Perched on the 14th floor of Torres de Aguacaliente, the workplace at Ruffo Ibarra Consultores’ headquarters departs from the enclosed layouts traditionally associated with accounting offices.
SAEN Studio, an architecture and interior design practice based in Tijuana, reorganised the existing interior around openness, daylight, and enduring materials to support the firm’s next phase of growth.
Rather than expanding its footprint, the brief focused on adapting the existing workplace to support a growing client base while preserving the firm’s established identity. The redesign centres on open planning, natural light, and a restrained palette of materials.
Making the most of an existing workplace
The headquarters’ elevated position offered uninterrupted views across the city, strengthening the connection between the workplace and its surroundings.
Large windows frame the city while bringing daylight deep into the office, giving the workplace a lighter, more open character.
Walnut, travertine, and stainless steel appear throughout the interior, giving the office a consistent identity while reflecting the firm’s long-standing reputation.
Rethinking the traditional accounting office
The redesign moves away from the compartmentalised layouts commonly found in accounting offices. Instead of rows of enclosed booths, the workplace adopts a more fluid organisation that encourages movement and interaction.
The new layout encourages collaboration without compromising workplace efficiency. By replacing rigid spatial divisions with more connected spaces, the redesign reflects how professional workplaces are evolving.
The design team conceived the office not only as a functional workplace but also as a space that communicates confidence and reinforces the firm’s commitment to financial management.
Craftsmanship shapes the client experience
The reception area is where the design is most clearly expressed. Custom shelving extends seamlessly from the walls onto the ceiling, softening the distinction between architecture and furniture. The installation is complemented by furnishings and artworks that turn the reception into both the arrival point and the visual centrepiece of the headquarters.
Careful detailing runs throughout the office, reinforcing the themes of strength, transparency, and warmth that underpin the project.
Completed in February 2025, the RIC Office balances the firm’s heritage with a workplace designed to support its future growth.
Photos: Courtesy of Cesar Belio
