Interiors

PROJECTS

We INSPIRE

TEAM

We CONNECT

FIRM PROFILE

We CRE ATE

SUSTAINABILITY

We CARE

HOK designs environments that enhance the quality of life for the people who live, work, and play in them by translating trends into unique environments with a distinct sense of place and design excellence.

We

F I R M P R O F I L E 5 6 y e a r s o f d e s i g n e x c e l l e n c e

CREATE

“Google’s workplace environments are a critical part of our culture, crafted in ways that encourage collaboration and creativity while promoting happier and healthier Canooglers (Canadian Googlers). ”

- Chris O’Neil, Managing Director, Google Canada

In Canada since 1997, HOK has over 180 people in its Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver offices. Architects, interior designers, workplace strategists, landscape architects, planners, graphic designers, and space programmers work in collaboration. This ensures a consistent vision throughout a project, from its overall design concept to the smallest, carefully considered details.

HOK combines global reach with local expertise. We have offices around the world, which means that projects everywhere benefit from a team of experts with both international perspective and intimate knowledge of regional clients and market intelligence.

HOK’s Canadian teams offer experience in almost every sector: healthcare, corporate, retail, hospitality, science and technology, residential, education, government, justice and institutional. Every project is an opportunity to champion environmental responsibility. We have pioneered sustainable design for more than 15 years with books, research, and a commitment to the environment that is integrated into all our design and service businesses. Our creative problem-solving and client-based services result in loyal clients and successfully completed projects.

Firm Profile

Strategic Problem Solving: HOK understands strategic and facilities planning, corporate finance and capital investment, organizational structure, decision-making methods and information analysis. Whether you are relocating, renovating, building anew, rebranding, amalgamating or diversifying, HOK can help you succeed in today’s competitive economy.

Breadth and Depth of Knowledge: HOK works in more than a dozen market sectors. With knowledge and research shared across the firm’s 24 offices, the cross-fertilization of ideas sparks innovative solutions that will benefit your organization. HOK has designed and delivered P3 projects in North America and Europe in both compliance and consortia participation.

Team Leadership: HOK has successfully managed large multi-disciplinary teams of consultants working on demanding complex projects around the world. Best practices, tools and protocols are in place to guide your project to success. With HOK you can trust that your project will proceed smoothly and seamlessly.

Design Creativity: HOK has gained international awards for its creative design solutions. Whether you need a landmark building to attract donors, cutting-edge office environment to draw workers, or a refreshed retail brand to stay competitive, HOK can meet your needs.

Green Expertise: HOK’s Sustainable Design Group can help develop new green operations plans, green new or existing buildings, even design entire green communities. Our sustainably focused services brings new life to existing buildings and optimize the impact of occupants on achieving energy conservation initiatives.

International Resources: HOK has offices around the world. No matter the location, your project will benefit from our understanding of international standards, business procedures and technological solutions.

Multi-disciplinary Teams: HOK has a full range of design professionals including architects, urban planners, programmers, space planners, interior designers, brand specialists, graphic designers and landscape architects. Our multi-disciplinary approach ensures that the design of your entire project is consistent, from the overall concept to the smallest detail.

Consensus Building: HOK’s Problem Seeking® methodology will help you and your stakeholder groups simplify seemingly complex problems and develop solutions that can be successfully implemented. Because our methodology covers qualitative (goals and concepts) and quantitative (facts and needs) information, consensus will be achieved quickly and effectively.

Technology: HOK uses Building Information Modeling (BIM), a design and documentation methodology that makes available coordinated, computable information about a building project early in design and develops into a single model that can be shared with engineers, construction teams and facilities managers.

Project Management: HOK has refined its system of processes and procedures over many years and projects. Recognizing that every client has a different organizational structure and decision-making processes, HOK will tailor the way it works to suit your needs.

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Ways You Will Benefit With HOK on Your Project10

HOK’s Interiors Group consists of design professionals who have provided clients with unique, timeless designs which are also appropriate from the facility management perspective of return on investment, flexibility and maintenance. We offer the best of both worlds – a creative, hands-on management approach to projects within a stable and financially-sound international organization.

We do not have a predetermined design style,” instead our mission is to develop design concepts that translate a client’s image and business goals into a reflective design vocabulary that facilitates productivity, better teamwork, optimized occupancy costs and greater flexibility. Our design solutions are program-driven to support all identified functional and operational goals. HOK has extensive experience in understanding and translating business plans and management strategies into supportive facilities solutions.

