The design for the institutional headquarters of the Asociación de Cooperativas Argentinas Coop. Ltda. sits on a plot at 3545 Avellaneda Street, in the city of Santa Fe, in a historic area undergoing constant renewal. The district is defined by the strong presence of the Belgrano Station, Boulevard Pellegrini and the Suspension Bridge, all symbols of the city.

Through its design, the building seeks to express in its form and spaces the values of the ACACOOP cooperative. Its public scale and openness to its surroundings reflect the company’s social commitment, participation and responsibility. Transparency, spatial flow and open double-height spaces aim to foster equality, integration, fairness, mutual collaboration and openness. Flexible, versatile spaces are favoured to encourage cooperative work, meeting and exchange, and future adaptations and uses.

The chosen typology responds to the search for spatial efficiency and programmatic flexibility on a narrow plot with varied activities. The building is organised in three successive bands along the length of the site: a larger space for the main programme, a circulation plane, and a support band housing vertical circulation and service rooms. Cross ventilation and good daylight in every space were prioritised through intermediate courtyards.

The value of the project lies not only in its programme but above all in the richness of the collaboration between two practices: Arrillaga & Parola and Bertone & Nieva. This way of working brought specialised, complementary skills to the team in response to the complexity of the building.