We have discussed in some previous blogs our 3 tier model when it comes to our Envision Strategy.

Tier One: Planning for Now
Tier Two: Planning for Transition
Tier Three: Planning for the Future

So, what exactly goes into each of these tiers and how do we work with you to help guide you to the best outcome for your individual needs? Let’s break it down a bit more starting with Tier One: Planning for NOW.

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This 90,000 sq.ft. project required complete programming and client engagement workshop for all stakeholder groups. SGH utilized all of Technology Client’s design guidelines while providing a design that reflects the local and programmatic requirements of this Halifax office.

The result is a beautifully bright and welcoming space with large graphic walls, and an open workplace setting full of natural light.

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PagerDuty retained SGH Design Partners as the prime designer to help lead this transition to their new home office. With the technology sector booming, being one of Toronto’s fastest growing industries, PagerDuty was looking to remain ahead of the game for employee attraction and wanted to create a space that was conducive to open collaboration, team building, and overall employee wellness.

PagerDuty’s culture and brand were used as key drivers in the design of their new 24,000 sq.ft. office. The brand focused space was designed with standardized benching stations, enclosed and open meeting spaces equipped with latest technology that were named after Toronto landmarks, and a large lunchroom with games area that supported a town hall function as well. A portion of the space was designed for sub-tenant purposes which PagerDuty could take back in the future as the company grows and requires the extra square footage.

The finished space turned out absolutely beautiful! Pops of colour throughout the new office complement PagerDuty’s personality and brand while the Toronto landmark named meeting spaces bring the city into this forward-thinking company.

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Global Contract furniture group is a proudly Canadian owned and manufactured furniture company with headquarters in North Toronto, Ontario. With offices across Canada, it was time for Global’s location in Halifax to transition into a new space. As a proudly Canadian owned business as well, SGH Design Partners was happy to be retained by Global to help design and construct a furniture showroom to service the Atlantic Region.

The centralized location in Halifax, Nova Scotia was important for the showroom as they have many customers who they service within the city, but also were looking at providing a space for events, training, and gatherings for the design community. This new space is located on the ocean front with views into the Halifax harbour. A beautiful space full of natural light, the new office location of 5,000 sq.ft. was designed with flexibility and an open concept design in mind. As a showroom, Global required a space that could adapt as their products evolved over time. The new space is bright and vibrant, with an open and flexible floor plan which allows the Global team to respond to changing design trends and customer needs.

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After extensive evaluation with the Client considering various locations it was determined this Financial Client would move to a rural/suburban environment in the Nanaimo North Town Center Mall. This existing shopping mall is in the process of “de-malling” to revitalize and bring together both commercial and retail space in a hybrid environment.  This client selected two of the new commercial retail units (CRU) being constructed in a setting surrounded by water, forest and beautiful natural landscapes. The sacrifice, a less accessible space to the variety of social amenities offered by their existing downtown location.

The space needed to accommodate two very different user groups. The first being a louder and more energized call centre, the second a quieter, heads down, focused finance and accounting group.  Both needed lots of collaborative space with a variety of closed and open options, easily accessible and flexible.

The two user groups are buffered from each other through the creation of “collaboration avenues” which are defined by a change in flooring and a dropped wood slat ceiling feature to create refuge and visual breaks in between the open spaces. Fresh accent colours of spring green and ocean blues infuse a calming atmosphere in this open, bright and modern space. Adding three new skylights and coordinating carefully with mechanical requirements bring in additional natural light and air that fills the whole space. Large walls provide the introduction of art and graphics selected specifically to represent Nanaimo, BC.

The overall floor layout is free-flowing and organic with centralized collaboration avenues which house focus and meeting spaces. Amenities include phone booths, perch points, pause areas, training and coaching rooms set up for privacy, focus or spontaneous interactions depending on the need. These inviting spaces are open, engaging and transparent allowing light to filter through panes of glass. The curved and soft edges of the 140 workstations create an approachable friendliness that contrasts nicely against the rectangular rigid architecture allowing for a variety of ways to circulate through the space. This casual approach encourages people to interact and socialize through spontaneous happy encounters that aspire to make the workday a welcoming experience which, in the long run, helps to attract and retain great talent.

