10 Picks for Office Architecture Projects

The editorial team of ek magazine selected ten architectural projects, featured in past print issues as well as the ek website, that showcase exceptional office-space design.

The logistics center is situated on a 27,000-square-meter plot, strategically positioned near the National Highway, Attiki Odos, and the center of Athens. Its location ensures the seamless and efficient transportation of shipments via the port of Piraeus, Athens International Airport, and the national road network. The building’s external form is directly shaped by its function, allowing the various uses and transitions within the building to be clearly “read” from the outside. The urban planning parameters of the area allowed for the development of a ground-level sorting hub with a minimum area of 10,000 m². This space was designed to offer maximum flexibility for loading and unloading -a core operational requirement for the company- as well as a large underground parking facility. All primary operations have been consolidated into a single building.

03. Offices in Syngrou Avenue | Space Matters

ek Issue: 286 | April 2024

The office space, spanning 1,100 m², is located on the 7th floor of a newly built landmark on Syngrou Avenue. The narrow and elongated floor plan, combined with the intricately shaped main façade, served as the foundation for the architectural design. This layout accommodates closed offices, meeting rooms, and an open, free-flow zone, all tailored to meet the needs of over 100 employees, creating a modern and functional work environment.

From the early stages of the design, the goal was to break away from the uniformity and standardization often found in workplaces, while ensuring a comfortable environment through visual and acoustic comfort, privacy, and the use of natural light. To achieve this, the layout was designed perpendicular to the sloping main façade, tilting the floor plan to avoid non-functional areas within the enclosed offices and create an engaging complexity in the open space.

This diagonal layout formed the primary compositional axis, around which the administration area, with its large conference room, was positioned on one side, while the other side housed office rooms, two smaller meeting rooms, and the open space. The new axis is also reflected in the ceiling design and lighting, where the closed sections integrate with exposed electrical installations, designed as part of the overall composition. A hanging rail, which also follows the axis, is distinguished by its color and functions as the general lighting system.

04. Pfizer Digital Hub | Edje Architects

ek Issue: 276 | April 2023

The Digital Innovation Center of Pfizer in Thessaloniki is the first of its kind globally. The concept is built around the idea of localism, using the city’s unique culture, distinctive features, dominant colors, and materials as inspiration. These elements are seamlessly integrated into a modern, interactive workspace that reflects the essence of Thessaloniki.

The 7,000m² campus, focused on developing innovative digital solutions, is organized into workstations, breakout areas, and collaboration zones. It also features a cafeteria, wellness center, and fitness rooms for all employees. The layout is designed to promote close proximity, fostering interaction and strengthening social connections. Around the perimeter of the main building, “working neighborhoods” have been established, with shared spaces strategically placed next to the offices to encourage teamwork.

05. OKTO Fintech Company | Athens Creative

ek Issue: 266 | April 2022

The new headquarters span 1,200m² across seven floors of a former hospital building, which has been transformed into a modern workspace. A key strategic decision was to design a functional office space that integrates modern work methods with the company’s specific needs while anticipating post-pandemic workplace transformations. Each floor was designed to function independently, both in terms of energy and organization. By analyzing the company’s organizational structure, an optimal department layout was developed to minimize unnecessary movement.

Each floor features dedicated spaces for relaxation, meetings, and work, with offices designed around a hot-desking system. At the entrance of every floor, an open, monochromatic coffee corner provides a welcoming touch. On the top floor, the existing café was renovated and transformed into a dining area with an outdoor BBQ, encouraging social interaction in a relaxed setting while keeping workspaces free from dining activities. The second key strategic decision was to establish a bold, cohesive architectural identity that unifies the entire building and reinforces the company’s corporate character.

06. Deloitte Office Building | Atema Architects

ek Issue: 280 | September 2023

The early 20th-century multi-storey warehouse in the port of Patras, a listed building, has been restored to its original form. Late additions on the south side were removed, and necessary structural reinforcements were made to accommodate office infrastructure and create a modern working environment. The enclosure is characterized by a limited number of rectangular windows and the distinctive preserved ventilation holes of the former warehouses on each level. Internally, the original composite load-bearing structure of concrete, steel, and timber was removed and replaced with a new steel-and-concrete framework. The slab levels were redefined to provide sufficient height in the central zones, with the reused building spanning five above-ground floors.

