With a storied history spanning 80 years, Banco Mercantil has just unveiled its new headquarters in Belo Horizonte, situated in the state of Minas Gerais. The financial institution now occupies five floors within the Statement office tower, a Class A+ development delivered at the beginning of this year, located in the Savassi submarket. The editorial team at REsource had the opportunity to interview Uelques Almeida, Executive Director of Operations and Process Efficiency, who graciously shared intricate details about this transition.

According to Almeida, the new headquarters has been meticulously designed to accommodate a hybrid work model, featuring an open office concept: "We have open and shared spaces that foster the exchange of experiences and integration among individuals and teams." Currently, Banco Mercantil boasts a workforce of 3,500 employees, encompassing those stationed at the headquarters and those scattered across branches throughout the country. In Belo Horizonte alone, approximately 1,200 employees are actively working from the office at least a few days a week.

The newly established office within the Statement office tower boasts over 4,000 square meters of private space. Almeida emphasizes, "We've made astute use of the space, significantly reducing idle areas and enhancing overall mobility. Meeting rooms initially designed for six people can now be expanded to comfortably accommodate up to 20 individuals; other rooms feature adaptable furniture suitable for dynamic training sessions; and we've even incorporated a flexible space capable of seamlessly transforming into an auditorium, with the capacity to host up to 60 attendees," he adds.

"The arrangement of teams was thoughtfully planned to promote close collaboration among areas of the same vice-presidency and directorate, as well as based on strategic business synergies. The meeting rooms were meticulously conceived to deliver the best possible experience—they're fully equipped with cutting-edge audiovisual capabilities, large-screen TVs, and interactive whiteboards, all contributing to engaging presentations and integrated discussions. Our vision is for people to leverage these purpose-designed spaces to think collectively, develop projects, and engage in meaningful exchanges," Almeida elaborates.