolores Vivoli

Photography

Pablo Blanco

The post Sustainability Meets Design in Albemarle’s New Office in Chile appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

L’Oréal Colombia—a branch of the worldwide leader of the cosmetics industry, with a presence in the country since 1993—had been operating for some time in a 26,910 sf office space situated in an exclusive, high-end area of Bogotá.

However, given the business’ evolution and the excellent outcomes obtained, the company decided to relocate to Torre Sapiencia, a modern, recently constructed AAA building located in a prominent area, close to the city’s mass transportation systems. To make this change a reality, with a view to attracting the best talent and sustaining their successful performance, the company hired Contract Workplaces.

The project, developed across four floors spanning 38,858 sf, aimed to translate the company’s ideas and needs into a design brief through a light, colorful, open materiality that encourages freedom in its use, and to create a didactic, functional space for the academy.

The concept that drove the project’s development came from the company’s stated organizational purpose to:

Create the beauty that moves the world.

With this statement, the company wishes to express its vision of beauty as a force for positive impact, and its commitment to the environment, innovation and diversity. In line with these goals, the new offices were designed to offer a good range of options to help employees adapt to new ways of working (the company adopted a hybrid model, with three days working from the office and two days working from home) and make them all feel comfortable. This promotes productivity, motivation and lasting engagement.

The operational area was developed across the 8th, 9th and 10th floors, while the academy took up a store space on the first level. For the three operational floors, we selected an open-plan layout split into sectors with a maximum of 20 workstations each, plus a compact block of meeting rooms suitable for three to four people, each of which offers different options. The façade’s jagged profile made it possible to create informal meeting areas that make the most of the workstations’ proximity, so that collaborators can socialize and exchange ideas spontaneously.

Access to the terrace enabled the creation of a break room equipped with a ping-pong table, videogames, a projector, a Coffee Point and exclusive restrooms, so that collaborators can relax and socialize during the workday.

To integrate all these different levels into a work ecosystem where all areas can interrelate, we projected a grand staircase which brings fluidity and connection between the different spaces, emphasized by a large mural painted by a major Colombian muralist.

In terms of project aesthetics, each floor was conceived to have its own distinct identity, reflected in their color palettes: yellow for the 8th floor, salmon for the 9th and green for the 10th.

Project Planning

From the design phase, the challenge was to conceptualize all the client’s ideas and aspirations into a lightweight, colorful, and open materiality that invited free and flexible use. Additionally, it was essential to create a functional and educational space for the academy. 

All this was achieved from carefully understanding the highly detailed workplace guidelines that the brand has, and translating it to the local office specific needs and desires to work in neighborhoods, where every team could group around their leader and collaborate, gaining a much more interactive and flexible space. 

The c-suite took part in many design committees from the early start where ideas, sketches and plans were shared and discussed and kept evolving until the final product was delivered.

Project Details

The selection of materials was informed by the concept of biophilia, so the predominant textures and hues are those of wood. The vinyl and concrete floorings add a dynamic touch to transit pathways, while the hue shifts in the carpets add warmth. The interior design project also included accessories (such as cushions, blankets, artwork, sculptures, and so on) to make every single corner of the space feel cozy.

As for the graphics, images of the company’s main brands were used to add color, while simultaneously turning the office into a large-scale display for the collaborators. The signage also includes Braille markings to ensure it is usable by visually impaired or blind people.

Products 

Moderline | Workstations Manufacturer 

Wilsonart | Fawn Cypress

Wilsonart | Frosty white

Wilsonart | Slate Grey

Hydro Floor Tech | Luxury Vinyl Tile

Hydro Floor Tech | LVT Super matte

Overall Project Results

The whole new office posted a completely different trend within the workforce, as here they came to find spaces carefully crafted for their day to day interactions, where team meetings, creative sessions, and social casual collisions were made on a daily basis across the whole office layout taking advantage of the design and furniture solutions incorporated. 

One main area for collaborators gatherings is the cafeteria, conceived as a work cafe and town hall where activities happen constantly to promote product launches,  brand activations and day to day congregations to the point of people queuing to find available seats on the most crowded days.

Post-occupancy surveys came to show employees satisfaction and appropriation of the new office, as well as challenges to keep improving the space as work dynamics also change constantly.

The project team was key to the successful terms the project got to. Right from the beginning a multidisciplinary team was formed to address all areas involved and stakeholders.

The project was in charge of Contract Workplaces, the design and construction corporative and retail spaces leader firm in Latam. While Cushman & Wakefield was hired as project managers representing Loreal’s interests. 

A robust team of local suppliers was assembled to provide furniture, and architectural finishes as well as high end technicians for all the MEP´s works.

Also a local artist was brought on board to paint two big graffitis which would end up giving a local flavour and urban look to specific areas of the office.

Design

Contract Workplaces Colombia Team

Photography

Jairo Llano

The post Colorful Innovation for L’Oréal Colombia in Bogotá appeared first on Work Design Magazine.