Sovcombank is a universal, systemically important bank operating on a federal scale. The company’s strategy combines organic and inorganic growth, with a focus on achieving leadership in high-margin, low-competition niches. Its business model is built around three core segments — retail banking, corporate banking, and treasury operations — while also actively developing non-banking areas such as insurance, leasing, factoring, and a procurement platform.
The project task was to create a flagship back-office environment for multiple bank divisions, accommodating up to 1,000 workstations, along with a training center and a corporate fitness facility. The design approach was grounded in Sovcombank’s corporate values: a rational and thoughtful use of materials and resources, long-term durability of finishes, comfortable and emotionally engaging interiors, diverse communication spaces, and smart technological solutions.
Key priorities embedded in the project include acoustic comfort, flexible and high-quality lighting, extensive greenery, environmental performance, and support for employees’ physical well-being.
Sovcombank is a fast-growing organization with a wide range of internal functions. The interior concept reflects this dynamism while emphasizing the office as a space for young, ambitious professionals. MAD Architects introduced bold color accents and progressive design solutions inspired by IT environments, while maintaining a warm and comfortable atmosphere suitable for focused daily work.
Team collaboration plays a central role in the bank’s workflow, requiring flexible spatial solutions and a choice of formats for different tasks. As a result, meeting areas became key points of attraction within the office. Each floor features three anchor meeting zones that follow the triangular geometry of the building. Meeting rooms are designed in several formats — Business, Lounge, Fun, and Comfort — allowing teams to select spaces that best match the purpose and tone of each meeting. Every format is defined by its own finishes, furnishings, color palette, and lighting scenario.
In open-plan areas, particular attention was paid to acoustic comfort. Custom-designed acoustic solutions were applied to floors, ceilings, and walls, combining functional efficiency with strong visual identity. Bright felt baffles became one of the main interior accents, adding rhythm and dynamism to the workspace. All acoustic elements were developed individually, with no standard solutions used in the project.
Lighting plays a crucial role in employee well-being. The office is equipped with a smart lighting control system based on the DALI-2 protocol, allowing flexible scenarios that respond to time of day, occupancy, and functional zoning. The system also takes natural daylight into account, reducing energy consumption while maintaining optimal lighting levels. Workspaces use neutral white light (4000K), while auxiliary and recreational areas feature warmer, more relaxing light (3000K).
The office occupies seven floors of the Zemelny business center with a total area of 9,500 sq m, including workspaces, a training center, and fitness facilities. Perimeter zones with natural light were allocated to employee workstations, while executive offices are located centrally. In addition to work areas, the office includes lounges, coffee points, phone booths, recreation rooms, and fully equipped sports and fitness zones.
Following an EcoSmartOffice audit, the project became the first office in Russia to receive a Platinum-level environmental certification, reflecting significant reductions in energy, heat, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as a high level of comfort and safety for employees.
Design:
Design Team: Alexander Baymiev, Maria Lebedeva, Marina Panferova, Dmitry Chalenko, Olga Sergeeva, Anna Sudakova, Alexey Zelentsov, Polina Glazyrina
Contractor: TSM
Project Management: Sovcombank Real Estate Management Department
Photography:
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