“This new photographic agency wants to be a place of diffusion and creation as well as a place of life in its own right. For the sake of integrating daily rituals of guarding into complex working hours, a large part of the space is dedicated to the children of promoters and collaborators.

The original space has been completely restructured to create an open and versatile place. The addition of shutters to the openings allows to modulate the natural light, inherent to the photographer’s work, according to a device that is both simple and aesthetic.

The space is fragmented by the implantation of “place-objects” which reconfigure the full and the empty spaces to offer unusual visual breakthroughs compared to the relatively modest scale of the places,” says Alain Carle Architecte.

• Location: Montreal, Canada
• Date completed: 2020
• Size: 1,500 square feet
• Design: Alain Carle Architecte
• Photos: Adrien Williams

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“In 2019, we were commissioned by the growing tech company Content Bloom, to renovate an existing 4,300 sq ft. commercial space into a contemporary office environment. The space needed to be able to meet the diverse requirements of the company’s 40 (and growing!) employees. As the Prime consultants on this project, we were responsible for the overall design and the selection of all furniture, fixtures and finish materials.

In addition to a spacious open office area for workstations, private offices, and a conference room, we designed separate areas for soft seating and collaborative workspaces,” said RHAD Architects.

• Location: Halifax, Canada
• Date completed: 2019
• Design: RHAD Architects
• Photos: Greg Richardson

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“They needed a complete overhaul to modernize their space, a renovation of their facility in its entirety consisting of 5 expansive 65,000 square foot floors, all while their staff of approximately 3,000 continued to function.

The new campus is progressive, engaging, and professional. Linking Manulife’s vision and values with a new approach to place-making, the space resonates on a personal level with the staff. As part of their Work Smart initiative, Figure3 developed a master plan for Manulife to shift them from an assigned workstation culture to an activity-based model; an entirely different way of working. A study in how design and change management can effectively work together, Manulife’s new workplace has been met with incredible enthusiasm from staff. This transformative shift in the work experience will now serve to establish the Manulife standard visually and experientially for their facilities moving forward.

Space functions are clear and paths of travel are intuitive, with familiar brand icons and colour references purposefully articulated throughout. The layout also encourages physical activity with convenient, practical destination points, building natural opportunities to engage with co-workers. Dynamic zones in which to collaborate and socialize, with quiet spaces to focus and re-energize, promote emotional well-being for the staff”, says Figure3.

• Location: Waterloo, Canada
• Date completed: 2020
• Size: 325,000 square feet
• Design: Figure3

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“Tandia Financial moved from three cramped floors to a single daylight-flooded level featuring 18 foot high ceilings. With the entire organization now on one floor we had to come up with a way of structuring the space to provide simple wayfinding and an intuitive sense of order.

By clustering hard-walled spaces at the center we divided the space into four neighbourhood quadrants. Each neighbourhood has a central common space break-out area with a unique visual identity. And each of these “squares” is further differentiated by having an individual ambiance based on one of the four seasons.
The public facing facilities are organized around the town’s “Piazza”, and flanked by community spaces such a training rooms, café, reception, boardroom and visitor meeting rooms, etc.”

• Location: Burlington, Ontario
• Date completed: 2020
• Size: 22,000 square feet
• Design: SDI Design

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“Plenty of social space was key to the firm that generates best ideas through group brainstorms and lively debate. The state-of-the-art-kitchen by Aya Kitchens, features a 22 foot long island for group gatherings over food, drinks and ample amounts of caffeine, seen in the five different coffee machines available. True to their eco-friendly approach in architecture, PARTISANS encourages biking to work by offering private unisex bathrooms that feature showers and comforable change-rooms. Dogs are welcome and get the chance to relax in the PARTISANS-designed wooden bubble prototype, made originally for Pepsi