Workplace Strategy and Change Management

In today’s business climate, leveraging the workplace provides an opportunity for corporations to achieve ‘more with less’ and to define who they are and how they work. To assist in this effort, HOK offers value-added pre-and post-design services for workplace projects, including strategic planning, workplace strategy, programming, facility assessment, change engagement and post occupancy reviews. We have a long and successful track record of providing workplace solutions and change facilitation services to support the needs of corporate clients.

Our strategists utilize a holistic planning approach that goes beyond physical workplace solutions to create actionable strategies that integrate space, business goals, human resources practices and technology.

We recognize that the right workplace can advance employee innovation, collaboration and the transfer of knowledge—and support the core competencies of the business.

Branding

The workscape is the next experience economy venue. The culturally optimized plus2K workplace will foster the creativity of knowledge workers, aid in the recruitment from today’s sellers market of creative thinkers, and enhance the retention of invested knowledge and intellectual capital by impacting employee satisfaction.

The entire facility will now be a strategized and scripted experience used to position positive messages in the minds of employees, customers, partners and community.

Interiors

We

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y L e a d i n g t h e w a y i n s u s t a i n a b l e d e s i g n

CARE

projectsAviation + Transportation Civic + Cultural Commercial Corporate Education Government Healthcare Hospitality Justice Residential Retail + Mixed UseScience + TechnologyTall Buildings

servicesArchitectureConsultingEngineeringInterior DesignLandscape ArchitectureLighting DesignPlanning + Urban DesignProduct DesignRenovation + RestorationStrategic AccountsSustainable ConsultingVisual Communications

working a c r o s s

13 sectors globally

740+LEEDCredentialedProfessionals

200+ green certified projects

24 globaloffices

As one of the world’s

most influential design

firms, HOK accepts

a responsibility to

incorporate measurable,

sustainable outcomes

into everything we do. 4Ranked Top Role Model for Sustainable + High Per formance Design Design Intelligence, four consecutive years

290+ LEEDRegisteredprojects

firsts LEED-certified airport terminal LEED-certified embassy LEED-Gold project in Latin America LEED-CI certified project in Singapore LEED-NC Platinum project in Saudi Arabia LEED-CI Gold project in the UK LEED Gold airport building in India

GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy

The New Sustainable Frontier

P R I N C I P L E S O F S US TAI NAB L E D E V E L O P M E N T

September 2009

We have been a leader in sustainability since the days when it was known simply as environmentally responsible design. In 1993, we made it official by establishing sustainable design as a core value. We’re proud of what we have helped our clients accomplish and of HOK’s reputation as a worldwide leader in sustainability. But the future demands much more.

HOK’s global practice partners with clients to be responsible stewards for the environment. Our collaborative, multidisciplinary design process blends art and science to create optimal, sustainable and beautiful environments that provide value for our clients, satisfy people’s needs, and help sustain the planet.

Leadership We deliver sustainable solutions for every building type, region and budget. This has led to numerous sustainable firsts and accolades.

Innovation From our alliance with Biomimicry 3.8, to our FIT tool, Process Zero design and net zero projects, we are pushing into new frontiers.

Action Our actions are guided by a Sustainable Roadmap and Operations Plan. We have signed on to The 2030 Challenge and the AIA’s 2030 Commitment.

Measurement We achieve measurable outcomes. We provide design analysis services, follow a “6 Steps to Energy Optimization” process and use BIM to forecast and monitor performance.

We wrote the books

Our Commitment to Sustainability

We

P R O J EC T S I n t e g r a t i n g c r e a t i v i t y , s u s t a i n a b i l i t y , a n d d e s i g n e x c e l l e n c e

INSPIRE

AccentureAlberta Energy RegulatorAlliance FilmsAllstateAltus GroupAmerican ExpressAnderson AdvertisingAOLAPEXATB FinancialBank of AmericaBank of CanadaBank of MontrealBell MobilityBell WorldBlakes Cassels & GraydonBlast RadiusBorden Ladner GervaisBoschBridgestoneCadillac FairviewCanada LifeCanada Post CorporationCanadian TireCanadian Welding BureauCapital OneCastlepoint NumaCBC Radio-Canada

