Two Rubik’s Cubes on a golden boulevard

Renowned architect Lord Norman Foster once said: “A perfect structure doesn’t necessarily need to set height records. The intelligence in its novel construction makes it stand out.” This notion is validated in the design by Foster + Partners for Techcombank’s headquarters on Le Duan Street in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Rubik’s Cube, conceived by Hungarian sculptor Erno Rubik in 1974, symbolizes logical thinking, computational ability, and boundless human creativity.

For Techcombank, the Rubik’s Cube is a symbol marking the bank’s development, through the design of the Techcombank Le Duan building. Comprising two stacked Rubik blocks, the building exudes a sense of solidity, modern technology, and elegance, nestled in the heart of the city. The architectural landmark aligns seamlessly with the city’s ethos of “Dynamic and Constant Movement”, reflecting the bank’s sophisticated aesthetic sensibilities.

The entire facade, from the ground to the 20th floor, is made from glass, reflecting the vibrant life of the city center. The distinctive sunlight of the southern region comes through at all times of the day and throughout the seasons, serving as the primary source of illumination during daylight hours.

Reaching out to the future

This is the impression of employees and partners working at the Techcombank headquarters on Le Duan Street. With boundless creative ideas and a keen understanding of southern architectural culture, Techcombank and Foster + Partners have created a unique structure that allows the entire building to be flooded with light, thanks to a large atrium located at the core.

A highlight of the building is its strong emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency through the use of numerous energy-saving features. Thus, designers have likened the project to a model office for modern and sustainable development that reflects Techcombank’s pioneering spirit - a highly-intelligent, energy-efficient structure in the sun-drenched land of the south.

Both the exterior and the core of the building are made from glass, allowing natural light to permeate every part of the working areas for bank employees. Moreover, through the application of light sensors in rooms, all energy-consuming devices automatically switch off when not in use.

Best Workplaces in Asia 2023

Similar to Google and other giants in Silicon Valley, Techcombank heavily invests in its corporate culture, which is vividly reflected in the working environment that it provides for employees. When outlining the design task, the Leadership Team wanted to transform the bank’s office buildings into optimal spaces for interaction, ensuring a sustainable future for all employees. This vision has been brilliantly realized through the superb design of Techcombank Le Duan by Foster + Partners.

A large atrium in the heart of the building brings in natural light and serves as a large window connecting thousands of bank employees. Additionally, the central location of the staircase provides an open design, promoting community, encouraging cooperation, and fostering a culture of direct exchange between peers within the same building. It is an excellent connection that contributes to creating optimal points for discussion, interaction, and bonding among the bank’s employees.

Techcombank’s new head offices reflect the bank’s strong commitment to creating the best working conditions for its people.

In 2022 and 2023, Techcombank became the first Vietnamese bank to run Overseas Talent Roadshows when it visited Singapore, the US, the UK, and Australia to recruit Vietnamese-born talent to return to the country and join the bank.

“Techcombank’s people strategy always aims to unlock the full potential of our employees and encourage their determination to ‘Be Greater’,” said Mr. Jens Lottner, CEO of Techcombank. “We believe that our reputation and working environment, which facilitates the development of each individual, will help top overseas talent joining Techcombank find a workspace that they were used to when working in Singapore, London, Sydney, or Silicon Valley.”

In September 2023, Techcombank also became the first and only Vietnamese bank to be named in the Top 11 “Best Workplaces in Asia 2023” by Great Place to Work (GPTW), a leading global organization that assesses workplace culture.

The latest global Employee Experience Survey placed Techcombank in the top 12 per cent of companies with the highest scores in Engagement & Enablement and the top 6 per cent in Employee Effectiveness in Southeast Asia. The results are testament to the strong culture that Techcombank is building, where 93 per cent of respondents “Feel proud to work for Techcombank”.