KV SESC AV. PAULISTA

Institutional Use

SESC Av. Paulista

Av. Paulista 119, Paraíso, São Paulo, Brasil

Renovating Without Losing Identity

Starting with the retrofit of SESC’s former administrative headquarters—originally designed by Sérgio Pileggi and Euclides de Oliveira in the 1970s—we returned an urban space to the city that offers numerous possibilities for movement, gathering, and use.

Inaugurated in April 2018, the new unit stands out as an extension of the avenue itself: a free and open territory ready to be embraced by the general public. This concept is reflected in the wide entrances and various communal areas, which include interior plazas and a rooftop lookout.

Non-reflective glass and zinc panels cover the main façades. In addition to their aesthetic effect, they serve as acoustic and thermal buffers, kept cooler by a naturally ventilated internal terrace.

Enclosures throughout the building were designed based on desired light levels—glass panels have solar control, and blackout blinds were installed in spaces meant for performances and exhibitions. Other façades are sealed with lightweight precast panels or masonry to reduce external heat and noise loads.

The building’s many spaces and services — café Terraço, comedoria (dining area), library, children’s area, technology and arts, sports practice rooms, performance spaces, retail shop, and dental clinics — are distributed across 17 floors based on four key criteria: the grouping of similar activities, noise levels, foot traffic, and external views.

“The configuration of the east and west façades, with horizontal openings, gives users a new way of looking at the city while breaking from the typical office-building typology of Avenida Paulista. It signals a new use for the old structure and welcomes a new, democratic audience.” (Gianfranco Vannucchi, Lead Architect)

The project boldly incorporates new technological platforms, employing three integrated audio and video networks, which reduce both costs and environmental impact.

The digital communication system allows programming from this and other SESC units to be transmitted to every floor. Projections can be made on the walls, and performances in progress can be broadcast to multiple locations.

Café Terraço

The café terrace from the old project was replaced with a public-access rooftop lookout, available by appointment.

Espetáculos

The slab between the 5th and 6th floors was removed to create a double-height space for performances and exhibitions. The same was done between the 13th and 14th floors, achieving ceiling heights of up to 7 meters (23 feet).