Perkins&Will has reimagined its studio in the renowned Arthur Erickson Place, a Vancouver landmark in the heart of the city’s central business district.
Designed to meet rigorous well-being and sustainability goals, the renovation of the 22nd floor of the heritage tower celebrates its timeless architecture.
Adjusting to a post pandemic world, the move allowed the firm to incorporate lessons learned about evolving workplace trends to create a workplace that supports emerging methods of collaboration, flexibility, and employee wellness.
Guided by Perkins&Will’s Living Design framework for excellence, the studio is the result of extensive collaboration and engagement with staff on design for health and well-being, resilience and regeneration, community and inclusion, and research and innovation. The workplace also meets the requirements of the firm’s Decarbonization Policy and Green Operations Plan that are central to meeting global commitments.
“Making Arthur Erickson Place our home marks an important evolution for our studio,” said Derek Newby, managing director and principal at Perkins&Will. “We are delighted to inhabit this place that has been a steadfast feature of our city for so long. We look to contribute to its story, reflecting the work that we do for our clients while representing our values and commitments to health and sustainability.”
The studio respects and complements the building’s original design intent, amplifying a holistic approach to wellness. Maintaining the integrity of the building’s offset halves, deeply recessed windows, and indirectly lit coffered ceilings allows for abundant natural light and views to enter while tempered with glare control. Consistent with the building architecture, the colour and materials palette are inspired by Canadian artist Emily Carr’s west coast artwork, creating a connection to nature with natural healthy materials, a green wall, and warm earthy tones.
The brutalist building’s ample daylight and views, amenities, and proximity to transit—in addition to its recently achieved CaGBC Zero Carbon Building—Performance Standard and LEED Platinum certifications—provides an ideal home for the firm’s design practice and proves that through adaptive reuse, well designed architecture can be enduring and high performing. The studio is targeting complementary certifications—WELL and RESET Air—as part of its commitment to a healthy workplace.
Using a circular design approach, the team selected material components and parts from the previous studio to give them a second life; they were reused, reassembled, or reimagined for a wide variety of uses, such as desks and shelving. The design of the space reduces embodied carbon emissions by more than half.
Embracing the needs and expectations of today’s workplace, the studio offers flexibility and choice in a comfortable, inviting, and inspirational environment. A variety of spaces, seating, and working options meet different needs throughout the day. Spaces include a reconfigurable design forum, a quiet room with library, open collaboration areas, meeting rooms, phone booths, and a model room. An expansive café/living room greets visitors, welcoming in the broader community.
“It is a privilege to have our studio reside at the acclaimed Arthur Erickson Place. Like the building, our space is inspired by the West Coast landscape, bringing wellness to the forefront as we create a forward-thinking workplace that fits the needs of staff now and into the future,” said Rufina Wu, design director and associate principal at Perkins&Will.
