Zafranal Teck is a mining company based in Arequipa, Peru, that needed to relocate from a smaller office in the same city to a new headquarters that could accommodate the company's growth and provide a better location. To support this new stage, Contract Workplaces designed and implemented its administrative offices through a turnkey project.
Located in the City Center Business Center in Cerro Colorado, the new offices were conceived as a functional, contemporary workplace capable of responding to the needs of the company's different departments and working practices. Trust was a key factor in selecting Contract Workplaces, which had previously worked with the company in Chile.*
The landscape of Arequipa was one of the main sources of inspiration for the project. Views of the city, the valley, and Misti Volcano informed a design that seeks to connect the interior spaces with their surroundings while making the most of natural light. Work areas with a higher density of people were therefore strategically positioned to maximize the views and bring more natural light into the workplace.
The design concept draws inspiration from *sillar*, a type of cut stone traditionally used in Arequipa's architecture. Its geometric forms and angular breaks are reinterpreted in walls, flooring, and ceilings, becoming a distinctive feature of the design. Zafranal Teck's corporate colors are combined with materials and textures inspired by the mine, including light microcement that evokes the stone's white tone. Color accents in the flooring and furniture complete the composition.
The journey through the office begins at reception, where a geometrically shaped counter and a corporate microcement wall establish the identity of the space. An integrated bench creates a waiting area, from which visitors can access a meeting room and the Work Café, a multipurpose space designed for employees to use for informal gatherings and quick meetings. The tables are equipped with connectivity to support everyday activities.
The open-plan workspace and the meeting rooms near reception take advantage of the views of Misti Volcano, while private offices and management areas are arranged in the inner core. The layout responds to the company's operational needs, prioritizing coordination and management activities related to mining operations. In this context, collaborative space plays an important role in the overall floor plan, complementing the workstations arranged in islands and introducing greater flexibility into a high-density work environment.
The design also incorporates five phone booths, a collaboration area, a Work Café near the entrance, and a lactation room. Among these spaces, the Work Café stands out for its versatility, offering an amenity that was not available in the previous office. Its multipurpose nature allows it to accommodate different activities throughout the day, particularly team meetings and informal gatherings.
Another distinctive space is the mine monitoring room, equipped with a video wall. Here, the company's corporate identity is reflected through its signature colors, light textures, and chromatic accents in the furniture and flooring.
The project presented logistical challenges due to its location outside Lima, approximately a one-and-a-half-hour flight from the capital. Mobilizing the Contract Workplaces team, contractors, and materials required careful coordination. These challenges were compounded by the tight schedule and scope changes that arose during construction. Despite these challenges, the team successfully managed the logistics and coordinated the execution of the various tasks required to bring the project to completion.
The result is an office that combines functionality, corporate identity, and references to the local landscape. Drawing on the distinctive forms and tones of Arequipa, Contract Workplaces created a contemporary working environment with spaces designed to support Zafranal Teck's daily activities and facilitate coordination among its teams.