Co in a foresight mandate PARTISANS had in 2015. Original pieces of mid-century modern furniture complements the space, with areas for relaxing or deep-thinking. An open and airy feel is achieved through the light color-pallette, allowing the prototypes, sketches, and art to be at the focal point. PARTISANS stays true to the ‘practice what you preach’ saying and surround themselves with objects of art and beauty, to draw inspiration in their work. PARTISANS has continued to support the local arts scene, and the space features work by artists Kent Monkman, Curtis Santiago, Erin Armstrong, and Scott Macfarldand, to name a few, some of whom have used the space in an ad-hoc residency style offered by the studio. This stems true in their collaboration process, in which they often dive into the specific details to understand manufacturing elements that can be reworked or improved. With that, PARTISANS has offered part of the studio to Maffeis, an engineering firm out of Italy who they collaborate with.

Featured throughout the space are multiple prototypes from previous projects. The kitchen showcases PARTISANS’ Cubey System that debuted at IDS and won best in show in 2017. The intention of the open shelving system is to be transparent and ultra low impact with just 18 inch dimensions to save space. The large boardroom features an ETFE bubble wall 4 feet deep, developed as a prototype for SideWalk Labs. Other prototypes throughout the space include a sculptural mahogany wood piece, a memento to the cutting-edge Bar Raval design; the swirling design piece hanging from the ceiling is a prototype for an upcoming restaurant build; models of the Orbit masterplans, and more.”

• Location: Toronto, Canada
• Date completed: 2020
• Size: 11,000 square feet
• Design: Partisans
• Photos: Tim Melnichuk, Thomas Bollmann

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“The Foundation wanted their new office space to enable the team to collaborate, communicate and innovate to accelerate fundraising, strengthen their commitment to their mission, and serve as a platform to recruit and retain the best talent.

The space was to celebrate and bolster the Foundation’s goals and achievements while conveying a sense of hope through an uplifting range of spaces, colour and branding. To do this, the team focused on a number of key concepts throughout the design process: elements of nature, color, pattern and flow.

The color palette was carefully curated to take staff, partners and guests on a visual journey that explores wellness, creativity and movement. Careful placement of built-out spaces, offices and meeting rooms are intentionally detailed with glass to ensure natural lights shines through. Celebrating nature and life, the use of sustainable materials and biophilia are used, reflecting the energy and pace of the organization.

An additional visual feature is the interactive donor and history walls in the reception, which incorporate physical and digital elements to inspire and engage donors with the track record of research breakthroughs that have happened at the Princess Margaret Foundation, while also highlighting the most critical funding priorities in need of support from donors.

The team chose an activity-based office to promote movement and support the workforce for their variety of tasks suited for individual needs. The office is split into differing sections, or “neighborhoods”, made up of flexible workstations and provide a nice alternative to private rooms and offices. Defined pathways act as “sidewalks”, which connect the neighborhoods together, all while supporting a natural flow to the way people move throughout the space.

Each part of the office was designed with a sense of purpose, multi-use and connection. The main café is designed to be the central hub for staff to gather and interact throughout the day. The cafes, quiet zones, and meeting rooms are designed to open up into larger spaces so the Foundation can host town halls and staff celebrations.

Overall, the new workspace aligns with the Foundation’s mission to fight cancer while promoting collaboration, innovation, and communication – all needed to deliver on the Foundation’s bold new strategic plan. With enhanced navigation, an appropriate mix of spaces to support different methods of work, and tons of natural light, the office staff are fully equipped to work and feel their best,” says Figure3.

• Location: Toronto, Canada
• Date completed: 2020
• Design: Figure3

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“Located in the celebrated 17-storey Globe and Mail Centre built by First Gulf, this would be an opportunity to give back to their employees, who had been working in a space of high cubicles and siloed work. It was also an opportunity show their clients who they were at their core; a forward-thinking leader in the development of office, mixed-use, retail and industrial properties.

The rectangular floorplate of 25,000 sf was typical, but rounded corners helped create a space that opens up to its guests. A neutral palette with natural warm tones and a combination of different woods allowed for complimentary contrast to the raw stone textures and exposed ceilings. It is an alluring yet understated workplace; modern and sophisticated, warm and inviting, which is felt as soon as you walk off the elevator.

