In the heart of downtown Montreal, this 35,000 sq. ft. office designed for the video game studio Invoke embodies the alliance between spatial creativity, narrative depth, and architectural sensitivity. The objective? To offer a work environment that reflects the company itself: a stimulating, elegant space at the intersection of imaginative gameplay and the rigor of production environments.
Rather than relying on a heavily themed concept, the project takes a more subtle approach: to evoke without caricature, to suggest without imposing. The design strategy is based on an immersive progression — from darkness to light — creating a sensory journey through the team’s various activity hubs.
The space unfolds around large collaborative zones, lounge areas, a variety of meeting rooms, and quiet corners for focused work. Each zone is designed to foster agility, spontaneous communication, and well-being. Rounded wall corners, present throughout, reinforce this flow of movement while softening the rigidity often associated with technical production spaces. The immersive nature of the space is also amplified by the site's technological ambition.
The project integrates:
– Three professional sound studios, optimized for audio mixing and the recording of voices, sound effects, and ambiances, with tightly controlled passive acoustics;
– A fully black editing room, optimized for fine-tuning in-game lighting;
– A large-scale motion capture studio capable of real-time capture of multiple actors simultaneously, supporting the production of highly narrative games;
– And an oversized, secure, climate-controlled server room designed to meet high demands in data processing, network performance, and confidentiality.
Material and texture treatment plays a central role in creating an enveloping atmosphere:
– Mineral concrete for grounding;
– Light wood and camel leather for warmth;
– Dark textiles for acoustic and visual comfort;
– And generous greenery that introduces an organic breath into the space.
Far from being a simple workplace, this layout showcases design’s ability to shape a fully immersive world — where visual storytelling, collaborative functionality, and technical demands converge in a coherent balance. The Invoke project stands as a model of integration, precision, and refinement, serving a forward-thinking, creative, and ambitious company.