CBRECiscoCIBCCohn & WolfeDelta HotelsDentonsDirect EnergyEdelman VancouverEnbridge Inc.EMI MusicEYGE CapitalGlaxoSmithKlineGoogleHatch LimitedHill + Knowlton StrategiesHonda CanadaHBCHSBCInscapeJanssen-OrthoJTI-Macdonald CorporationJWTLiquor Control Board of OntarioMarsh & McLennanMazdaMECMediaCom

McDonald’sMcCarthy Tetrault MindShareMotorolaOpenTextOxford PropertiesPinewood Toronto StudiosPfizerPowerstreamRBCRogers CommunicationsRSA InsuranceShellSiemensSun Life FinancialTD Bank Financial GroupTelus CorporationThales GroupToyotaVIA RailVisa CanadaWarner MusicWhirlpoolWundermanWPPZurich Insurance Company Ltd.Young & Rubicam

Valued Clients

HOK has had the privilege of working with over 400 corporations including the following:

Capital One Canada had outgrown its office space and recognized that it needed a fresh image that supported its brand. Attracting the best and brightest MBA graduates and financial professionals was of the utmost importance.

HOK used its Problem Seeking Methodology and Capital One’s integrated employee satisfaction program to develop the strategy for the new work environment. In a radical departure from its American counterparts where employees worked in paneled 8’ x 8’ areas or 12’ x 12’ rooms, Capital One Canada implemented a different workplace concept. Every employee had a 30” x 72” desk, storage tower and mobile side table within the open space. The entire office, including meeting rooms and the staff lounge, became everyone’s light-filled workspace. The new office had the highest user satisfaction rating of all Capital One offices in North America.

When Capital One needed an even larger office, it turned again to HOK. Although the second office was double in size, its philosophy and look remained the same. A third project took place a few years later, expanding the company onto two additional floors.

Capital One Canada Corporate Headquarters Toronto, Ontario

New Broadcasting House provides the BBC with a new Headquarters within the heart of central London. Conceived as an opportunity to consolidate national and international journalism, this 484, 375 sq. ft. state of the art media centre is home to nearly 6,000 staff and the largest Newsroom in Europe.

Occupying such a prime location in central London, the aspiration was to create a series of inviting and educational spaces, some of which would be open to the public. Together with the client the design team produced a range of innovative solutions to meet with a constantly evolving brief. Aligned with strict Section 106 objectives and increased security concerns, HOK implemented a number of enhancements to the public spaces on the ground floor, integrating the latest technology to showcase BBC output and create an exciting and informative public destination.

Cutting edge technology and a desire for the building to be constantly ‘on air’ meant a clear understanding of BBC aspirations and focus on brand was essential from the outset. As the design evolved it became increasingly important to ensure that both the public spaces and on floor areas strongly supported the ethos and brand ideals of the BBC while recognizing the diversity of departments throughout the building..

BBC New Broadcasting House Headquarters London, UK

The design of Denton’s new office had to appeal to two separate audiences: clients and employees. Clients appreciate Dentons as trusted, highly ethical business advisors and expect its offices to reflect its progressive practice. Unlike many other major law firms, Dentons adheres to a non-hierarchical philosophy, and the new offices had to project the sense of collegiality that would attract and retain top talent.

The focus of the office is the existing circular staircase, opened up to the surrounding views, that connects all four levels of the office space. The staircase provides a dramatic transition for clients moving from reception and meeting rooms down to the more informal café and outdoor patio. The staircase also encourages communication among all practice areas and employees. The Library is located in open space on two levels around the staircase. Lawyers and support staff share the single café, and coffee bars and lounges are provided throughout all levels.

The new offices are LEED Gold Certified and incorporate a wide range of green initiatives that encourage employees and suppliers alike to adopt sustainable practices.

Dentons Canada LLP Corporate Office Vancouver, British Columbia

Home to some of the best known record labels, Warner Music Canada wanted a hip, forward-looking design for its new Canadian head office. One of the challenges was to balance the opposing needs of “heads-down” business teams and “volume-up” music promotion teams.

Each group is located within a distinct work “neighbourhood” that connects to a central, multi-purpose community square. The square is designed to encourage interaction among the two groups, their customers, and artists. A sliding “stage-door” opens up the presentation room to the square for musical events and evening functions.

Natural, raw materials and carefully lit volumes create the night club “cool” atmosphere while the clean lines and crisp forms convey a professional image. To complement the business of music, the office environment was augmented with residential style of furniture to create a more relaxed feeling.

The building’s full-height windows create the sense of a “display case” around the workspace. By locating all built elements at the interior core, all employees have orientation to the outside.

