Header: Eymeric Widling
Studio Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning recently redesigned Stikeman Elliott’s new workplace. The goal was to blend hospitality with an elevated experience while also introducing innovative workspaces that entice employees to return to the office.
Such a forward-thinking project has garnered significant recognition, winning the 2024 Canadian Interiors “Best of Canada” award and the prestigious Shaw Contract Awards for “Best of Region—Canada” and “Best of Globe—Widely” in 2024.
The update
The redesign of the space began after Stikeman Elliott moved its offices at Bankers Hall in downtown Calgary two floors down, making room for the expansion of a major tenant while enabling continuity of operations.
The 40,000-square-foot workplace enhances the employee and client experience through various multifunctional spaces. The interior features a rich, timber-heavy, hospitality-inspired aesthetic, modernizing the previously dark and moody cherrywood walls and flooring modeled after the Ritz Carlton.
Glazed walls along the meeting rooms allow natural light to flow into client areas, while privacy film ensures discretion. The client-facing front area goes beyond a typical office setup, featuring multipurpose rooms designed to shift between formal meetings and social events. Meanwhile, the back-of-house space is focused on practicality and cost-efficiency, prioritizing function over style.
On level 42, just beyond the main area, there’s a lounge for lawyers, an articling area for students, and breakout spaces designed to encourage interaction and teamwork. One floor up, on level 41, is the law library, an open, collaborative area, and a central café. These amenity spaces were thoughtfully designed for staff and partners who often work late, providing a dining room to gather and share a meal.
Internal staircase and golden canopy
The central design feature of the office is a U-shaped internal staircase paired with a gold-gilded, gridded canopy. This canopy, created from powder-coated golden metalwork, highlights the function and meeting area by encasing the staircase’s open section. Extending down to level 41 as a curtain wall, the structure not only defines the space visually but also serves as a compliant fire-safe element, thanks to its sturdy banker’s wire framework.
Beyond its high visual impact, the challenge was encouraging its use by adding a functional handrail, making it easier to move between levels. A sculptural light fixture by Dutch designer Moooi, suspended from the canopy and extending across both floors, adds striking detail to the ceiling. Additional custom lighting, including decorative wall sconces, brightens the space to create an ideal backdrop for displaying the law firm’s art collection.
Custom and premium
In addition to using stone and custom furnishings, back-painted glass and LVT flooring replace real wood to give the space a premium look while staying within budget. Updated audiovisuals and adaptable technology further enhance Stikeman Elliott’s vision for a modern law office. From its prime location, the office provides iconic city views, including reflections of the Calgary Tower and vistas of the river valley and mountains visible from the reception and client-facing areas.
“Our contemporary and timeless office design now conveys a refreshed sense of professional yet collaborative hospitality that was already a part of our brand. It captures and reflects the firm’s identity, reputation, and our renewed commitment to client comfort and experience in a new and distinctive way.”
Catherine Grygar, Partner, Design Committee Member at Stikeman Elliott LLP
