ATO Architects developed a design proposal as an entry for the Hugo Insurance Design Competition, focusing on the refurbishment and upgrade of the organisation’s existing office facilities across two locations in Lagos: Guinea Insurance House, Jibowu, Lagos, and Kings Place, 2 Metal Box Road, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos. The Jibowu office has a total drawn floor area of approximately 492sqm, while the Ikeja office has a total net floor area of approximately 671sqm. The proposal seeks to transform both locations into contemporary, functional and cohesive corporate environments that respond to the operational requirements of the organisation while establishing a consistent visual identity across both offices.

The proposed works comprise the reorganisation and upgrade of reception areas, workstations and training spaces, meeting rooms, IT and server rooms, kitchens, storage areas and other supporting facilities. At Guinea Insurance House, Jibowu, the intervention addresses ageing finishes, inadequate furniture and storage, congested circulation, and electrical and mechanical service issues. At Kings Place, Ikeja, where the existing building fabric is generally sound, the design focuses primarily on improving space planning, storage, reception facilities, workplace ergonomics and the utilisation of the existing training areas.

The design prioritises improved circulation, workplace efficiency, user comfort, acoustics, lighting, ventilation and safety while introducing coordinated furniture, finishes, fittings, signage and corporate branding across both locations. Existing assets are retained, refurbished and reconfigured where viable to achieve cost efficiency and minimise unnecessary replacement. As both offices are expected to remain operational, the proposed refurbishment strategy also aims to minimise disruption while creating modern, efficient and user-focused workplaces for Hugo Insurance.