What made this space location really sing is the introduction of the employee café. It is a bright and inviting destination spot where people can gather, dine, meet and socialize. This makes up for the lack of access to eating areas close by and fosters a real community feeling. Beautiful artwork created by local artists celebrate this unique and rich indigenous community. Implementing graphics and common meeting areas such as the employee café were critical for this project’s success. Soft furniture settings and booth like seating provide a variety of uses that entice people to drop in throughout the day yet lightweight enough to allow flexibility in accommodating large town hall gatherings. Skylights were integrated to help with access to natural light, this kept the windows open and did not block light that was able to engulf the space throughout.

Through active listening the designer was able to really understand the workplace strategy, goals and significant changes required for this future office to be highly successful now and into the future. The proportion of flexible work areas to shared meeting and focused areas was clearly defined as part of the discovery process early on. In the end the open, expansive industrial space achieved this most successfully as was vetted out in the search for the right location.

The open organic workspaces are agile, flexible and spacious. Flanked by focus rooms, meeting areas, and closed areas there is a break from loud space to quiet refuge space. The approach to colours and texture are soft, natural and timeless utilizing the clean modern lines of the building space. Furniture has rounded edges and breaks from the tradition grid pattern that allow the space to have a spontaneous energy. High, large walls proudly display local artwork that define spaces, provides orientation and infuse local humour and culture.

 Client Statement

The new offices were a huge success and well received by our staff. SGH Design Partner approach to programming, data-gathering and workplace strategies allowed the SGH team to understand our goals and objectives for both short and long term.

SGH did an excellent job at integrating our standards for workplace while utilizing their creative skills to integrate a workplace that reflected the local Nanaimo culture, look and feel. The results were realized immediately. Design elements such as access to natural light for all staff, open and generous circulation space, multiple collaboration spaces, etc., have all contributed to the new design of our work environment to help improve staff morale and staff retention.

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The 15,000 SF flex building was compiled of cold concrete, stark white walls and 16-foot open ceilings. Through harmonious design and architecture, this space was transformed into an inviting workplace, reflecting their core values through a residential esthetic.

Conducting workshops, visioning and data gathering sessions were an integral part of the design evolution that gave insight to develop what the key design drivers would be, accessibility and collaboration. It was crucial that all of the partners involved in this project were on the same page and ensured flawless communication throughout. This allowed for the final creation of the holistic office space that was desired.

Keeping the perimeter clear provided an unobstructed view of the surrounding nature and allowed natural daylight to engulf the space, which prompted the design to mature into this bright open concept space. Low-profile furniture was selected to ensure visibility and sightlines were kept throughout the space, eliminating hierarchies within the office and allowed for this approachable and accessible office.

Working with a blank slate, and having a flex building, gave an endless amount of opportunity to create more than just your typical office space. This design build project was an interconnected team of moving parts. The overall solution required a problem-solving process, and a holistic design approach. Starting from the pouring of the concrete floor up, meant the design approach needed to be innovative. Implementing careful strategies were required in order to stay within the client’s budget while designing an environment that employees would look forward to working in. The Client’s authentic family connection inspired the team-based approach to the design solution. This in turn was led by the Client’s core values: integrity, respect, excellence, courage, openness and honesty.

The offices and meeting rooms were designed with glass walls to maintain an open feel throughout the entirety of the office. Having them centrally located with workstations, pause areas, and collaborative pockets would allow the remaining area to remain exposed to the building’s natural surroundings, filling the space with daylight. This layout enables the staff members to communicate effortlessly and collaborate seamlessly.

A harmonious blend between raw elements of earth, minerals and sediment, this concrete company paired more refined details to represent their welcoming culture. Electric Blue paint, inspired by their corporate colours, was incorporated into various accents throughout the office: from the large blue wall in the reception to the blue baffles suspended from the ceiling, every element in this space represents the Clients brand. This large-scale building covered in glazing was brought to life with white details, custom concrete countertops and warm toned woods to create a unified space.

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Using a holistic approach, early partnership with furniture vendor, SGH gained a greater understanding of the team’s daily functions. Forward focused solutions were designed to support their specific needs.

Transparency. Offices are inboard with full glass fronts allowing for maximum access to natural daylight. Visibility across the workspaces helps break down barriers between departments and encourages more cross-disciplinary interaction.

Focus. Circulation paths and placement of social zones were carefully planned to minimize interruptions and maintain required focus in personal workspaces. Attention to detailing and material selections maximized acoustic performance.

Design for Movement. All primary work surfaces are sit/stand. The three interconnected floors, connected with an existing staircase,unique features were provided to encourage vertical movement.

