Colliers Project Leaders were looking to move offices within the same building at their Halifax location gaining a more efficient space with options for collaboration. SGH worked alongside Colliers to provide guidance and knowledge on trends in office design and agile working in order to design and develop the new office.

Taking place over the course of the Pandemic, SGH provided two space plans. The first showing a 50% occupancy based on COVID restrictions, and a 100% occupied space based off the functional program provided by Colliers. Finishes, modular walls, and furniture were to align with brand standards.

Due to the tight schedule and COVID pandemic a Construction Manager was bought on board by Colliers in order to aid in schedules, budgeting, and a timely construction period.

Acting as Prime Consultant SGH was able to have more direct lines of communication with consultants. Clear, concise communication was key during construction in order to meet all deadlines.

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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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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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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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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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