Warner Music Canada Headquarters Toronto, Ontario

For AOL Canada’s Toronto office, HOK created a new work environment that promotes collaboration, makes daylight accessible to all and will attract and retain the very best talent. With its exposed brick walls and ceiling beams, the two-floor, 15,000 sq. ft. space reflects AOL’s edgy, youthful, innovative and socially engaged culture.

Designed to LEED Gold standards, the office’s two floors are organized around a central bay and connected by an open stair flanked by café/lounge/entertainment space. Workstations line the perimeter with business groups accommodated in interactive casual spaces. Meeting spaces of various sizes have either formal settings or lounge-like furniture. The overall feeling is inviting and eclectic. The neutral colour and materials palette provides a backdrop to AOL’s commissioned branding and leading edge technology.

AOL Corporate Office Toronto, Ontario

Relocating into the high-rise, Terminus 200 building, the 45,000 sq. ft. offices were among the first to incorporate guidelines developed by the Swedish firm Windgards. The space boasts a unique reception concept that fosters playfulness, entertainment and interactivity as a part of its customer experience area which were flanked by the more neutral executive conference rooms in the ‘public’ zones while buffering the experience areas from the employee work areas.

HOK worked closely with Sony Ericsson by helping the process of selection of Terminus 200 (LEED Gold Core+Shell) as a location and example synonymous with the goals and intent of the project. The design team not only selected appropriate finishes and future to support USGBC requirements, but also added in the feature of electronically height adjustable workstations to give employees the ability to stand or sit at their workstation. Meanwhile, the planning module for the workstations was very small in order to keep workstation real-estate dense in order to give great views and daylight to all employees, while all offices and conference rooms are more centrally location with glass fronts.

Sony Ericsson Headquarters Atlanta, Georgia

TD Bank Financial Group‘s Online Channel is responsible for designing, building and supporting flexible online platforms and mobile applications. The design of its new workspace is based upon TD’s Agile Workspace Strategy (AWS), developed by HOK as part of its ongoing work with TD.

The AWS Standard is a considerable departure from TD’s typical high-paneled workstations, yet is consistent with the TD standard fit-out package and incorporates existing suppliers’ furniture and carpet. The open concept, with a variety of collaborative spaces and moveable furniture, encourage spontaneous interaction. Most walls have writable surfaces. All meeting areas and the café are equipped with multiple data jacks for connectivity and are wired to flat screen monitors. The design takes full advantage of the views and daylight afforded by the building’s full-height glazing.

The centrally located café is the social heart of the office as well as its central meeting space. A graphic installation features words of inspiration and innovation and represents the Online Channel brand: seamless, effortless, legendary, and world-class.

TD Online Channel Corporate Office Toronto, Ontario

HOK was contracted by Hill + Knowlton Strategies, Canada’s top-rated public affairs and public relations consultancy, to develop the interior fit-out of their new offices in Edmonton and Vancouver, and make renovations to existing office in Calgary.

In preparation for the project, HOK worked with Hill + Knowlton in developing new workstations standards to be implemented in each of the offices. The new premises were reviewed, and HOK and the client determined which existing partitions, doors, and frames were to be retained as part of the new design.

Although Hill + Knowlton did not pursue LEED certification, sustainable materials and processes were implemented wherever possible. HOK successfully adhered to a tight timeline, completing the renovation of Hill+Knowlton’s 12,000 sq. ft. Calgary office in a record six weeks, from start to move-in date.

Hill + Knowlton Strategies Corporate Offices Vancouver, British Columbia; Edmonton, Alberta; Calgary, Alberta

MindShare wanted to visually communicate its creative approach to business and the important symbiotic relationship between clients and employees.

Working within the constraints of a limited schedule and budget, HOK and MindShare worked together to implement a design where the architecture and fixtures provide a backdrop for images illustrating MindShare’s expanding portfolio, employee contributions and brand.

Powered by intelligence and creativity, the combined efforts of MindShare and HOK realized the full potential of the client’s design investment.

MindShare Corporate Office Toronto, Ontario

The HOK London office interior is a great example of HOK’s expertise in creating functional spaces that not only prioritize design, but also have sustainability at their core. The open-plan layout of the interior incorporates numerous breakout and conference areas allowing staff to work flexibly, creating an inspiring and collaborative atmosphere.

The project has been awarded a Gold certification – a first for a UK commercial interior project, and was the 16th HOK office to become LEED Certified.