A square atrium was introduced at the center of the floor plan, extending down to the ground floor. This addition was designed to create new openings, improving natural light and ventilation, which had been insufficient due to the small original windows. Two new internal stairwells ensure safe egress for employees from all floors, while the main stairwell features circular windows that reference the façade’s original ventilation holes.

07. Multinational Company Offices in Thessaloniki | Officetwentyfivearchitects

ek Issue: 276 | April 2023

The project concerns the conversion of a ground floor warehouse space, on the ring road of Thessaloniki, into the offices of a multinational company. The goal is to create a dynamic work environment that serves as a reference point for employees- a “third space” between home and the office -fostering a new kind of sociability. The trapezoidal layout allows for natural light from two sides, shaping the functional floor plan. The 1,000m² office space is organized into three zones: a peripheral zone along the building’s exterior, a central core, and a movement axis connecting them. Open workspaces are strategically placed along the naturally lit sides, while the triangular core houses large meeting rooms and ancillary facilities such as restrooms and storage areas. The workspace is further divided into sections, incorporating small meeting rooms to accommodate employees’ daily needs.

The project embraces a contemporary aesthetic with earthy tones, balancing natural and synthetic textures through deliberate contrasts. The three zones of the floor plan are visually distinguished by varying finishes on both floors and vertical surfaces. At the entrance and along the main circulation corridor, wood-look flooring enhances warmth and flow, while carpeting in the work areas helps absorb vibrations. In the cafeteria, concrete-look tiles provide a sleek, durable finish. To optimize acoustics and conceal mechanical installations, plasterboard suspended ceilings are installed across the building’s largest surface. Walls feature a mix of white and grey paint, wood paneling, vertical gardens, and glass partition systems, creating a dynamic yet cohesive environment.

08. Euroterra Group HQ | Capital Land Development

ek Issue: 276 | April 2023

The project involves refurbishing an existing building and transforming it into an office space, with the primary design focus on creating a modern, sustainable complex that has a minimal ecological footprint. Internally, the spaces were reconfigured to meet the needs of the new occupants, with modern living conditions ensured through the installation of heating and cooling systems, as well as heat pumps, which provide optimal comfort with minimal energy consumption. Special attention was given to the lighting design, both inside and outside the building. Externally, the structure features post-modernist morphological elements commonly seen in buildings along the main thoroughfares of the capital, such as rectangular moldings and expansive glass surfaces. The top floor features curved openings and balconies along with a projecting solid roof, and was designed to give the building a distinctive presence. However, these elements did not integrate harmoniously into the urban fabric.

09. Bestseller Fashion Company | Tsolakis Architects

ek Issue: 286 | April 2024

The proposal focuses on the aesthetic and functional enhancement of an existing building, transforming it into modern offices and showrooms for an international fashion company. As part of a broader strategic development plan, the project seamlessly integrates architectural innovation with bioclimatic principles, creating a striking and sustainable design. The primary design objective was to create a flexible workplace that fosters employee well-being. To accommodate the project’s new functional requirements, enclosed spaces were added to the existing structure, either as horizontal extensions or vertical additions.

The new building mass follows an ‘aggregated’ approach, integrating seamlessly with the existing architectural composition. This strategy not only completes the original structure but also introduces a fresh typology, where each floor is distinct and independent, either recessed or projecting. This new typology shifts the scale of the building towards an ‘office neighborhood’ rather than a conventional office complex. Open spaces on the upper levels reinforce this concept, with the central atrium playing a more prominent role in enhancing connectivity and spatial fluidity.

10. MGO Protopapas Office Building | Armeftis Partners & Associates Architects

ek Issue: 286 | April 2024

The office complex occupies a five-story building spanning two adjacent plots, aligning with the horizontal flow of the street. Located near a major high-speed road, the building was designed to serve as a landmark. Its dynamic composition features bold, angular surfaces and interlocking diagonal volumes, creating a striking visual identity. This design approach extends across the entire structure, giving the impression that the facade shifts and evolves with the movement of passing vehicles and pedestrians.

To address the system of non-orthogonal geometries, a parametric design approach was employed. The surfaces were modeled using triangular forms, onto which vertical elements -blinds that follow the building’s original shape- were later applied. The structure comprises a ground floor, a mechanical floor, five office levels, and a rooftop garden. The core, housing staircases and elevators, is positioned on the northern side of the site, while the remaining sides feature open-plan office spaces with expansive city views.