A New Rhythm for Work: Saudi Electric Company Workplace Design Story
Saudi Electric Company (SEC) needed to increase headcount capacity within its existing office floors while also modernizing the workspace in line with evolving employee needs and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
The existing layout lacked flexibility, collaboration areas, and focus spaces — making it difficult to support a growing, dynamic workforce.
The challenge was to balance densification with employee comfort — without expanding the office footprint.
Our design strategy:
Scope of design
A question echoed across the structured rows of a legacy office:
“Can we fit more people without losing what makes work, work?”
Saudi Electric Company (SEC) was growing—teams expanding, projects multiplying. But the walls weren’t.
The floors had edges, the desks had limits, and the traditional layout—neatly ordered, endlessly repeated—had little room for change.
The challenge was not just numbers. It was a vision:
More people, yes—but also more movement.
More moments of collaboration.
More places to pause, connect, and breathe.
SEC sought to accommodate a growing workforce across its existing office floors without increasing the real estate footprint. The company's traditional layout lacked flexibility, space efficiency, and modern amenities. As part of a broader cultural and organizational transformation, SEC aimed to adopt the Cool Living Office Concept, which emphasizes agile, human-centric spaces such as casual collaboration areas, solo focus pods, and informal meeting zones. However, they required a clear, evidence-based design proposal to visualize how this transformation could be achieved effectively and aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.
Designed Capacity Increase of ~16% in Employee Seats Without Expanding Floor Area
The proposed layout intelligently reconfigured existing floor space using modular furniture and optimized workstation clustering. By identifying underutilized zones and reducing circulation inefficiencies, we were able to propose a ~16% increase in seating capacity—achieved without expanding the architectural footprint.
The total seated spaces including (employee, supervisors, closed offices, meeting spots and casual meeting with break-out areas) increased by 75.4%.
The design supports higher density without compromising comfort, mobility, or function.
Clearly Articulated Zonal Layout Aligning with Cool Living Office Principles
The new design framework is centered around activity-based zoning, with clearly defined areas for focus work, collaborative meetings, social interaction, and support functions. This zoning model brings the Cool Living Office Concept to life—integrating acoustic pods, casual lounges, and enclosed meeting rooms into a cohesive, human-centered environment. The zoning strategy also ensures future adaptability for organizational changes.
Workstations
Purpose: Focused work
Design Elements: Sit-stand desks, acoustic panels
Casual Zones
Purpose: Ad-hoc discussions
Design Elements: Soft seating, writable surfaces
Pods
Purpose: Solo calls/virtual meetings
Design Elements: Enclosed acoustic booths
Meeting Rooms
Purpose: Small/medium team discussions
Design Elements: Modular tables, AV setups
Lounge Areas
Purpose: Socialization + decompression
Design Elements: Coffee points, flexible seating
Positioned SEC With a Future-Ready Workplace Strategy
Beyond spatial design, the proposal positioned SEC with a long-term workplace strategy rooted in agility, employee experience, and operational scalability. The design reflects evolving work patterns in Saudi Arabia’s corporate sector and aligns with Vision 2030’s goals for modernization and innovation.
“The design team’s approach enabled us to visualise how our office can evolve without any structural change — perfect for our growth cycle.”
“The zoning and furniture strategy really reflect modern workplace thinking while staying true to our brand and culture.”
Through a tailored workplace design proposal and strategic space planning, Atelier 21 supported SEC in envisioning a dynamic, future-ready office environment aligned with the Cool Living Office concept. Our design-led approach translated SEC’s vision into a detailed, actionable plan—balancing efficiency, comfort, and scalability within the existing footprint.
Ready to explore how your workspace can support growth, flexibility, and innovation?
Contact Atelier 21 (مفن الرسام) today to learn how our workplace strategy and design expertise can bring your next office transformation to life.