Within the design process, the team considered the recycled content of materials achieving 32% of the total project cost, choosing regional materials (37% of the project cost) that reduced the transportation distance of materials to the site. The sustainable provenance of all timber used was verified at 72% by using FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood products. Materials, finishes and furniture with low formaldehyde and VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) were also specified to improve interior environmental air quality.

HOK London Office Corporate Office London, UK

HOK is responsible for architectural and interior design services for CIBC branch and corporate office projects across Canada. The portfolio consists of approximately 1,050 branch locations comprising 6,000,000 sq. ft. of retail space and 5,500,000 sq. ft. of corporate office space.

Corporate projects range from small furniture reconfigurations to multiple-floor office interior projects and re-stacks. Retail work includes everything from signage and merchandising design and rollout to architectural and interior design of new branches.

Specific assignments have included: the development of new architectural and interiors prototypes for branch and corporate space; investigation of work styles and development of alternate workplace concepts; development and maintenance of comprehensive design standards for corporate and retail facilities; branch Accessibility Audits; and sustainability surveys and strategic consulting.

CIBC Branches and Corporate OfficesAcross Canada

Cisco Toronto Field Sales Office (FSO) incorporated the latest Cisco Workplace Standards which transformed their spaces into a highly mobile workplace and aligned with their changing business needs.

By consolidating Cisco’s space requirements, supported in part by the integration of a robust IT and technology investment, better utilization of the existing space, and an increase of client demo rooms and meeting/training facilities was achieved.

The Toronto FSO Client Briefing Centre (CBC) integrates, displays and demonstrates some of Cisco’s Advance and emerging technologies in a state-of-the-art facility driven by 18 racks of Cisco gear and AV hardware.

Incorporation of branding and signage elements into the design of the facility ensured Cisco’s brand was clearly part of both the customer and employee experience.

Cisco Systems Customer Briefing Centre & Field Sales Offices Toronto, Ontario

Fox Interactive Media (FIM), a consortium of internet-related Fox companies, leased a new headquarters of over 100,000 sq. ft. in Beverly Hills. In addition to office space, the new headquarters include a studio space of over 10,000 sq. ft.

The new headquarters is a unique opportunity to create a distinctive and effective environment for the staff of FIM. The office had a strong identity, and is immediately recognizable as the hip, new home of Fox Interactive Media. By reflecting the fun, creative work of the young, energetic staff, the design of the new headquarters attracts and retains the best and the brightest talent.

The office space consists primarily of open work stations and promotes collaboration with conference rooms, fewer enclosed spaces and mobile furniture for impromptu meetings. Most offices are interior with glass walls and there are no corner offices. With few exceptions, department spaces are not separated by boundary walls and the placement of landmarks such the cafeteria/game room plan encourage group interaction.

Other amenities include a cafeteria with adjoining game room, a fitness area with locker rooms and showers, outdoor game areas, quiet rooms and a laundry room.

Fox Interactive Media Headquarters Beverly Hills, California

HOK was retained to design of new 24,000 sq. ft. offices for MEC (previously Mediaedge:cia). As part of the WPP group of companies, MEC’s main challenge was to maintain their unique identity while implementing corporate standards.

The new offices include a central multi-functional gathering space for all employees along with many collaborative areas dispersed around the floor. A focus on the various forms of media are highlighted throughout the space.

MEC Headquarters Toronto, Ontario

RSA wanted their new environment to reflect the innovation, collaboration and client-focused approach they bring to the insurance business. HOK initiated the project with a Vision Session to define the vision and goals of the new headquarters. Once the direction was set, HOK met with all departments to understand how they would work in the new environment and identify their needs and ideal adjacencies. These were then compared to the results of HOK’s Nature of Work web-survey that obtained input from all RSA staff. The new space standards and planning principles reduce the number of enclosed offices and increase open office areas.

The 110,000 sq. ft. space features universally accessible daylight, cafés, lounges and areas for professional meetings, complete with a wide range of gathering spaces. HOK created a workspace that embraces RSA’s past and future, utilizing a fresh look while preserving the firm’s brand and displaying its much-valued artifacts.

The client floor maintains a comfortable residential feel making guests feel welcome. The adjacent employee cafeteria does double-duty as a client coffee bar, and the promenade encourages informal meetings and client entertaining.

Royal Sun Alliance (RSA) Headquarters Toronto, Ontario

Although engineering firm Hatch depends on team-work and collaboration, its offices supported individual work and its furniture systems didn’t allow for teams to expand and shrink easily. Hatch needed work environments that would improve project team productivity, use space more efficiently and help attract and retain talented engineers.

