Header: Adrien Williams
In 2025, GKC Architecture & Design relocated to a new office on Gary-Carter Street in Montreal, hoping to improve productivity and staff satisfaction. Envisioned as a flexible and collaborative workplace with a human face, the project aimed to support both the company’s growth and evolving work patterns. After a full year of use, the firm reflected on the project to assess the design’s effects.
Measuring the impact of office design
The relocation to a new office and the accompanying design had three main objectives:
- Attract new clients
- Support the renewed brand identity, rooted in innovation and collaboration
- Encourage return to in-office work
In line with these objectives, GKC Architecture & Design has designed an open collaborative layout with a dedicated workstation for every employee. The new spacious office also supports the expansion plans of a company that added fifteen new team members, which would be impossible in the old office. The number of employees who replaced remote work with an in-office presence also increased to reach the company’s target of around 80% of on-site work.
Open work area and the HUB
The new GKC Architecture & Design office is situated in an old industrial building, originally refurbished for a client 8 years ago. The company decided to keep the existing architectural elements and turn them into a base for the new office concept. The design is centred around a glazed open work area, well illuminated with natural light. The central space, entitled the HUB, is conceived as a gathering space for collective activities and spontaneous staff interaction.
Emphasis on serenity and well-being
Upon entry, the employees and visitors are greeted with two green walls, which create a relaxing, nature-like environment. A large counter in the cafeteria serves as a residential-style island that oozes a welcoming atmosphere. And when all gets a bit too much, the employees can use two individual quiet rooms for much-needed breaks and recharging purposes.
The need for balance and well being are wowen into every stage of the design process. The GKC Architecture & Design’s Montreal offices offer a generous amount of different working spaces from enclosed private offices to transparent meeting and training rooms, open space collaborative zones, innovative spaces, and informal gathering areas. Acoustic and technology are carefully selected to support collaboration and focus.
Employee satisfaction survey
The positive impact of the design is confirmed in the employee survey organised a few months after the relocation. The office scored 8.28 out of 10 points for overall satisfaction, rating particularly well in accessibility, circulation, hybrid work, sustainability, and the overall quality of the collaborative areas. On the other hand, the use of dedicated focus rooms and open-plan work areas was less intuitive than the company expected, highlighting the design’s influence on human behaviour.
GKC Architecture & Design’s new office emphasises the importance of quality design in workplace organisation. A cleverly designed space can improve mobility and focus, improve training and daily work, while simultaneously keeping the employees satisfied.
Source: v2com-newswire
