Equipo Ciencia (formerly I-trials S.A.) is an Argentine scientific company dedicated to clinical medical research in respiratory diseases and emergency vaccines.

Due to its rapid growth and the need to vacate their former space, the company sought a new location for its operations.

This relocation prompted a radical transformation in the company’s structure, work style, and daily routines. To successfully navigate this process, Equipo Ciencia entrusted Contract Workplaces, which, together with its design, consulting, and construction teams, supported and guided the company through this reorganization.

The new office project was developed across a covered area of 3,561 m², distributed between the ground floor and seven floors. The design was strategically planned to minimize volunteer circulation within the building while maximizing the functionality of the space.

The varied program requirements were distributed across different levels. On the ground floor, a differentiated entrance was planned: while volunteers entered from the parking lot, leading to the reception and a spacious waiting area, the access through the front lobby was reserved for the company’s collaborators.

The first floor houses the cafeteria, which includes several collaborative spaces. The design took into account the flexibility of use for events, conferences, or activities involving a large number of attendees. The aesthetic, with exposed slabs, loose-lay vinyl flooring, wall graphics, and wood-like paneling, creates a welcoming and contemporary space. Additionally, there is space for maintenance and meal distribution, a storage area, and a lactation room.

The second and fourth floors are focused on volunteer care. While consultation rooms are located at the center of each floor, the reception desk, waiting room with refreshments for the volunteers, and vaccination booths are located along the windowed façade. The signage in the space was designed to guide visitors to the different consultation rooms using color differentiation, making circulation easier. The use of modular ceilings, together with white sanitary flooring and baseboards, creates a clean and functional environment.

The third floor was designed as a service level for the two floors below. It includes a laboratory, pharmacy, supplies, and storage areas. At the back, an operational area focused on volunteer assistance is arranged with workstations in an open space layout. It also includes offices and private meeting rooms.

The fifth floor is an operational area consisting of meeting rooms of various sizes and workstations arranged in an open space. While the meeting rooms are located in the center to form a compact core, the desks are placed along the perimeter of the front and rear windows, offering the best views and lighting to the collaborators. This floor also includes a sanitary core and a kitchenette in each wing, along with a set of lockers.

The sixth and seventh floors are designated for the company’s executive leadership. The reception area, with wood-like and white finishes opposite the elevator lobby, welcomes visitors to these levels. The private offices and meeting rooms are strategically distributed to provide panoramic views through the four glass facades and the two side terraces.

The result was a project that supports the dynamics of new working methods while combining functionality and aesthetics in a harmonious synthesis. It provides a welcoming and contemporary environment for both volunteers and collaborators, while ensuring efficiency and comfort for the management of the company.

Design: Contract Workplaces
Photography: Andres Negroni