Stories

ContourGlobal Sofia – Corporate Office Redesign Case Study | Studio Novo

At a Glance

Client: ContourGlobal, Sofia
Industry: Power generation & energy
Team Size: ~100 employees (primarily finance & accounting)
Project Goal: Transform a conventional office into a calm, ergonomic, and engaging environment that feels like home.

Following are the steps that went into making this project a success story:

1. Understanding the Brief

ContourGlobal’s Sofia finance hub asked Studio Novo for more than furniture. They wanted a workplace that cares for people; somewhere analysts could focus, collaborate, and recharge without the clinical feel of a typical corporate office design.

“We spend 8+ hours crunching numbers. We’d love an office that feels less corporate and more supportive.” – Project Sponsor

2. The Challenge: A Balancing Act

Balancing individual comfort, team workflows, and corporate brand guidelines—all within a defined budget envelope—was complex. We needed to:

1. Map diverse postures (heads‑down analysis ↔ quick huddles).
2. Introduce intuitive ergonomics for users unfamiliar with task‑chair adjustments.
3. Preserve openness without sacrificing acoustic privacy.
4. Demonstrate long‑term value within strict financial parameters.

3. Our Human-Centric Approach

Discovery & Insights
We ran deep-dive interviews, online surveys, and shadowing to surface lived pain points (e.g., “I avoid phone booths—they feel claustrophobic”). Leadership shared hiring forecasts so the layout can flex with growth.
Ergonomic & Psychological Audit
Beyond anthropometrics, we assessed cognitive load and team dynamics to ensure spaces enable both focused work and social connection.
Budget & Value Workshops
We ranked spaces by well-being ROI. Kitchens and community zones emerged as hidden opportunities, so budget was reallocated from under-used storage to social hubs that nurture culture.
Iterative Co-Design
Functional layouts and 3D visuals were refined through three feedback loops using our push–pull method—keeping clients invested while protecting design integrity.

4. Design Solutions

Need	Solution
Day-long seated work	Humanscale World One task chairs – self-adjusting recline removes guesswork while meeting ergonomic guidelines.
Flexible collaboration	Mobile whiteboards + lightweight ottomans enable impromptu stand-ups without booking meeting rooms.
Acoustic comfort	Fabric-wrapped ceiling rafts + preserved-moss acoustic panels around open-office perimeter.
Home-like feel	Soft neutral palette, oak accents, and indirect lighting to lower cognitive load.

(The World One ultimately replaced our initial Sidiz T50 recommendation after live trials proved that simpler adjustability better fit team habits, even at a slightly higher price-point.)

5. Implementation Journey

Total duration: 7 months (January → July 2024)

Phase	Calendar	Key Activities
Discovery & Audit	Jan 2 – Jan 31	Interviews, surveys, onsite observations, ergonomic measurements
Concept & 3D	Feb 1 – Mar 15	Space planning, mood boards, photorealistic renders, budget/ROI workshops
Procurement	Mar 16 – May 10	Competitive chair benchmarking, vendor negotiations, order placement
Fit-out & Install	May 11 – Jun 25	Construction, contract furniture delivery, on-site ergonomics training
Move-in & Activation	Jul 1 – Jul 15	Soft opening, post-occupancy tweaks, success-metrics baseline

Unexpected Hurdles & How We Solved Them

Kitchen scepticism: Leadership saw it as a cost centre; we reframed it as a culture hub, supported by research on spontaneous interaction and knowledge transfer.
Global supply constraints: Early-ordered long-lead items and local vendor back-ups kept the schedule intact without cost overruns.

Collaboration Rhythm

Weekly progress huddles with HR, Finance Ops, and IT ensured every decision aligned with wellness goals and risk controls. Cross-functional champions helped socialise changes company-wide.

6. Impact

Indicator	Result*
Employee satisfaction (internal pulse survey)	4.6/5 (+0.8)
Self-reported physical comfort	72% “very comfortable” (+30 pt)
Sense of community	2× increase in cross-team interactions (kitchen footfall analytics)
External recognition	Spanish finance hub requested identical process for Q4 2025

“Moving into the new space felt like upgrading from economy to business class.” – ContourGlobal team member

*Measured 3 months post-move-in.

What Made This Project Stand Out

Ergonomics without the learning curve – self-adjusting chairs and sit-stand hot desks that just work.
Culture-first kitchens – flipping a perceived ‘canteen’ into the heartbeat of the office.
Value-driven design – every euro spent ties back to a wellness or productivity metric.
True co-creation – clients were operationally and emotionally invested from day one.

What’s Next?

We remain on retainer for seasonal workspace audits and have completed two product-solution upgrades as needs evolved. An outdoor terrace fit-out is slated for Summer 2026.

Market Trend Insight

Most organisations still treat people and real estate as liabilities rather than assets. Studio Novo’s mission is to flip that narrative using evidence-based design to prove workplace ROI.

Takeaway

Great office designs aren’t born from catalogues; they emerge from insights. By pairing deep discovery with evidence-led ergonomics, Studio Novo helps teams feel valued, supported, and ready to excel.

Let’s Build Something Better

Studio Novo: Local Experts in Ergonomics
From ergonomic home offices to smart, people-first workplaces for startups and corporations, we tailor every solution to the way people work today.

📞 Contact: +359 882 282 663
🏢 Showroom: 5 Panorama Sofia Street, XS Tower, Ground Floor, Sofia 1766

🎁 Special Offer: Schedule a consultation this month and receive a complimentary ergonomic assessment (€150 value).

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