At reception, a mix of modern and traditional design details can be seen. Riveted Corinthian column references effortlessly mix with a mirrored desk which reflect the activity of the office. Very conscious of sustainability in their projects, First Gulf commissioned a custom sculptural work of art depicting the human influence of Toronto.

The conference and boardroom glazing creates a gallery-style corridor that provides uninterrupted views. Smoked glass fronts with curved corners allow the city scene to be reflected. From inside the boardroom, a custom sculpture of a bronze coiled buck is tucked in the corner of the corridor, overseeing the business deals, also symbolizing the human influence on nature.

The design allows for the office culture to be on display, with natural light flowing in and amazing views of the city acting as the backdrop. A balance of work settings, including open seating, interior offices, and non-bookable privacy rooms allows staff to not only be more visible to each other but also collaborate in more efficient and effective ways.

The lounge is a breathtaking space not typically seen in office design – curating a more hospitality-driven atmosphere. With a servery tucked away, cozy built-in dining booths, and small studies, the space offers flexibility for staff while maintaining its function, and as well for First Gulf to entertain clients and host events.”

• Location: Toronto, Canada
• Date completed: 2020
• Size: 25,000 square feet
• Design: Figure3

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“The project is the unusual merging of a loft-style interior within the context of a ‘Class A’ office building. The new office location on the 23rd floor of a tower above the landmark Toronto Eaton Centre offers panoramic views of the city skyline, City Hall, Lake Ontario and the CN Tower. Within the raw space of exposed concrete floors and a textured ceiling, the design team developed programmatic spaces as distinct volumes, optimizing circulation and views of the city, while also maximizing natural light. The sleek interiors were inspired by images of travel to exciting destinations, while also showcasing the dramatic cityscape of downtown Toronto.

The design aesthetic of the conference and lunch-room volumes alludes to modes and nodes of high-speed transport such as train stations and airports; the huddle rooms and lounge areas suggest comfortable destinations such as cabins, parks and beaches. Travelzoo’s brand colours, red for action and blue for tranquility, are combined with touches of bold contrasting colours to enliven the space.

The project’s tight budget necessitated a strategic approach to materials and design. The cabin volume uses a Japanese automotive product printed to look like wood, and the conference rooms are painted in metallic silver that creates the gleam of real metal, like a train. The clients’ desire for an exposed ceiling presented a challenge: the building’s construction was not conducive to that kind of detail, but an elegant solution was found in a metal mesh ceiling that makes the space feel more open while masking the rough texture above.

Graphic interactive elements also incorporate travel-culture motifs. To reinforce company culture Travelzoo’s employees are encouraged to experience for themselves the travel deals they offer customers; an arrivals/departures board in the kitchen helps keep track of their globe-trotting, and in the reception area an interactive world map offers another playful and colourful record. Designed as a wood peg board and constructed by local Atelier Kozak, the signature wall map has coloured wood pegs for employees to plug into the far-flung places they have been,” says Dubbeldam Architecture + Design.

• Location: Toronto, Canada
• Date completed: 2018
• Size: 4,800 square feet
• Design: Dubbeldam Architecture + Design
• Photos: Shai Gil

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“Informa’s department teams working in different sectors (real estate shows, consumer shows, Fan expo, finance department) were previously isolated from one another, and with communication and productivity decreasing it was necessary to integrate the teams into a more collaborative environment. The new layout divides the department teams into coloured quadrants which are visually identified by bold coloured accents in the Teknion workstation furniture and wall graphics.

The workstations are located around the perimeter to provide access to views and natural light. Private offices and meeting rooms have glass partitions to allow for borrowed light in adjacent interior spaces. The new office layout, reflecting the creativity and collaborative nature of their process, has dramatically improved Informa’s workflow and productivity.

