Having outgrown their previous digs, their team of 200 had decided to relocate to one of the city’s most iconic buildings, the CBC Broadcast Centre. The former production studio and Canadian institution presented a blank canvas to the innovative and imaginative team who were invited to play a lead part in designing what would be their new home. DIALOG selected Govan Brown to build a space that would be reflective of the not only their values but how they like to work.
The unique ability to really tap into the priorities of the space’s end users presented an opportunity to build something that truly promoted the team’s health and wellbeing. The space has been designed and built to have a chameleon-like quality, from lighting controls to a number of flexible spaces. The irony of the former broadcast studio is that the space now performs for its people—ensuring the environment is working for them. The diverse workspace is categorized under five distinct zones: meet, well, make, share and work, each tailored to optimize the DIALOG team’s potential and wellbeing. At the heart of the studio is the town hall lounge decorated with plush furniture, presenting a centre stage upon which the team can share ideas, showcase projects, and even functions as the backdrop to important deals.
The space was also built to LEED v4 Silver standards, an important consideration in reflecting the eco-conscious firm’s investment in living and breathing sustainability. Named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for four consecutive years, the firm has an ambitious carbon action plan promoted through the environments they design, not only for their clients but also themselves.
The various amenities throughout the space emphasize the team’s desire to spend less time at their desks and more time connecting with one another. From a designated wellness room, to a “maker’s space,” to an innovation lab that houses the latest and greatest in design technology, the studio is built to engage, learn, and collaborate. No detail was too small, no stone truly went unturned— perhaps nowhere more evident than in the space’s end-of-trip facility, a designated space where commuting team members are able to freshen up before work. A unique feature of the space is the floor-to-ceiling pin-up walls, a working wall that serves as a snapshot into the minds of DIALOGers, providing a blank slate and opportunity to cross-pollinate between ideas and projects.
Adaptability was not only built into the space but also in the execution of the project. During the course of construction, sourcing challenges and a number of defects with the manufactures challenged the original schedule. The Govan Brown team, led by project manager Jason Pereira, actioned key trades and scheduled shifts and after-hours scopes of work to ensure we achieved the final move-in date as originally outlined.
