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1001 Robert-Bourassa
By : Gensler
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Other categories in interior design / Common area : Gold Certification
When Allied REIT approached Gensler to transform the lobby at 1001 Robert-Bourassa in 2019, it did so with the vision, and challenge, of transforming the space into an immersive destination, capable of functioning as an event space for up to 300 people, and of fostering community, wellness, and collaboration.
To make for a seamless repositioning of the lobby, Gensler’s design—in concert with Montreal architecture firm, BLTA—extracted the pre-existing mezzanine, reconfigured the entrance, and removed one of the two existing connections—by stair and escalator—to the concourse level below. The result is a refreshed, spacious lobby with higher ceilings and an improved flow of people.
To maintain a portion of the original 1983 office tower in the updated lobby, Gensler identified two components to feature in the design—the steel columns and the form of the architectural plan. First, the steel columns were intentionally exposed and painted to express the “bones” of the 80’s architecture, and second, the asymmetrical pinwheel form of the architectural plan inspired the pattern of the ceiling, lighting, and floor tile.
As community and human interaction is at the heart of the lobby at 1001 Robert-Bourassa, Gensler designed permanent seating features that are inspired by the topography of Montreal’s majestic Mount Royal. The flowing edges of the seating creates concave and convex bench seating, which rise at three distinct plateaus, and beckon visitors to scale the “mountain” for a moment of reprieve, to meet a friend or work colleague, and to experience the space from an elevated vantage point. The tiered seating is also suitable for work, as it is equipped with power outlets, allowing it to function as a third place.
The material palette at 1001 Robert-Bourassa features natural and robust components. Red oak defines the plank ceilings, vertical wall slats, and tiered seating, while the stone walls are comprised of horizontally veined Vegas Rock. Contrasting with the red oak is the textured ceramic flooring, and distinctive laser-cut, black Corian edges of the tiered seating, which functions as a safety feature by visually defining the forms. Carefully sourced by Gensler’s design team, the materials chosen for the project minimize carbon emissions by prioritizing renewable resources and reducing transportation.
To transport the new influx of visitors to “not just another lobby”, Gensler collaborated with Moment Factory to layer into the design a series of multimedia features that inspire feelings of wellness and wonder. Situated next to the main “mountain” is a large, 30×20 foot LED Wall that showcases curated content, which is designed to be atmospheric as opposed to cinematic.
Other multimedia features include large, bubble-clustered chandeliers that cast dynamic lighting effects over the tiered seating, a textured foliage mural, back-lit by sparkling LED lighting patterns, and subtle light projections on the stone walls that dynamically interact with passers-by. Throughout the space, visitors are greeted by spatialized soundscapes, composed from nature sounds and soft instrumentals. These multimedia elements evolve day to night, as well as seasonally, and are programmable to provide a tailored atmosphere for events.
Phase two of the project is scheduled to be completed in August 2024.
Collaboration