In the elevator lobby a directional graphic in the company’s brand colours directs guests to the reception area where a mural by local artist Mike Parsons depicts themes from some of Informa’s exhibitions. A fresh material palette of light wood to add warmth in a corporate environment combined with deep hues of blue in the furnishings and linear carpet incorporate Informa’s brand colours and contrasts with the white walls and workstation furniture. Similarly, in the communal kitchen, splashes of colour from the furniture and light fixtures

offset the neutral grey AyA cabinetry and countertop. The result is a space that successfully communicates Informa’s brand and its transition from a disconnected and poorly lit environment to an open workspace flooded with light,” says Dubbeldam Architecture + Design.

• Location: Toronto, Canada
• Date completed: 2019
• Size: 16,000 square feet
• Design: Dubbeldam Architecture + Design
• Photos: Shai Gil

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“For their Toronto location Slack hired us to create an imaginative space that reflected their company culture and its relationship with craft and technology. Set in a former knitting and textile factory in the heart of downtown Toronto, three storeys within the interior of this mid-rise brick and beam building were redesigned to meet all the needs of a twenty-first century tech company, inspired both by the building’s heritage and the company’s work culture.

The design team drew from a “threads of communication” concept using linear geometries throughout the space, such as continuous angular light fixtures and coloured networking cables running through the length of the office on the ceiling and walls. These enliven the space in an homage to the lines of yarn that were used in the mechanized knitting process, while also referencing the communication service of the messaging application itself. In the reception area, the design team worked with long-term collaborator Kathryn Walter of Felt Studio who wrapped diagonal strips of industrial felt along the walls and ceiling, creating a warm and inviting environment as soon as you step into the office.

A feature characteristic of the interior is the bold, contrasting pops of colour that demarcate distinct areas including solitary workstations, phone booths, break-out meeting rooms, a staff lounge and sleek executive boardroom. Each zone corresponds to a single colour that comprises Slack’s branding, reinforcing company identity while also providing visual interest and relief to the otherwise yellow tones of the brick and wood interiors. Meeting rooms are uniform yet each unique, owing to their bold and varied colour scheme. Throughout, vibrantly coloured acoustic wall paneling matches textured carpeting and distinctive furniture pieces.

The angular light fixtures appear to thread through the ceiling, knitting workspaces and meeting rooms together. The large communal cafe picks up on the linear theme again with its white and wood diagonal slat finish. According to principal Heather Dubbeldam, “The interior spaces are varied enough to meet the functional requirements of 140 employees, but they also bring a sense of continuity and community to the workplace. The result is a fresh take on an old space that is serious about work while offering a playful and comfortable space for its employees to succeed”.

The elegant oak table by Vitra adds warmth to the executive boardroom. A dropped ceiling over the table conceals technical equipment for various teleconferencing functions, and provides greater acoustic performance. The same angular light fixture threads through the room as an allusion to the continuous lines found throughout the office,” says Dubbeldam Architecture + Design.

• Location: Toronto, Canada
• Date completed: 2017
• Design: Dubbeldam Architecture + Design
• Photos: Shai Gil

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“Tasked with providing this creative agency with a bright, engaging and flexible working environment, this design is all about reflecting the client’s fun and vibrant identity.

A program-heavy brief that included a large photography studio, recording studio, workstations, meeting rooms and large cafe style amenity area, meant that careful consideration had to be paid to maintaining a sense of openness and light in a spatially challenging suite. A large portion of the front of house is dedicated to cafe-style lounge seating and tables that provide a relaxing area to welcome clients, the opportunity for flexible working and staff breakout.

Anchoring the design is the central spine planter wall that provides a large scale minimalist backdrop to the communal counter and an opportunity to introduce green screening to the mezzanine level. The expansive use of white with black accents paired with warm wood throughout the space, acts to contrast against the agency’s bright pink branding that injects pockets of vibrancy and colour into the fit out,” says Evoke International Design.

• Location: Vancouver, Canada
• Date completed: 2020
• Size: 4,069 square feet
• Design: Evoke International Design
• Photos: Barrie Underhill

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