With over 170 years of experience, Promutuel Assurance is one of the pioneering insurance companies in Québec. In addition to serving the general public, it also offers coverage tailored to businesses and the agricultural sector.
With numerous mutuals spread across the province, Promutuel operates several branches, including its Québec City office – known as the federation – which serves as the organization’s head office. Like many companies, Promutuel had to rethink its workspace strategy in the wake of the pandemic, as remote work became more prevalent and in-office presence declined. The key question became: should they retain their four existing floors, reduce square footage, or relocate entirely?
The first step in the project involved guiding Promutuel through a detailed analysis of each team’s needs, conducted in collaboration with HIVE. We established occupancy ratios based on new work habits and anticipated growth. Several scenarios were explored, and after two years of reflection, Promutuel decided to keep the existing footprint and completely redesign the interior, in two phases.
We developed highly detailed layout plans and established the core conceptual design guidelines. In consortium with PMA Architectes, we then produced the technical drawings and supported the client throughout the construction process. Our expertise was also called upon to help select all new furniture and develop the site’s signage strategy.
The new federation office is entirely unassigned: employees have access to personal lockers and choose where to work based on their daily tasks. Two floors are dedicated to focus and confidentiality, with a residential feel created through a neutral color palette, soft patterns, and abundant wood textures.
The collaboration and social floors, by contrast, evoke the dynamic of a public square. Vibrant colors, concrete accents, outdoor terraces, and grassy zones generate a lively, welcoming energy. Semi-open alcoves allow for informal meetings throughout the open areas.
The design concept revolves around a strong metaphor: protection, like a cocoon — echoing the essence of insurance. Each floor includes intimate groupings of “accent” rooms, soft and contrasting, creating a sense of shelter. Organic elements reinforce this idea: a smooth pearl in a ridged shell, a diamond in raw rock, a fruit within its peel. Material contrasts are everywhere — felt, mirror, glass, and stone-textured carpets with moss-like color gradients. Curves are a recurring motif, present in both the architecture and the furnishings, reflecting the brand’s organic visual identity.
Promutuel’s image is subtly integrated into key design moments — the speech bubble motif, brand values, and of course, its signature yellow.
Lastly, the expansive multifunctional cafeteria serves both daily needs and large-scale events. It includes a fully equipped auditorium that can be enclosed when required. The space is flooded with natural light from large windows and blurs the line between indoors and out, with disguised tree-like columns, shade sails, and hanging greenery. Even the banquette structures — built into the adjoining game room wall — evoke urban furniture, reinforcing the impression of being in an open, communal space.
