Wave Offices – Toronto
Bartlett & Associates transformed Wave’s office into a dynamic workspace with park-like elements, a custom bleacher, and a whimsical half-plane, promoting creativity and well-being for employees’ return post-COVID.
When Bartlett & Associates (B|A) set out to redesign a 40,000-square-foot workspace for financial software developer Wave, COVID restrictions had just been lifted and the company was eager to welcome employees back into the fold. Interior designer Inger Bartlett and her team at B|A devised a dynamic plan to support creativity, collaboration, and well-being.
The high-rise office layout Wave occupies was a traditional bullpen of cubicles with approximately 500 workstations rigidly set up. It was quickly determined that this formal arrangement would not serve employees in a meaningful way and something invigorating was required to draw them in from the comforts of home.
That concept translated into three “destination spots” within the broader office layout that support meetings, creative work, and socializing in exciting ways: a park, a set of communal bleachers, and even a plane.
Despite the floor-to-ceiling windows providing a sun-filled setting, visualizing a park-like interior required ingenuity and out-of-the-box thinking. B|A started by designing a series of meandering wood-slat benches that twist around five sculptural kiln-dried trees to create curvilinear environments for casual gatherings. Carpeting with a pattern reminiscent of dappled sunlight on a forest floor grounds the space and black-mesh garden chairs and lightweight tables introduce flexible seating scenarios. Bright blue-ringed ceiling light fixtures overhead nod to the sky and cleverly incorporate Wave’s branding. “Everything flows together,” says Bartlett. “This area is situated with the only view to the lake, which strengthens this connection to nature.”
To support formal meetings, information sharing and social events, B|A installed a custom semi-circular wood bleacher that faces a high-tech media centre. A built-in bench on the inside of the curve provides low seating, and an upper ledge runs the length of the exterior at the perfect height for bar stools. Together, they form a comfortable and casual location to host everything from presentations and seminars to movie nights and sports watching.
B|A also positioned a realistic half-plane bordering the café as a whimsical destination for daydreaming. Dubbed Wave Air, the half-plane was manufactured by local millwork and steel fabricator MCM (who also stripped and kiln-dried the park’s trees) and features exposed rivets and porthole windows. “The idea was to create a relaxed place to host events, and to imagine travelling again. It’s a special moment in the office, not something everyone has,” says Bartlett.
Advocates for sustainable design and upcycling, B|A integrated clustered workstations brought from Wave’s previous location. These were augmented by such tailored elements as lighting and other lighthearted elements.
The entire office – from the park to the café to the workstation clusters – is reconfigurable, addressing Wave’s need for a flexible and dynamic workspace. “Wave is a large-scale corporate office with the sensibility of a creative studio, and the design reflects that,” says Bartlett. Wave is now a nimble yet uplifting and fun space that, after a prolonged period of isolation and uncertainty, draws happy employees back to the office.
Design: Bartlett & Associates
Photography: Tom Arban
