Drawing inspiration from a rich Indigenous culture and subtly adapting it to a challenging space allowed McKinley Studios to deliver a highly successful solution for Maurice Law Office in Calgary.
By making cultural identity a primary driver of the design, the firm achieved a result that not only reflected the client’s values and function but also celebrated and enriched their cultural identity.
The outstanding design earned double honours at the 2024 Shine Awards of Excellence, receiving an Award of Excellence and the prestigious Robert Ledingham Award.
“Robert Ledingham was an industry-defining designer. To be honoured with an IDIBC award that not only represents design excellence, but also one that is associated with such a noble legacy, is a lifetime-defining achievement for myself and McKinley Studios,” says Jenn Lembke, McKinley director of design.
Maurice Law, Canada’s first and only Indigenous-owned national law firm, required the renovation of their existing third floor office space and design of newly acquired space on the lower level of the building.
The challenge was how to connect the two spaces – establishing their well-earned reputation as a successful national law firm and subtly integrating Indigenous roots into the design without the typical use of pronounced, archetypal visual cues.
“The aim was to provide purpose and meaning to the two very separate spaces, strategically dividing function and programme accordingly, while still encouraging connection and movement between the two floors,” explains Lembke.
The architecture of the new space itself presented both a challenge and opportunity. At the basement level, it was a 1970s brutalist shell with many spatial divisions and limited access to natural light.
“We ended up celebrating the brutalist shell by creating an open concept lower level, letting natural light flood down into the space and adding form-fitting fixtures into the coffered spaces of the waffle-slab ceiling, mimicking a skylight,” says Lembke.
The most prominent design feature was the integration of a culturally inspired rotunda on the third floor. The centralized rotunda features an intersecting axis, creating main corridors spanning out to windows in the four cardinal directions.
“This was chosen to echo the cultural significance of the directions, as well as the significance of a circular shape,” says Lembke.
The team was committed to learning about Indigenous culture (studying practices, traditions, history) in a deeper and meaningful way which allowed the design to incorporate a strong cultural narrative in subtle ways.
For Lembke, the project also served as an eye-opening experience.
“This took me down a path of not only understanding the cultural roots and history to guide the design, but to gain clarity and knowledge of the issues Indigenous people continue to face today. I realized how much I still didn’t know despite being born and raised in Canada, and so for me, this project opened a door to a greater education and understanding,” she said.
McKinley Studios was a multiple winner at this year’s Shine Awards of Excellence, taking home a total of four Awards of Excellence. Ashlen Thomson was also named Designer of the Year for the Mark Anthony Group Head Office.
Cheryl Mah is managing editor of Design Quarterly.
Photos by Ema Peter
