 Great Spaces |
An exclusive peek inside four new workspaces designed for happy and productive employees
Photography by John Gaucher
Text and narration by Malwina Gudowska
WEST CANADIAN
Design: Cohos Evamy Architects
Size: 26,000 sq. ft.
Employees: 240
When the West Canadian Family of Companies outgrew its old headquarters, the digital printing outfit engaged its staff to decide what their dream plant would look like. The resulting building in Calgary’s funky Inglewood neighbourhood, opened in November 2008, is dominated by a single, airy production space where all departments co-mingle and collaborate. The information technology department is in the middle so that the path to each other department is as short as possible. Flat plasma screens placed around the plant project relevant information such as deadlines, drop-off or pick-up times. The adjacent copy centre, open 24/7, has a casual feel with a fireplace where clients can be comfortable while they wait. The second floor, featuring art related to the Calgary Stampede (until recently chaired by CEO George Brookman), houses executives, administration, sales, accounting and Orange Door Communications. In addition to standard boardrooms, the company included a “rubber room” as a creative space for brainstorming.
NEWALTA INC.
Design: Walker Lawson Design Inc.
Size: 126,000 Sq. Ft.
Employees: 400
Newalta’s offices used to be housed in five different buildings in Calgary’s Beltline area but in November 2007 they all moved in under one roof, taking up their residence in one of the three IBM towers. There was a lot of collaboration when it came to designing the space. Staff members were separated into groups and each group was responsible for a certain area of the office. The height of the work centres (a.k.a. cubicles) vary depending on the type of work; if interaction is key, walls are lower but each station has a white sail above it for a private feel. The executive floor features dark wood panelling, leather chairs and, as with every floor, well-curated artworks. The lounge area is a modern take on a staff cafeteria with booth seating and areas for lounging by a marble-framed fireplace.
PENGROWTH ENERGY TRUST
Design: Martens Group Interior Design
Size: 250,000 sq. ft.
Employees: 500
Pengrowth’s head office, occupying 11 floors of a newly constructed Calgary office tower, reflects chairman and CEO James Kinnear’s belief in dressing for success. Kinnear requested a traditional interior – no easy feat for Douglas Niwa and his team at Martens Group, a firm known for its contemporary style. Pengrowth’s corporate colour, green, pervades the space. The herringbone tile floor represents a pinstriped suit; walls are white like a crisp dress shirt and the patterned and vibrant accent colours are reminiscent of scarf or tie. Employees say the new space encourages them to dress better for work. And yet there is a homey feel here, too. The large kitchens are a popular place to meet. A circular staircase connecting each floor and wide corridors encourage employees to interact. On the wall of the lobby hang rusty door panels salvaged from the elevator of a 180-year-old Manhattan high-rise. The office easily doubles up as a venue for after-work entertaining including last year’s company Christmas party.
SMART TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Design: GEC Architecture
Size: 211,000 sq. ft.
Employees: 750
The new Smart headquarters, next to the University of Calgary campus, features no fewer than 90 meeting rooms, including “collaboration rooms” lined with the interactive Smart boards for which the company is renowned, where multiple users can simultaneously share information. The main floor of the centre wing features a large dining hall that often doubles as a meeting room for larger departments. The colourful panelled windows can be covered for presentations and all of the necessary tools are in place for any kind of meeting. Also on the main floor, a briefing centre allows clients and prospects to try out new products that are just in development. Although there are modern décor elements, there are also raw components such as cement pillars throughout the building and exposed cement flooring to offer an industrial feel to the space representing what is at heart a manufacturing company. Befitting its advanced technology niche, though, all the lights in the building are motion-activated and environmental features include waterless urinals, low-flow faucets and a reflective roof.
