Designed by the architecture firm Königsberger Vannucchi, the Sesc Avenida Paulista unit, opened in 2018, stands out as an extension of the avenue itself, establishing itself as a free territory to be appropriated by the general public. Among its structural characteristics, the concept unfolds in the large access points, the various social interaction areas – with internal squares and a rooftop terrace – and even in the choice of materials, such as the use of non-reflective glass. The choice of this material, combined with zinc panels on the façade, reveals the various activities carried out inside the building. Architecture is only complete when activated by the flow of people, and for this relationship, the entire structure was designed with the actions to be developed in the Unit in mind, guided by the triad "Body-Art-Technology."
"The configuration of the east and west façades, with horizontal slits, allows users a new perspective on the city while breaking with the typical office building typology of Avenida Paulista, announcing a new use for the old building (designed by Sérgio Pileggi and Euclides de Oliveira in the 1970s), divided between Sesc and Fecomércio, and a new, democratic flow of visitors," says Gianfranco Vannucchi, the architect responsible for the project.
The various spaces and services – Café Terraço, Comedoria, Library, Children's Space, Technology and Arts, Rooms for Sports Practices and Performances, Store, and Dental Offices – were distributed across the 17 floors considering four basic aspects: proximity between similar activities, noise levels generated by the activities, volume of visitors accessing the unit, and external views.
Reinforcing this integration between activities and exhibition floors are voids in the slabs, completely open. Stairs were created between floors, visually and physically integrating the unit's activities. The goal was also to keep the floors as free as possible to allow great flexibility in their uses.
Access to the new unit from Avenida Paulista occurs in a large social interaction area with a multi-purpose space and a bicycle rack with capacity for 40 bikes. On the ground floor there are also two escalators, 6 elevators, and two pressurized fire stairs for access to the upper floors. On the 2nd floor are the Service Center and social interaction area, as well as the Sesc store.
In addition to the aesthetic effect, the large glass sheet functions as an acoustic and thermal antechamber, always flanking a naturally ventilated internal terrace, which acts as a barrier for the air-conditioned environments. These, in turn, have their partitions with the corridor defined by the desired amount of light, using solar control glass, while spaces for performances and exhibitions feature blackout. The other façades are sealed with lightweight precast concrete or masonry, thus reducing thermal and acoustic loads coming from outside.
Architecture: Königsberger Vannucchi Arquitetos Associados
Authors: Gianfranco Vannucchi, Jorge Königsberger
Collaborators: Vera L. Tusco, Karina Kohutek, Albert Sugai, Sandra Dellarole, Daniel Port, Isadora Citrin, Carla Estrella, and Liliane Caparelli.
Year (start): 2007
Built Area: 11,962.38 m²
Site Area: 1,195.50 m²
Project Type: Retrofit, Cultural
Status: Built
Structure: Conventional concrete with structural reinforcement in steel structure
Location: Av. Paulista 119, Paraíso, São Paulo, Brazil
Site Layout: Detached building
Occupancy Rate: 66.23% Floor Area Ratio: 6.76
Number of Floors: 2 basements, Ground Floor, Mezzanine, 16 floors, observatory, attic 1, attic 2, and rooftop
Number of Parking Spaces: 61 spaces
Bicycle Rack: 43 spaces
Project Development: 2007 - 2011
Construction: 2011 - 2018
Floor Program
2nd Basement: Male/Female/PRM Employee Lockers, Laundry, Storage, Drinking Water Reservoirs, AP Retention Reservoir, Elevator Hall
1st Basement: Comedoria (receiving area for Comedoria, Cold Rooms, Service Elevator), Waste Storage (Recyclable and Organic), Generator, Pressurization Room, Container Storage, DG Logic Room, Elevator Hall
Ground Floor: Reception, Elevator Hall, Dressing Room, PRM Dressing Room, Public Restrooms, Multi-purpose Space, Pantry, Escalators accessing the Service Center
1st Floor (Mezzanine): Collective Dressing Room, Sound and Lighting Control Room, CCTV Room, Air Conditioning Technical Areas, Electrical/Automation, Logic
2nd Floor: Service Center (General Assistance), Public Restrooms, Escalators accessing Ground Floor, Pantry, and SESC Store.
2nd External Floor: Social areas with benches, planters, and two lounges.
3rd Floor: Children's Space consisting of social area, diaper changing room, nursing room, and restrooms
4th Floor: Workshops (3 rooms), Technicians' Room, restrooms
5th Floor: Art I, Cenotechnics Systems Room
6th Floor: Art Gallery I, Collective and PRM Dressing Rooms
7th Floor: Technical Area (Storage, Maintenance Workshops, Employee Break Room)
8th Floor: Dentistry
9th Floor: Administration
10th Floor: Body I, Male/Female/Children's Lockers
11th Floor: Body II
12th Floor: Body III, Male/Female/Children's Lockers
13th Floor: Art II
14th Floor: Art Gallery II, Collective and PRM Dressing Rooms
15th Floor: Library
16th Floor: Comedoria
17th Floor: Café, Terrace, and Access to the Observatory
Attic 1: Machine Rooms, Water Tank, and Piping Gallery
Attic 2: Water Tank and Machine Room
Technology
The project applies new technology platforms in a bold, flexible manner with relatively simple infrastructure. There are 3 integrated audio and video transmission technologies, bringing lower costs and reduced environmental impact: (1) DANTE, audio network, (2) HDBASET, audio and video network, and (3) SDVOE, a data network for video installed for the first time in Brazil. The digital communication system enables the transmission of all programming from this and other units on all floors, offers the possibility of projecting onto walls, and transmitting shows held on the ground floor to the unit's café.