Spatial Manipulation.“Less for me, more for my team.” In depth programming analysis focused on the attributes and requirements of each department, allowing the design team to develop progressive neighbourhoods that cater to the specific needs of the department for focus, collaboration and socialization.

By aligning the workplace more closely to the Global brand we achieved strategic objectives for innovation and talent attraction. Previously, the office was set up as individual workspaces and segregated departments which forced people to work independently. The new space encourages sharing of knowledge and information between teams. Work areas visually connect employees and are well balanced with a variety of collaboration and social zones.

Carefully selected ambassadors from each team were a part of in-depth visioning sessions throughout the project. This unique connection betweenClient and Design Team provided for clear understanding of each team’s objectives and needs.

Employees are encouraged to explore the three floors. Unique spaces on each floor include:21st floor, a multi-purpose training space; 22nd floor, boardroom complex; and 23rd floor, Games/Social lounge. All spaces were designed with the ambassadors input and inspiration.

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Working as a trusted advisor for the Client during the real estate review process is how it was determined that the decision would be made to stay in their current office space and renovate. The full three floors overwent extensive renovations that modernized the office into a playful yet sophisticated space. The 8^th floor is client-facing, dedicated to meetings and events, and designed to make a lasting impression. When arriving on the reception floor, guests are greeted by a bright open space filled with light and texture that has been created by the sharp angles of the reception desk which contrast the soft colour palette.

Dark finishes and little collaborative space that represents a typical law firm were transformed into a modern layout with a colourful palette. Designed for efficiency, each of the three floors serve multiple purposes while creating seamless traffic flow and connections between lawyers and clients. A variety of furniture solutions were planned for each floor to encourage employees to move to different working environments throughout their day.

Private meeting rooms surrounded by glazing flank both sides of reception, creating seamless transparency on the 8^th floor, incredibly untraditional within legal firms. Ceiling treatments provide variety and animation of the event space, as well as an illuminated light wall that runs along the length of the reception.

The 9^th and10^th floors are connected by an existing sculpture-like staircase, allowing lawyers to connect seamlessly and privately throughout the two floors. From your first steps out of the elevator you are instantly greeted by an energetic servery designed to encourage conversation. A radiant and transparent office atmosphere brings connection to the space.

The design concept was to revolutionize the way lawyers work. Moving away from traditional law firms that have closed office spaces and a dark aesthetic, the renovated office has been transformed into a bright, transparent and collaborative workplace. Creating a modern translation of the existing office highlighting the entrepreneurial culture of the firm. Texture layered with colour and paired with bright, modern finishes reshaped the three floors into a dynamic space the Client could call home.

Client Testimonial

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With space hard to come by in Vancouver they were excited to find a1950’s timber-built location in an up-and-coming neighbourhood complete with 12’ high ceilings and skylights that provided the volume and natural light needed to build out vertical displays to showcase their solutions. SGH’s focus was to work directly with the construction savvy client on transforming this uninspired quirky space into a working office, factory and marketing facility that clearly demonstrates the flexibility and design excellence in an energized, urban and vibrant space.

Innovior worked with SGH in the front-end discovery phase to share processes and knowledge of their methods to ensure a clear understanding of their goals and vision. The client wanted the space to reflect their own personal brand and commitment to design excellence. Summery colours, unexpected angles, smooth raw surfaces, fun pattern and texture all work to support an energized, professional, urban and innovative style.

The space could not be just beautiful, it had to be highly functional with working vertical displays, integrated technology, a virtual reality area and a series of vignettes highlighting healthcare, workplace and home environment scenarios. All of these have been incorporated in a unified and minimal way that feels straightforward, approachable and easily achieved. It was also important to display their commitment to sustainability and infuse a sense of health and wellbeing. This has been done using raw materials, a green wall, plants, large glass walls and open spaces allowing lots of natural light in.

The architectural envelope is clean, modern and neutral with a palette of materials, colour, and pattern unify. Bright white walls and angular timber frames are refined and minimal. Each space creates a new user experience, connected but are similar and cohesive. The construction of walls, doors, frames, millwork and features all work to demonstrate how effective off-site manufactured products can work together. Showcasing their raised floor system in reception, the inner workings of the raised floor are exposed in a defined rectangular space where you would typically expect a coffee table to sit. The mix of laminates and wood surfaces on walls show how their standard materials can be used. The space is also infused with an eclectic, youthful style giving it a casual and relaxed and homelike feel. Raw wood, crisp white walls, delicious fresh colours and lighting all play a part an integral role in building the story and culture. Accessories and artwork have been selected to really finish the space right through to the last detail.

