Waterfront Toronto Office at T3 Bayside – Toronto
WZMH Architects’ Waterfront Toronto Office at T3 Bayside seamlessly integrates sustainability and biophilic design, fostering collaboration and inclusivity within a LEED Gold mass-timber environment on Toronto’s vibrant eastern waterfront.
Waterfront Toronto’s new office, designed by WZMH Architects, is located within T3 Bayside, a LEED Gold mass-timber development in the East Bayfront Community on Toronto’s eastern waterfront, where WZMH also served as Architect of Record. The workplace reflects Waterfront Toronto’s core values of inclusivity, sustainability, and wellness, while supporting its collaborative, public-facing mandate.
The design draws on the building’s inherent qualities, including abundant natural light, exposed timber structure, and views of Lake Ontario, to create a calm, biophilic environment rooted in place. Natural-toned finishes and a restrained, durable material palette emphasize the warmth of the mass timber columns and ceilings, while supporting long-term value within a publicly funded context.
The office accommodates a mix of work settings, including open work areas, private offices, meeting rooms, and phone booths, supported by a staff kitchen and lounge that enable informal collaboration. Work areas are organized to support interdisciplinary project teams and varied workstyles, balancing focused and collaborative work.
A flexible client-facing zone is a key feature of the design. A retractable operable partition allows the main boardroom to expand into the adjacent lounge and kitchen, creating a larger space for presentations, town halls, and events of varying scale.
Accessibility is integrated throughout, guided by the Toronto Accessibility Design Guidelines, with barrier-free circulation, inclusive seating, and clear visual and acoustic conditions. Acoustic control strategies are carefully applied within the exposed timber environment.
A dedicated Indigenous community meeting room provides a culturally respectful setting for engagement. Inspired by the 13 moons, it includes a lighting installation that minimizes hard corners and a custom table designed by an Indigenous artist.
The design responds to the constraints and opportunities of the T3 Bayside base building, working with exposed structure and services while meeting functional and accessibility requirements. It also leverages the building’s advanced digital infrastructure, supporting hybrid collaboration and communication needs.
Sustainability is central to the project. The use of mass timber contributes to reduced embodied carbon, and the building achieves LEED Gold and WiredScore Platinum certifications, reflecting both environmental performance and digital connectivity.
Overall, the office provides a functional and adaptable workplace that supports Waterfront Toronto’s operations while expressing stewardship of the city’s waterfront through material honesty, flexibility, and connection to place.
Design: WZMH Architects
Photography: Tom Arban Photography
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