Working with Steelcase Applied Research and Consulting, HOK conducted employee surveys, leadership interviews, user workshops and building analyses over two months. Standards and strategies were then developed for Hatch offices worldwide.

“We” spaces were expanded from 4% to 26%, while “I” spaces decreased from 93% to 70%, all without increasing the overall real estate requirements. Key spaces include a Media Café, Rendezvous Spaces and technology-enhanced Smart Rooms for individuals or groups.

HOK then implemented a pilot project in a new four-storey LEED-certified building in Mississauga. The 100,000 sq. ft. office promotes effective team collaboration and innovation, and provides flexibility for teams to expand and contract quickly and easily.

Hatch Corporate OfficeMississauga, Ontario

MEC, one of the world’s leading media agencies, decided to co-locate with one of their sister companies, Cohn & Wolfe, a communications and public relations agency. The initial challenge of the project was how to house three different media/advertising companies together – giving each of them their own space, but allowing each to ‘show off’ to their clients when they were visiting the office.

The solution began with a Visioning Session to understand what the companies had in common and what made each group unique. The result had dancing gobo lights in the lobby that could change company names and messaging when needed; the reception area has two large flat screens that can quickly change messages; common areas were designed with ‘personality’ but not specifically branded to the company; walls in the open area and private offices were painted to support the companies logos; and large murals representing the companies logos or their clients. WPP, the parent company of both companies, has set standards for size of office and workstations, as well as the efficiency of the space. These metrics were met while still allowing the group to select their own furniture and design direction.

Knowing that creative media groups change logos and brand colors frequently, the design team selected a base palette of neutrals with a lot of texture, allowing easily changeable items such as paint and graphics to carry the colour and brand emphasis.

MEC/Cohn & Wolfe WPP Corporate Office Los Angeles, California

HOK worked with the company to design new workplace stacked over five floors in a heritage building in Toronto’s downtown core. The workplace provides an environment that sparks imagination while being anchored with well-designed ergonomic spaces and seamless integration of technology.

The company’s tagline for the design – “Elegant Garage” – refers to the creative use of simple, inexpensive materials. The office features the work of local artists and includes many Canadian cultural references.

The office has a real miniature golf course located on the patio of the full-service café, with a theme relates to the city’s landmarks. Other unique features include cabin booths, a retro record player lounge, table tennis lounge, fitness facility, liquid galaxy display, camping lounge, massage room, billiards room, Tech Talk, fireplace lounge, grassy knoll lounge and Rubik’s cube art. A library lounge leads into a secret room.

To support the company’s commitment to sustainable practices and desire to occupy the most environmentally responsible office in Toronto, the project was designed to LEED Gold standards.

Tech Company Canadian Headquarters Toronto, Ontario

With two primary locations HBC faced two challenges: attracting and retaining the best talent and fostering collaboration among its 2,000 employees. To address these challenges HOK developed a strategic plan to consolidate all HBC merchandising staff into a single facility.

The three-floor renovation increased the population by 750 to 1,250 employees and aligned four of the HBC business units: the Bay, Zellers, Home Outfitters, and Designer Depot. With new workplace guidelines HOK increased the density by 25-30% and helped HBC shed over 100,000 sq. ft. of downtown leased space. The new workspace standards call for a 20:80 closed to open office ratio instead of the former 50:50. A central two-storey atrium was created in the cafeteria, now a community centre for town hall meetings and chance encounters.

HOK’s team managed an employee communications strategy with information about the moves into swing space, construction schedules and phasing.

HBC Corporate Office Brampton, Ontario

Y&R and Wunderman are part of Young & Rubicam Brands, a global network of companies related to advertising and public relations. The two media firms share their finance and IT departments, but otherwise maintain unique identities with separate reception areas and offices located on different levels of a downtown office building.

HOK worked closely with employee representatives of both firms to prepare for a move which took people from separate, closed offices, into a more open, collaborative layout.

The design includes plenty of multi-functional gathering spaces and boardrooms and offices have built-in wall-size whiteboards where teams can cluster throughout the day.

The offices are designed for sustainability with open offices located at the building’s perimeter to maximize natural light. Clear glass walls and doors admit natural light into the few enclosed spaces. Materials were chosen for their sustainable attributes such as low-VOC or recyclable content.

