Unity in Diversity

Spanning eight floors of the iconic CPIC Xintiandi Commercial Centre in Shanghai’s vibrant Xintiandi area, the design faced the key challenge of unifying agencies with distinct identities into one coherent vision.

This sense of continuity is anchored by a central sculptural staircase. Serving as both a physical and social connector, the staircase enables movement between floors and fosters spontaneous encounters. In a high-rise where unity can easily fragment, the design cultivates a dynamic community that is a hive of motion, collaboration and collective energy.

The visitor journey is designed to impress, immerse and inspire. As you step out of the lift, you are struck by the sight of a a red ceramic brick wall that evokes Shanghai’s iconic lane houses. This is paired with Publicis Groupe’s lion emblem, brightly illuminated by a glowing light film. This bold, tactile entrance sets the tone for what lies ahead: an experience with a strong presence that is deeply rooted in the locality.

At the heart of the visitor floor lies the Pitch Room. Circular in plan and wrapped in a curved LED screen, it is far from a traditional conference space. Instead, it has been reimagined as an immersive storytelling platform in which creativity can flourish. Movable chairs and standing tables offer flexibility, while smart glass provides instant privacy at the touch of a button. Here, communication becomes a shared experience, blurring the boundaries between speaker and audience.

The employee hub, which is accessible directly from the ground-floor lobby, offers a calm, tactile  and focused environment where staff can feel supported and valued. This floor brings together HR, IT and finance in clearly zoned, accessible stations that address essential employee needs: whether that’s grabbing a coffee, fixing a laptop issue or having a quick chat with HR. At the heart of the space is in-house café clad in vibrant orange terrazzo that channels the atmosphere of a vibrant neighbourhood corner shop, but with a Publicis twist that includes branded merchandise and proud Publicis lions.

The Grand Pantry on the top floor embodies agility, adaptability and collective energy. With foldable screens, operable partitions and a dynamic ceiling system, it can be expanded or contracted as needed to support interaction at any scale. As the social hub of the headquarters, this versatile space can host anything from casual lunches to full-storey events.