Colorful Innovation for L’Oréal Colombia in Bogotá

Contract Workplaces infuses color and style for L’Oréal Colombia‘s Bogotá office inspiring productivity and lasting engagement.

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