The design approach is understated, timeless and classic. The overall needs to appeal to a culture that is approachable, warm, inviting and interactive. SGH wanted to embrace the quirky nature of the 1950s building yet transform it into a modern, fun, studio like space. It celebrates all that is great about this building, natural light, exposed wood ceilings, a good solid structure and unique changes in heights and depths that create subtle transitions and sightlines.

Culture was a big driver, so the design solution needs to foster a sense of community through a mix of warm materials, pattern, casual furniture, interesting light fixtures and summery accent colours.  The space needs to seamlessly demonstrate their capabilities and function as an office, showroom and workspace. The space is really relaxing so that customers do not feel overwhelmed by choice but rather inspired by potential and creativity. The integration of technology is subtle and does not overpower the spaces, it is a seamless part of the experience. The benefit of this design is the well-integrated mix of all the activities required to make their business successful and how the design solution maximized this potential. It includes office and workspace in proximity yet buffered from the busy showroom and workshops space. The space itself has been used to demonstrate the diversity of what their construction company can do for their clients, it supports leading edge technology that sets this company apart and it provides a fun, happy space where they can celebrate and meet to truly create amazing solutions for client, in partnership with architects and designers.

Client Statement

After 23 years in prefabricated construction this was my first opportunity to do something from scratch and purpose build for what we needed. It needed to serve the culture and people of our company. Areas to work, areas to educate, cultivate and socialize. It had to do these things in a similar way with the community that we work with and serve. It has become an epicenter for discovery for what could be and our message of Build better. It continues to foster collaboration and true sharing of ideas and all that come together continue to compliment us on this achievement. We are so proud of what we’ve accomplished, and we can’t wait to do it all over again.

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As Prime Consultant SGH brought together an experienced team including construction manager and engineering consultants. SGH became a trusted advisor leading local teams on behalf of the client to deliver a creative, dynamic and fluent environment.  The early engagement of a cohesive team was essential in navigating risk, response time, accuracy, managing cost and creating a creative and energized design solution that reflects leading edge innovation and their global reach but was also easily replicated nationally.

The client came from a mixed workplace setting (open/closed/traditional). Adaptability to an open office concept was key. Showcasing examples, helping with change before and after moving to support staff and understanding how to work and behave in this new work style became a natural ingredient in our design process.

The client’s direction was to leverage off the global brand direction based out of their Beijing, China office. SGH adapted the gradient palette of bright purples, pinks and fuchsias within a Canadian sensibility introducing the warmth of wood detailing and luxury vinyl wood look flooring to soften and delineate space. The use of colour and texture creates both linear and horizontal volume as well as break up areas by function including collaboration and community spaces. Light fixtures with a hint of pink, walls accented with purple and furniture upholstered in cool blues and fuchsia.

The design of the reception desks was inspired by the clients curvilinear, ribbon like corporate logo.  The concept of movement or digital like waves is found in the undulating reception desk with a hint of pink and in the luminous film used on glass fronts which also provides privacy. Wave-like patterns and textures reduce, expand and calm in areas where people come together. Colour is used to add playfulness but also serves as a directional guide that builds pathways to where collaboration areas are located. The open site lines and colour allows end users to quickly navigate through the space.

The general approach to the architecture is clean, timeless, neutral and open with glass enclosed collaboration rooms, accessible community areas wrapped with slatted wood feature details, and continuous site lines that allow visibility into all areas of the office space. Shared spaces are located on window space with plenty of wall space designated for collaborating and sharing ideas.The colour infuses energy, fun as well as communicates purpose.  Purple defines more enclosed meeting area, deep pink a quiet focus zone and the warm honey rift cut maple is found in more formal, front facing areas. The overall feel is professional, open, bright, and modern with colour used to both enhance and communicate intent.

Client Statement

Our new downtown office at 199 Bay is a much more compact and efficient space than our previous office. We completely eliminated private offices and implemented an open floor concept. As a result, we are seeing so much more teamwork and collaboration at both workstation, multiuse collaboration areas. Specifically, the lunchroom is now a bright and open hub for all to enjoy, it is highly used. There is truly a great and comfortable flow when you walk through the office.

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