Olympic Industries Offices – Vancouver
Aura collaborated with Olmypic Industries to design a bold and interconnected 13,000-square-foot North Vancouver office, featuring interlinking wood elements symbolizing their global connections, open-plan layout promoting transparency, and inclusive amenities like fitness and informal meeting zones.
Aura partnered with Olmypic Industries, an international trading and distribution company focused on lumber and forest products, to design and build its new 13,000-square-foot North Vancouver office.
The design of Olympic Industries’ new workplace is centred around the concept of “Interlinking”, both as a reflection of its core business and as an abstract representation of its collaborative work culture. This idea is brought to life through interwoven wood elements, a subtle yet distinctive feature integrated throughout the space. These interlinking details appear in millwork, ceiling accents, and feature wall partitions, symbolizing the company’s role in connecting forestry-region lumber mills with global buyers.
The open-plan layout, with minimal enclosed offices, embodies Olympic Industries’ transparency, authenticity, and collaboration values, fostering an interconnected and adaptable workspace. The overall design aesthetic is bold, timeless, and refined. A darker colour palette, softened by natural wood finishes, creates a striking yet inviting environment that reflects the company’s strong and enduring presence in the wood industry.
The open office layout fosters knowledge sharing and mentorship by breaking down physical barriers. Junior employees, interns, and traders can interact and learn from each other, making knowledge more accessible. Additionally, the new workspace features informal meeting areas designed for training and development purposes. The casual meeting zone is a standout feature, complete with tiered seating and mobile digital screens, creating an ideal team collaboration and training environment.
A fitness room was included in the design to promote mental and physical wellness. Equipped with workout gear such as a treadmill, a spin bike, and floor mats, this space encourages employees to prioritize their health during the workday. The design also includes an expansive staff kitchen and lounge area. The staff lunch area can transform into a multifunctional space that can serve as a casual meeting spot, recreation area, or venue for company events. The inclusion of a pool table, ping-pong table and open dining space fosters social connection among employees, aligning with the client’s value of maintaining a close-knit, collaborative work culture.
Design: Aura Office
Photography: Russell Dalby
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