A celebration of Saudi at Oliver Wyman’s new Riyadh HQ

Photography: Yasser Ibrahim

A result of engagement with cultural consultants and employee focus groups, interior designers Roar have unveiled the new Oliver Wyman headquarters in Riyadh, integrating Saudi Arabian culture into an operational modern workplace. Marking a new chapter for the global consulting firm, Oliver Wyman asked for an office that reflected the cultural pulse of Saudi Arabia and offered functional solutions that set the company apart from other corporate spaces.

Throughout, the design language is intentionally restrained. A calming palette creates a sense of serenity, intermittently punctuated by curated artwork and decorative elements. Upon entry, employees and visitors are greeted with a falcon wing sculpture that nods to Saudi symbolism, whilst adjacent, a striking 3D artwork by Hazem Kurdali, influenced by a poem by Khalid Al Faisal, underpins the cultural design narrative further.

Artistry at its core, Roar’s commitment to honouring local craft is evidenced with decorative finishes at every turn. Key elements such as glass manifestations of employee poetry serve as contemplative artworks as well as privacy screens for meeting rooms and dedicated focus areas. Intricate columns add yet more visual texture; the hand-applied stucco finish paying homage to the country’s rich jewellery and metalworking traditions. Tying the whole scheme together, custom sadu stitching adorns individual workstations, referencing the region’s Bedouin weaving techniques.

A spacious multipurpose room is a central feature to the project, benefiting from the use of kinetic partitions which can be configured for a multitude of work settings, such as training sessions, conferences or seminars. Boasting a hotel lobby-style ambience, the café is a natural extension of this space, with its agile desks and private booths allowing space for socialising and individual work.

With the primary focuses to promote wellbeing, the layout is packed with thoughtful details that ensure private and quiet spaces are balanced with areas that foster collaboration. Several wellness-driven features such as a nursing room for new mothers and multiple prayer rooms are on offer. In addition, Associate offices are situated at the core of the building, allowing high-traffic areas to benefit from maximum natural light and city views.

Roar’s unique evidence-based design process saw that every decision for the Oliver Wyman office was rooted in research and collaboration. By partnering with workplace psychologist Briar Jacques, Roar deeply considered how factors like colour, light, and materiality affect mental well-being alongside how they boosted productivity and employee satisfaction.

Palavi Dean, Founder and Creative Director of Roar, comments, “When Oliver Wyman approached us to design their Saudi office, they were clear about one thing: this space had to feel like Riyadh and resonate with its identity. It wasn’t about recreating their offices elsewhere, but about ensuring this headquarters felt deeply rooted in its surroundings, both culturally and contextually.” Dean adds, “We always take the time to understand how a space should function, but also how it should make people feel. In Riyadh, we’ve created an environment that’s both calming and dynamic – one that truly reflects Oliver Wyman’s values and the culture of Saudi Arabia.”