VISITOR´S PLACE and VICE PRESIDENCY
São Paulo / SP / Brazil

ABN AMRO was established in Brazil in 1917, having now over 28,500 employees maintaining 5400 branches and mini-branches servicing 9.7 million retail clients and over 3,500 corporate clients, including 400 of the largest corporations in Brazil, being the fifth largest privately owned bank by total assets and the second largest foreign bank in the country. Since 1998 ABN AMRO has been acquiring local banks such as Banco Real, Bandepe and Sudameris. The corporate culture of ABN AMRO in Brazil includes initiatives such as: social-environmental policy when making decisions on loans, the ?Real MicroCrédito? (providing financing for small businesses and entrepreneurs) and the implementation of the Ethical Fund (the first Social Responsible Investment fund in Brazil).

In the integration process of the last acquisition, we were called to unite all Vice Presidents on one floor, to increase synergy between top management, and in an adjacent area create a Visitor?s Place. The global profile of the Bank and fast growing pace in Brazil has created a continuous flow of visitors from global heads and consultants. Since they work closely with the top management in long work journeys with fast and important decision making points and many team meetings, we were commissioned a space that was close enough to the top management for fast interaction, and well equipped to allow both effective team work and individual work, in an environment that matches style of its surroundings. Individual work is carried out in small offices / enclaves that allow concentration and privacy, while meeting rooms of several sizes allow groups to work together, usually necessary when the visitors have to work with the local staff. This all is served by an internal reception with a secretary that acts as administrative staff to the visitors.

The main reception was enlarged and opened up towards the corridor leading around the central atrium to the auditorium and client?s meeting rooms. In this new space simple comfortable gathering areas were created that allow informal meetings. A combination of white and dark green walls creates a dramatic effect in the closed rooms. Certified wood guarantees the sober and classy effect, while glass brings light and lightness to all, leading to a classy but cozy result. Special lighting was designed to highlight art work from the ABN AMRO Collection of Brazilian Artists, such as Tomie Othake and Mabe. Landscaping was kept to a minimum. In addition we used most of the existing furniture, which we selected from existing stock or bought to complement whenever necessary. These projects cover an area of 775 square meters and were implemented in 4 phases: 2 phases over a 1 month period for each project, in the beginning of each semester: Vice Presidency in the first and Visitor?s Place in the second.