The appetite to shift towards flexibility continues to grow in popularity. This hybrid shift falls within a workplace spectrum, one end of the spectrum is having the goal to fully return to the office with 100% assigned seating for each member of the team. The opposite end represents a fully agile workplace with no assigned seating and more space provided for shared collaboration. While these are the two ends of the spectrum, there are many workstyles that fall in between. A local Toronto Design firm, SGH Design Partners, has established five workstyle models within this spectrum that quickly gauge where the leadership team is comfortable shifting towards.

Strategizing change is not new to SGH Design Partners. For the past 35 years SGH has been designing workplaces where people do their best work. Utilizing our envision discovery process as the jumping off point, SGH has been working with industry leaders to understand what this new HYBRID environment will look like for them.

Our interior design studios in Toronto, Vancouver and Halifax have worked with Clients across the country. For some clients, like a current Canadian forestry company in Vancouver, British Columbia, we began months in advance of their lease expiring. With an understanding that their current space was no longer meeting growth and accelerating shifts in work patterns, SGH took time to listen and analyze leadership’s long-term goals, focus and collaboration requirements, standard footprints and developed a master planning approach that includes HYBRID work activities. SGH determined the right square footage required to get them there and clearly outlined what this would look like. This generated a collective positive energy and with this information in hand, their real estate broker was able to find them a space that checked all their boxes. SGH continues to be an intrinsic part of the team as we move to complete construction towards the end of 2022.

SGH is working with a variety of companies to put in place adaptable solutions that provide options to accommodate both flexible and fixed hybrid work styles. Another one of our clients, who is a global provider of agricultural science and technology, engaged SGH to work through an extensive envision strategy process which helped guide a significant change from dedicated workstations to an agile model. The strategy includes the provision of enclosed collaboration spaces that meet privacy and confidentially requirements. This was key in gaining trust from key leadership who opted to give up assigned private offices knowing they would not be fully occupied. The gain is that real estate is now allocated to a variety of shared collaboration spaces that will support a seamless hybrid work experience for all employees. It will be a destination space that brings their people together to collaborate, socialize and foster health and well-being. SGH is currently working towards completion of this project in 2022.

The option to pilot hybrid work settings in existing space is also a viable approach. Another client, who is a global pharmaceutical company, reached out to SGH to look at reworking a section of workstations that are currently held vacant due to people successfully working remotely. Creating spaces with freestanding furniture solutions that provide fully integrated audio-visual connection. SGH has incorporated a combination of open and enclosed collaboration zones that support the shift to a more collaborative work zone in the office.
The Hybrid Workplace is the future, and we believe that the office will continue to be the heart and soul of where people work and connect with one another.
If you have any questions please reach out to our team, we are happy to help you and your team find
the best workplace solution for you.

SGH is a privately owned national Corporate Interior Design firm with its head office based in Toronto, Ontario. We service clients from coast to coast with our two branch offices in Vancouver, British Columbia and Halifax, Nova Scotia. For more information about SGH Design Partners please visit our website at www.sghdp.com.

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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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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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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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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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When SGH Design Partners takes on the visioning and programming phase of a project, as designers it is our role to apply what we have learned about our client and envision a space the meets their needs and speaks cohesively with their brand. We look to an array of sources for inspiration that extend beyond the realm of interior space such as: art installations, public art, exterior facades and exhibition projects. Looking outside the realm of strictly interior spaces allow us as designers to expand our thinking and envision new design details.

This expansive thinking and reinvention of the conventional office is bringing sources that were once inspiration to fruition in offices themselves. Project teams are expanding to include artists who partner with the design team to manifest the design concept in three-dimensional art or murals.

In the design for one of our clients, Ipsos, a large scale “leaf” installation over their interconnecting stair was incorporated into their office space. This accomplished the goal of unifying the two floors and providing subtle references to their brand origin.

For other clients such as Toronto Region Board of Trade and Financial Clients’ SGH Design Partners has worked with local artists to develop custom murals and artwork that speak to who the brand is and bring dynamic energy to key spaces.

This intersection of art and office continue to prove that an office serves an important role of not only work, but connection to a company’s identity and brand.

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How can our existing workplace environments shape shift to meet new and evolving needs? SGH is looking at ways to create more versatile spaces, that can transition more easily through change. Spaces that are thoughtfully designed to allow reconfigurability and allow user adjustability.

As many of our office space continues to remain unoccupied, we have taken this time to reflect and create steps that will help uncover what decisions can be made to help move forward confidently. More importantly, creating places that people cannot wait to get back to. Spaces that are adaptable, flexible, inspiring and provide a true sense of well-being.

Depending on your unique situation, lease, real estate investment, economics, and/or employee’s mindset, now is a great time to evaluate how you will prepare your future workplace. Our design strategy team understands the importance of designing adaptable spaces with longevity now more than ever. We continue to challenge ourselves to create environments that expand, contract, and adapt as needs change for our clients.

Beyond COVID, SGH Design Partners is looking forward to the future of work that includes changes in worker skills, roles and how technology may take on entirely new forms. To design spaces that have the opportunity to allow necessary flexibility continues to become increasingly more important. We are looking towards the future and adaptability in office design has so many different looks and purposes, we are here to help guide your space in the right direction for you.

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