The RCC Headquarters in Yekaterinburg has officially opened. As Foster + Partners’ first office building in Russia, it reinvents the traditional honeycomb office layout, setting new benchmarks for space quality, comfort, and flexibility. This 15-story building features innovative modular office units enclosed in energy-efficient façades, creating a distinct architectural statement in Yekaterinburg’s skyline.
RCC stands as one of the world’s leading copper producers. The triangular pattern on the façade draws inspiration from copper’s chemical structure. Atop the building, the newly redesigned RCC logo — itself inspired by the architecture — is prominently featured.
The design approach for the office layout focuses on creating an “employee home” atmosphere rather than a conventional large, open workspace. The office spaces are private and intimate, evoking the scale and comfort of a family living area. The project team carefully studied how the owner uses the space and developed an innovative modular system. Close collaboration with the internal structural team allowed for rapid construction, ensuring employees benefit from optimal natural lighting for focused work.
Each double-layered module contains two offices stacked vertically, visible through the building’s double-skin façade. These modules line both sides of a central corridor, which functions as a lounge with seating areas and offers city views through a glass elevator shaft. The fifteenth floor is illuminated from above, providing a flexible space designed for company gatherings and events.
The project aims to achieve a high BREEAM rating (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method). To accommodate Yekaterinburg’s extreme seasonal temperature variations — from 30°C above zero in summer to 30°C below zero in winter — the design balances solid and glazed walls. This approach optimizes solar gain during low winter sun angles while minimizing heat from direct sunlight in summer.
Overlooking the city and its newly landscaped riverbank, the site incorporates green space that extends beneath the building, creating a private garden for employees.
The landscape design reflects the honeycomb-shaped interior layout, with a series of outdoor spaces offering tranquil areas for employees to relax and have lunch.
The building also includes facilities such as a video conference room, boardroom, reception area, and a dining space for leadership.
Technical Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Standard Floor Plan
△ 13th Floor Plan
△ 14th Floor Plan
△ 15th Floor Plan
△ North Elevation
△ West Elevation
△ Longitudinal Section
△ Cross Section
△ Module Analysis 1
△ Module Analysis 2
△ Staircase Nodes
Project Information
Project Type: Office Building
Location: Yekaterinburg, Russia
Architect: Foster + Partners
Area: 18,450 m²
Year: 2021
Manufacturers: Irline, Car, Solo
Owner: RCC (Russian Copper Company)
Design Team: Norman Foster, David Nelson, Spencer de Grey, Luke Fox, Angus Campbell, Jeremy Kim, Jonathan Parr, Mike Holland, Stefan Bench, Dimitri Chaava, Julija Cholopova, Louise Clausen, Amy Company Butler, Patrick Crocock, Elisa Fernandez Ramos, Charlotte Gallen, Raphael Giacomuzzo, Michelle Hudson, Martin Kehoe, Paul Kennedy, Alena Kereshun, Anton Khmelnitskiy, Annabel Knightley, Andy Lister, Sarah Lister, Yuen Nam, Connie Luk, Maria Mallalieu, Luke Moloney, Aleksejus Nevemdomskis, Charlie Parford Plant, Mariia Pashenko, Stelios Psaltis, Dina Timartseva, Harry Twigg, Vincent Westbrook, Michael Woodrow
Foster + Partners Engineers: Andrew Jackson, Andrew Coward
Other Foster + Partners Team Members: Paul Kalkhoven, Armstrong Yakubu, Sarah Villar-Furniss, George Fereday, Thouria Istephan, Matthew Burger
Collaborative Architect: P. M. VostokProject
Structural, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineers: Foster + Partners / P. M. VostokProekt
Kitchen & Logistics: Cini-Little International
Façade Engineering: Priedemann
Security System: WSP
Vertical Circulation System: D2E
Lighting Design Consultant: Jason Bruges Studio
Traffic Engineer: MIC
Acoustic Engineer: Sandy Brown
Landscape Consultant: Hyland Edgar Driver
General Contractor: A1
Photographer: Oleg Kovalyuk
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