Y&R / Wunderman Office Corporate OfficeToronto, Ontario

A rapidly growing advertising agency, JWT wanted to reduce their real estate footprint while maximizing efficiency and collaborative spaces. With support for alternative workspaces, the office was successfully converted from intensive high office ratio (50% open - 50% closed) to the new office layout of 90:10.

Designed to LEED Silver standards, the timeless, flexible and unique design solutions cultivate the “we” collaboration opportunities amongst the creative thinkers at JWT.

JWT Corporate OfficeToronto, Ontario

Facing rapid growth and projected staff increases from 900 to 1,100 over two years compelled Thales Rail Signalling Solutions Inc. (TRSS) to move from a three-storey industrial building with little daylight to an 11-storey office tower.

HOK’s design and workplace strategy solutions reduced the area per person achieving greater space efficiency, and sustainable design strategies reduced the environmental impact.

The Lounge and Lunchroom with its banquette seating and bar-style stools encourage relaxation and conversation. The multi-purpose Training Room has moveable walls and flexible furniture to accommodate town hall events. The Fitness Room and change and shower rooms encourage physical exercise, and the Prayer Room offers a private, quiet space for prayer and meditation.

Visitors and staff are experiencing increased interaction and collaboration in the uplifting workplace.

Thales Rail Signalling Solutions Corporate Office Toronto, Ontario

WPP is the world’s largest communications services group. HOK provides design and workplace consulting services to WPP companies around the world. Canadian projects include Hill+Knowlton in Toronto, Edmonton and Calgary; Blast Radius in Toronto and Vancouver; and MediaCom, Y&R/Wunderman, MindShare and MEC, all in Toronto.

Inspired by WPP’S local neighborhoods with their galleries, libraries, cafes and parks, an oasis of alternative workspaces were created. HOK provided each office with a sense of community and an atmosphere that is highly conducive to the creative thinkers in the advertising world.

WPP Corporate Offices Various Location World-Wide

HOK was commissioned by thelab®, Manhattan’s well known creative retouching company, to redesign the company’s existing office space. The client knew what they wanted, and HOK was eager to help fulfill their design goals.

For the design of thelab®’s work environment, HOK proposed layouts of both open workstations and private meeting/conference rooms. The client had a sophisticated taste, and wanted the design of the space to be understated and simple, with a “less is more” attitude.

The design takes on a modest approach by offering a comfortable and functional space that is pleasing to the eye. HOK achieved this look by using stained wood panels and exposed brick for the walls, with customized black steel frames for the sliding glass doorways and legs of the furniture. The countertops of the workspaces are layers of plywood that have been finished and left exposed along the edges. All details add texture rather than complexity, and keep with the theme of using renewable materials. The general work space was left largely open, with a limited number of doorways to allow for collaboration and socializing among the employees. By following the client’s requests for simplicity HOK was able to create a whole new workplace for thelab® without a hefty price.

thelab Corporate Office New York, New York

Alliance Films, a major motion picture distribution/production company, retained HOK to deliver a space that would reflect the company’s new business direction.

The resulting 17,000 sq. ft. office design maximizes the building’s existing features, employing large windows with unobstructed views, an atrium and exposed brick walls. The outcome is a light-filled, polished space with views for all – setting a perfect stage for staff and visitors.

Based on suggestions made by HOK’s design team, Alliance incorporated sustainable strategies to support a healthy work environment. Those strategies include access to daylight and views, operable windows, high efficiency lighting with motion sensors, Greenguard Certified furniture systems, low-VOC paints and materials, and carpet with +66% post-consumer recycled content.

The new space reflects the client’s love for minimalist architecture and old world charm by juxtaposing clean lines with classical elements. The design thrilled the client so much that Alliance intends on utilizing the design in other international offices.

Entertainment One (Alliance Films)Corporate OfficeToronto, Ontario

Capital One Canada had outgrown its office space and recognized that it needed a fresh image that supported its brand. Attracting the best and brightest MBA graduates and financial professionals was of the utmost importance.

HOK used its Problem Seeking Methodology and Capital One’s integrated employee satisfaction program to develop the strategy for the new work environment. In a radical departure from its American counterparts where employees worked in paneled 8’ x 8’ areas or 12’ x 12’ rooms, Capital One Canada implemented a different workplace concept. Every employee had a 30” x 72” desk, storage tower and mobile side table within the open space. The entire office, including meeting rooms and the staff lounge, became everyone’s light-filled workspace. The new office had the highest user satisfaction rating of all Capital One offices in North America.

