Repairs and refurbishment of the head office of the financial institute.
THE CHALLENGE
Caixanova is a dedicated banking institute, and at the time of undertaking the works it was a well-established savings bank in Galicia, Spain.
Floria took on the project as part of the overall renovation of the Caixanova head office—an iconic seven-story building. The Savings Bank wanted to have a space that was as unique and spectacular as possible—one that would make a strong opening statement to high-level financial clients. The project needed to be implemented within a building that was highly influential.
Given that it was the headquarters of the savings bank, the building included various departments, such as customer services, corporate banking, private banking, and other spaces. There were also various entrances for different kinds of clients to gain access, including a general entrance, another leading directly to the corporate area, and others.
While the project was being designed, Caixanova had plans to merge with other similar institutions. For this reason, the management wanted the building and any developments to reflect the position of strength of the institution and impress any potential new partners.
In addition, the client wanted the space to take on the features of a typical Floria space: the timelessness of the design and the sustainability of the components and materials.
To accomplish this, solutions were proposed that would facilitate banking processes, with functional spaces where all passages were covered and suitable management of waiting times, minimizing delays.
Difficulties encountered along the way
As this was an old and iconic building, a series of specific difficulties were encountered during development which needed to be resolved. These included major points such as unfeasible deadlines for the planned opening date, low ceilings that caused ergonomic issues, interaction with other stages of the remodeling work, which involved different trades working simultaneously, and certain regulatory issues, like providing access for people with disabilities. The prevention department required a minimum 2.5-meter ceiling height, otherwise there would be no offices.
On account of all of the above, Caixanova was in need of a company that was capable of providing solutions with a high level of quality. It needed a comprehensive solution and an high working capacity that would provide and develop concrete solutions. The spaces needed to be well organized, ergonomically viable, and finished to the highest degree.
Caixanova needed a comprehensive solution. It needed a corporate head office that would represent the company as an expanding financial institution, but which would also allow it to adequately attend to its clients. They were looking for a viable central office based in the head office that offered a ground floor-level option for the public. An open public office with passageways, open access areas, and ample waiting areas.
In the words of the client: “Whatever our clients came into contact with, we needed it to be good quality.” “It was important to avoid busy waiting areas and jams and to promote and provide functional banking by paying more attention to customer services and visitors and avoiding old mistakes.” For this reason, we gave high priority to designs and solutions for exit and entry, and for an open-plan space which embodied values such as transparency and long-lasting timelessness.
It was not the first occasion that Floria worked for Caixanova, for which it had already completed the Treasury Room. Also, for the completion of the treasury room, we had full support and recommendations from the BBVA, a banking institution for which we had also completed one of these rooms.
THE SOLUTION
Project design
As is normal for Floria, firstly the project was conducted by taking into account all of the client’s needs, analyzing the possibilities for use and distribution and the specific solutions.
In light of this, two prototypes were prepared—the first at a volumetric level detailing the dimensions and design of individual elements such as materials (tables, columns, floors, etc.). After the client’s visit to our offices, the designs were treated and a second meeting was tabled in Zaragoza where the client could approve the designs.
These prototypes emerged as the best examples of our good practice, since they proved very useful in gaining the approval of many users at the client’s offices, and the created prototypes were finally approved.
Technology, solutions, products, and materials
The following materials and specific solutions were used in the project:
- floorlite technical floors with granite tiles and miniplots to not lose height
- Acoustic ceiling made of lightweight wood.
- Curved aluminum composite panel.
- Corian.
- Integrated lighting solutions to reduce height in technical ceilings.
- Partitions
The Floria team and their consultancy work
On behalf of the Floria Group, in addition to those responsible for the design, there were two project supervisors, two assembly managers, and the team of fitters. They had the support of two external architects.
Collaboration took place with the property management team of Caixanova, various area managers of Caixanova who we worked extensively with in developing the furnishings, and the department of risk prevention, which had a considerable input.
Numerous made-to-measure solutions were designed as part of this collaborative work, including:
- Use of floorlite technical flooring using granite tiles to reflect their values, as well as improve cable management.
- Use of balsa-wood ceilings to alleviate the weight and avoid structural overloading of the building.
- Customized light fixtures integrated with the lines of the ceiling to comply with the regulations on free space.
- In-depth analysis of the equipment to be incorporated in the work stations, done in collaboration with the department of ergonomics and risk prevention of Caixanova.
BENEFITS
El resultado del trabajo fue calificado por todos, tanto el equipo de Floria como el cliente de manera unánime como “Excelente y Muy bueno”. Caixanova envió una carta de felicitación una vez terminado todo el proyecto.
El trabajo realizado dio viabilidad a un proyecto que difícilmente podría haber salido adelante en otras circunstancias, a tenor de todos los condicionantes existentes y que lo dificultaban. Sobre todo a nivel de ergonomía y espectacularidad y funcionalidad dentro del macro esquema del uso de la sede
Se logró dar solución a todos los requerimientos previos del cliente, desde la gestión de la espera minimizando los tiempos y la funcionalidad, al tener cubierto todos los recorridos. La solución sacó beneficio de circunstancias que eran consideras pegas “a priori”, como la integración de la columnas, y se aprovechó cada centímetro en suelos y techos para conseguir la altura mínima exigida.
Como es norma de Floría, el resultado aportó una impactante sensación, unida a una consistente atemporalidad y durabilidad gracias a materiales utilizados como corian y granito.
CONCLUSIÓN
“Estamos realmente satisfechos con el resultado general”.
Los problemas que presentaba un edificio antiguo y emblemático, unido a la diversidad de ambientes y funcionalidades del proyecto, hacen de la Sede de Caixanova en Vigo un Caso de Éxito de especial relevancia para Floria.
Esta Sede muestra la capacidad de Floria en creatividad y adaptación a las necesidades del cliente, sin perder en ningún momento la seña de identidad de Floria, la calidad, para crear un espacio singular, sorprendente, representativo, perdurable y atemporal.
