Flexibility and wellness were the motivating factors for the Business Development Bank of Canada when it was looking to transition to office space in the west end of Ottawa.
The result is a bright, lively and airy yet also soothing setting that both enhances the work environment while also creating a space in which people want to relax.
The 2,800-square-foot space, which was acquired in 2023, is on the 10th floor of a Kanata Research Park building at 515 Legget Dr. It will house employees with the aim of optimizing hybrid working, and perhaps more importantly, encouraging a healthy environment.
“We believe this to be the rationale behind dividing the space in two to create both a lounge area and a workstation area when initially reviewing the project design,” says Matthew DiCintio, regional director of operations for MARANT Construction, the general contractor for the project.
“It was clearly a priority to develop a floor plan that suited a variety of hybrid working styles, open and collaborative areas as well as segregated meeting spaces,” he explains.
Designed by Chmiel Architects, the space prioritized the creation of different configurations and moods, depending on what employees are looking for. It is set up for around 50 employees to work comfortably. This project is one of several that MARANT and Chmiel have partnered together on in recent years within the National Capital Region. 
“Flexibility was one of the key drivers for this project to best utilize the new space and create a collaborative and functional work environment to accommodate staff members at a variety of different work points,” says Richard Chmiel, with Chmiel Architects.
As a result, the design features a mixture of enclosed focus rooms and small and large meeting rooms, including one with an operable glazed partition. There are also open workstations, mobile worktables, a wellness room with colour-changeable lighting, a small kitchenette and print room and a locker area, as well as a variety of benching and soft seating arrangements.
In addition to the physical configuration of the space, the designers sought to bring in organic elements that connect employees with nature. “We achieved this by combining curvilinear design elements with biophilic design practices to act as a common thread tying the space together,” says Craig Gillier, associate architect at Chmiel.
The curved elements feature on the designs for the ceiling, flooring and lighting, while the millwork elements create a flowing space that connects the more open and collaborative environments with the more private and quiet work areas.
With the return to the office post-pandemic ramping up, designers have turned to a more employee-centric approach, which focuses on wellness and the incorporation of the natural world, or biophilic designs, as they are being referred to. For BDC, the biophilic designs include curvilinear elements and more overt notes of the environment such as maple hardwood veneers on millwork, and orientation of workspaces toward natural daylight.
“BDC’s design vision is to create the utmost employee and client wellness, and we were able to implement this vision by incorporating natural materials,” says Chmiel.
Building on the focus on wellness, the vision also included the separation of the workspace from the communal space. To achieve this, a central feature of the design includes a raised louvre wall that creates a visual and physical barrier between the two. The louvre also creates direct and indirect access to daylight from surrounding areas, a return to the emphasis on biophilic design.
And in a departure from the usual harsh office lighting, the design incorporates integrated lighting that reflects the curvilinear language throughout the space. However, the sourcing necessary for this project was a challenge to source acoustic solutions that were conducive to curved shapes. 
The resulting solution saw curved bulkheads created using an Armstrong Frameall grid with seamless acoustic-built panels and high-performing recessed acoustic ceiling tile systems.
This strategy was also effective in the hall and lounge rooms, which transition from two separate rooms to one large meeting room that can accommodate 18 people when the operable glazed wall is open. Curved bulkheads were created using an Armstrong Frameall grid with seamless acoustic-built panels and high-performing recessed acoustic ceiling tile systems. This system remains effective whether the operable wall is open or closed so that the ceiling design appears complete in both configurations.
“Larger communal space[s] that can be separated with folding partitions, to create separated assembly areas have been a valuable solution for businesses seeking hybrid/reconfigurable spaces,” says DiCintio.
Other elements that render this project a step above a regular office retrofit include significant focus on the millwork package and wrapped veneer portals, DiCintio adds.
Taking a step further back, he adds that the property is within an area that is conducive to the concept of the 15-minute city, where it is walkable to any amenities one would need. It also incorporates the federal government’s desire to be closer to some clients in that area, and to have more of a presence in that sector of the city, he adds. 
“We’re proud to take part in the execution and delivery of this renovation. With the increasingly apparent focus on wellness and incorporation of elements and material that have the environment in mind, our collaboration with this build aligns closely with our firm’s mission and values,” DiCintio adds. “As of June 2024, MARANT has officially achieved carbon neutrality. This remarkable accomplishment marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible business practices,” DiCintio says.
“We’ve been working towards this goal for quite some time and through a collective effort we were able to reduce emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and support impactful carbon-offset projects. This milestone not only underscores our leadership in the industry but is also a testament to our values and our unwavering commitment to creating a sustainable future for generations to come,” he adds.
“As MARANT celebrates this achievement, our company was happy to be an integral part of utilizing our expertise to support BDC with this renovation and allow us to continually innovate and improve our sustainability practices. It was welcome that both Chmiel and BDC shared these values in the design and materials proposed. Together, we continued to make a positive impact on the environment and we hope this build inspires others in our industry to do the same,” DiCintio concludes.
This article first appeared in the September 2024 special “Best Offices Ottawa” issue of the Ottawa Business Journal. That publication is available in its digital edition below.