When Capital One needed an even larger office, it turned again to HOK. Although the second office was double in size, its philosophy and look remained the same. A third project took place a few years later, expanding the company onto two additional floors.

Sony Ericsson Corporate Office Atlanta, Georgia

MediaCom had its heart set on moving into a vintage, brick-and beam, industrial loft-type space; when the right space couldn’t be found, the company relocated to two-and-a-half floors in an office tower.

The HOK team provided a design that combines the youthful energetic look of a start-up company with the sophisticated chic of a mature media agency. Plywood, an inexpensive, accessible material, was the material of choice; but here it is high-grade, Canadian-harvested Douglas fir ply veneer with exposed edges. Used for the millwork, feature walls, and non-structural wood beams, it’s a nod to the client’s original wish for an industrial loft. Wood ceiling joists further create a loft-like environment by interrupting the ceiling grid at the high-end feature spaces.

At the heart of the 46,000 sq. ft. space is the bistro which is used as lunchroom, informal gathering space, and large theatre for client presentations. With a mainly open office concept, the new space has a very dynamic and energetic feel which attracts creative individuals and increase communication across the whole company.

MediaCom Headquarters Toronto, Ontario

HOK moved its Los Angeles office from Santa Monica to Culver City in the spring of 2001. The relocation was treated as a design project within the office, complete with a client group, a user group and a design team.

Housed in an industrial warehouse that fronts a busy street, the space is organized in a manner that uses the enclosed functions to create an acoustical barrier. The open office space is completely column free, with a series of wood trusses and skylights across the roof that fill the building with a source of natural, indirect light.

This office portrays many qualities of good design that are at the heart of HOK’s design philosophy which is centered on the principle of creating places that improve people’s lives.

The finishes and colors are simple and straightforward, allowing the space and light of the building to be memorable. The extremely flexible furniture system has a very light and open quality that again does not compete with the character of the building. T

The studio is organized in a way to provide flexibility for a variety of project teams and there are many informal locations within the studio for the staff to have impromptu teaming sessions.

HOK Los Angeles Office Corporate Office Culver City, California

OpenText engaged HOK to design a new 20,500 sq. ft. Executive Office that would function as a local office for the firm’s CEO who is based in San Francisco. Office requirements included state-of-the-art display and technology for major client presentations.

OpenText leased the 11th and 12th floors at 105 Adelaide Street West; floors that were later additions to the top of the existing building. Both floors are accessed by a dedicated shuttle elevator.

The 12th floor contains OpenText’s Toronto reception and executive visitor meeting centre. It has 12 executive offices (six perimeter and six internal), and includes visitor CEO, CFO and Chief Legal Officer offices.

The 11th floor is made up of internal private offices, workstations and benching workstations with a total of 48 staff.

The space has distinctive circular domed ceilings – one at the Executive Boardroom at the North end of the floor and one at the South end of the floor where client briefing centre is located. Custom curved millwork units were designed to house the display screens in the Boardroom and Customer Briefing Centre.

Other special design features include unique light fixtures, a reception area with unique custom millwork, and custom rugs on the 11th and 12th floors.

OpenTextExecutive Office Toronto, Ontario

Housed in a historic downtown structure, Autodesk One Market consists of an office component and a conference/customer briefing centre. The client tasked HOK with creating an office space for technical staff that went beyond the cube; they asked that the space create and encourage an atmosphere of collaboration and creativity. The customer briefing centre needed to highlight the client’s technical expertise and provide a space where their customers can interact with their products.

To achieve the design goals, HOK pursued design choices that enhance and exploit the building’s natural features while reusing and repurposing these same elements. The historic, landmark space is honoured in the new design by highlighting the lofted ceilings, original columns, two-storey windows, and the space’s inherent raw and industrial feel. The ceilings are exposed to their concrete decks, vertical piping is left exposed, and weathered columns are left as design elements.

Autodesk One Market Corporate Office San Francisco, California

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T E A M O v e r 1 8 0 t a l e n t e d p r o f e s s i o n a l s d e d i c a t e d t o d e s i g n e x c e l l e n c e

CONNECT

Our team combines the talent of thoughtful architects, designers, strategists, planners, workplace consultants and responsive professionals whose main objective is to create spaces that answer our clients’ needs. It is because of our world-class team that HOK is able to forge relationships that lead to multiple projects for repeat clients.

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Interiors