Designed by Königsberger Vannucchi, HY Pinheiros is a mixed-use development in the Pinheiros district of São Paulo. Developed through a partnership between Hines Capital and construction firm Porto Ferraz, the project responds to the demands of contemporary urban workplaces while strengthening the relationship between the building and the public realm.

Anchored by a LEED Gold-certified corporate office tower, the development prioritises spatial flexibility, daylight access, and urban connectivity as part of its environmental strategy.

The project occupies a prominent corner site at the intersection of Rebouças Avenue and Teçandá Street. From the outset, the design was shaped by two principal objectives: creating large, column-free office floors capable of accommodating changing workplace demands, and maximising views towards the surrounding Jardins neighbourhood.

Flexible structure and efficient floorplates

The building’s structural strategy was developed to optimise spatial efficiency and long-term adaptability. Five vertical circulation cores are positioned along the perimeter of the tower, allowing for large-span office floors measuring approximately 27.85 metres by 25 metres. This arrangement creates flexible, unobstructed floorplates capable of supporting varied occupancy layouts and future reconfiguration without major structural intervention.

By concentrating structural and circulation elements along the edges, the design also improves daylight penetration across the office interiors, helping to reduce reliance on artificial lighting during daytime hours while strengthening visual connections to the city.

Elevating the public realm

A defining urban gesture of the project is the elevation of the first office floor above street level. This move creates a quadruple-height ground floor that opens the development towards the surrounding streetscape and reinforces public permeability through the site. The ground level incorporates retail functions and publicly accessible areas designed to activate the avenue frontage and encourage pedestrian use.

Extensive glazing strengthens the visual continuity between interior and exterior spaces, allowing the lower level to function as an extension of the public realm rather than a sealed commercial lobby. This approach contributes to a more porous urban environment while improving natural light access and visual openness at street level.

Environmental performance and certification

Certified LEED Gold, HY Pinheiros integrates environmental performance measures within the building envelope and operational systems. Large glazed surfaces increase daylight access while supporting views across the city, contributing to occupant wellbeing and helping to reduce daytime energy demand.

The project’s flexible planning strategy also supports sustainability through longevity. By enabling office floors to adapt over time without extensive reconstruction, the building reduces the likelihood of premature obsolescence and future material waste.