Global advertising and public relations titan Publicis Groupe has added new offices across eight floors of the CPIC Xintiandi Commercial Center in Shanghai. The design by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects echoes the evolving spirit of the city, drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese courtyards. The new headquarters also unifies agencies by embodying the “Power of One” philosophy, consolidating a diverse range of agencies into one vibrant workplace that reflects a shift toward greater collaboration, agility, and creative synergy while asserting a bold spatial identity.
“While the project occupies a contemporary high-rise, we were interested in recreating the sense of intimacy, community, and spontaneity often found in the city’s historic urban fabric. The design therefore combines the scale and ambition of a global headquarters with smaller, more human-centred spaces for encounter, collaboration, and informal exchange,” says Ippolito Fleitz Group founder and managing partner Peter Ippolito. “Shared circulation areas, social hubs, and the central connecting stair were all conceived almost like an internal urban landscape—encouraging movement, interaction, and a strong sense of community.”
Materiality, detailing, and a layered color strategy distinguish each floor and each neighborhood. Stainless steel panels outfitted with continuous horizontal wooden shelves imbue continuity and a calming geometry, while a central sculptural staircase also maintains a sense of uniformity as a physical and social connector. Red ceramic brick walls channel Shanghai lane houses as they emit the glow of the Publicis Groupe’s lion emblem. Discreet smart glass and curved LED screens wrap the central, circular pitch room to deliver immersive storytelling with movable chairs and standing tables for flexibility. A conference space and practical amenities like water stations and nursing rooms are rounded out with the versatile Grand Pantry on the top floor, outfitted with foldable screens, operable partitions, and a dynamic ceiling system. “Screens were used not only as spatial dividers, but also as a way to create transparency, layering, and visual connection between teams—echoing the density and permeability often found in Shanghai’s urban fabric,” Ippolito adds. “The project was developed around a highly modular system, allowing ceilings, meeting rooms, and shared spaces to be reconfigured over time as the organisation evolves.”
