A clear vision keeps design on-track
After 25 years in their Greater Toronto Area operations office, PCL Constructors Canada Inc. decided it was time to renovate their Toronto office to reflect how their business and industry has evolved.
Interior Designer: Peter Heys, ARIDO
Design Firm: B + H Architects
Photographer: Doublespace Photography & Keith Williams
They were ready to invest in a space that would sustain PCL well into the future and to help them work differently as an organization. The design team met with PCL to better understand their company culture, as embodied in "Poole's Rules" - the founder's core principles established more than 100 years ago, which are still fundamental to the PCL culture.
Employees were asking for an environment that facilitated more collaboration to embrace challenges together; a focus on health, well-being and work-life balance; and the integration of technology. Prioritizing employees' health and well-being, and the company's focus on sustainability, the fit-out is designed to LEED standards and can evolve with changing standards. Every effort was made to enhance the quality of light and views to the exterior - including continuous clear glass fronts on all perimeter rooms, new indirect LED pendant lighting, and maximum reflectance from ceiling and furniture finishes.
As both the client and the construction manager, PCL's workplace demonstrates what's possible when the client, constructor, and design teams collaborate to balance an organization's current and future needs with the wants and needs of departments. While every project has its challenges, a clear vision keeps design on track.
As the client stated, "whenever we encountered difficult site conditions or challenging details, the design team devised a plan to not only solve the issue but enhance it. Through attention to detail and an unwillingness to let even the smallest detail slip, it's clear why the office design has so effectively supported our vision."
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Peter Heys
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