Video capacity: 4K
10 km of fiber optics
128 digital audio channels
40 microphones
Clair Brothers sound system, used on tours by U2, Paul McCartney, and Phil Collins
24 mini-computers for digital communication
Digital signal, eliminating the possibility of interference from Av. Paulista
6 55’’ monitors facing the street
Thermal Comfort
The side and front openings of the terraces provide cross ventilation and air renewal, which prevents overheating of the terraces and, consequently, of the internal environments. The Spyder system (side gable) consists of tempered laminated glass; the frames facing the terraces are made of anodized aluminum, stainless steel color, and low-e glass, which offer high thermal insulation performance despite high light transmission. Finally, the façades with composite zinc panels and anodized aluminum frames in stainless steel color, along with low-reflection solar control glass, reduce heat gain by up to 50%.
Stage Lighting Technology (Cenotechnics)
Individual dimmers were specified for halogen lamps, decentralizing circuit power supply and allowing greater flexibility in positioning the reflectors. DMX signal transmission for controlling the stage lighting system is done via an ethernet network, allowing for expanded control possibilities and addressing of equipment. Grid suspension motors also have individual and automated control, allowing optimization of grid movement for attaching sets and reflectors.
There is extensive use of LED lighting equipment, including in exhibition areas, allowing for greater sustainability in energy resource management and a wider range of equipment usage capabilities, with excellent color rendering. Furthermore, international standards were adopted in the areas of digital protocols and system connectivity, in line with the best programming spaces in the world for art exhibitions, events, and performances, also allowing greater flexibility in the multifunctional use of the rooms.
Hydraulics
Water consumption reduction is guaranteed by reduced flow in washbasins, sinks, showers, installation of automatic sensors on washbasins and flush valves, timers on showers, and low-consumption systems for flush valves. Additionally, the new SESC Avenida Paulista will feature greywater reuse, with a 33 m³ reservoir used for flushing, washing, and irrigation, and water heating by solar panels to serve the lockers on the floors dedicated to sports activities.
Consultants
Acoustics: Harmonia Acústica
Air Conditioning: Thermoplan Engenharia Térmica
Visual Communication: OZ Design
Stage Lighting Technology (Cenotechnics): Gustavo Siqueira Lanfranchi
Thermal Comfort: Daltrini Granado
Kitchen: Nucleora Planejamento
Frames: Neison Firmino da Silva Consultoria
Frames: Arqmate
Concrete and Steel Structure: Kurkdjian e Fruchtengarten Engenheiros
Façade Installer: Worker
Foundation: MAG
Waterproofing: Imperpav Projetos
Waterproofing: Springer
Electrical and Hydraulic Installations: PHE Engenharia
Logic Systems: Laga Engenharia
Lighting Design: Estudio Carlos Fortes Luz
Landscaping: Albuquerque Arquitetura
Wood Flooring: Xylema
Structural Restoration: DFA
Security, Supervision, Detection and Alarm Systems: Bettoni Automação
Sound Reinforcement: Crysalis Produtos
SMT/CET: Tekton
Vertical Transportation: Empro Comércio
Audio and Video Technology: AVM (Reinaldo Pargas)
Suppliers
Concresteel: Floor covering
Gail: Coatings
Tecnogran: Stair flooring
Permetal: Floor plate/acoustic covering
Isonar: Sonex and acoustic covering
Penha Vidros: Glass skin
Cebrace: Façade frame glass (material)
Guardian: Terrace frame glass and glass skin (material)
Zinc: ProjetoAL (material - façade covering)
Otis: Elevator and escalator
Electrical and Hydraulic Installations: Mendes Holler (installer)
Glafcon: Handrails and guardrails
Idea: Partitions and cement board enclosures
Pilkington: Glass skin and coatings
Engeveda: Paints
Hufcor: Acoustic partitions
Owa Brasil: Sonex - Acoustic ceilings
Servimon: Firestopping
CCN: Building systems
INTERKAL: Retractable bleachers
Blinds: Unifelx
ISHIDA: Irrigation
CAMPOY: Logic and Sound Reinforcement
Saint Gobain Ecophon: Hall ceilings
Jatobá: Bathroom wall coverings
JAM: Air conditioning installer
Remaster: Raised floor
Perfglass: Aluminum frames and zinc façade
Omar Maksoud: Construction company
Deca: Bathroom fixtures and metalware
Cosentino: Comedoria counters
Formica: Laminate and TS sheet coverings
