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new Groupe A Offices
By : Groupe A / Annexe U
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Office / Office 5,400 - 54,000 sq.ft. (500 - 5 000 sq. m.) : Gold Certification
Categories : Special Awards / Renovation (Before & After) : Gold Certification
Groupe A, an architecture firm established in Sainte-Foy in 1967, had long considered moving its headquarters to a larger, brighter environment commensurate with the talent of its creative teams. In 2021, management chose the iconic post-modern building known as Simpsons-Sears, erected in 1963 by architects Édouard Fiset and Paul Deschamps. This building has significant heritage importance in the context of modern architecture, while offering a remarkable view of Quebec City’s Upper Town.
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The choice to reinvest in a building at the heart of an urban transformation illustrates Groupe A’s ongoing commitment to the socio-ecological transition, in keeping with Carl Elefante’s famous quote, « the greenest building is the one that is already built ». This decision is also rooted in several sustainable development concepts such as caring for users, resilience to climate change and optimizing space by taking care of existing spaces.
Despite the pandemic and the popularity of telecommuting, Groupe A chose to bring its team back into face-to-face mode, underlining the’importance of human interaction in the work environment. The design of the new spaces was guided by the human-centered philosophy, involving associate-clients and user-clients in the creative process, despite budgetary, programmatic and acoustical challenges.
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Collective intelligence was put forward in the design process, with consultations, surveys and workshops organized to gather the team’s needs and concerns. The goal was to create a work environment that evokes the comforts of home, while offering a warm, biophilic atmosphere.
The layout of the spaces was thought through to promote the well-being and comfort of the occupants, with a central lounge serving as a buffer zone between the two open studio areas. The closed offices face north to maximize natural light in the common areas, which benefit from a huge glass façade. Informal, multi-purpose meeting spaces are also offered throughout the atelier.
The project was designed with today’s climatic and social challenges in mind, favoring simple, innovative solutions to optimize the use of natural light and reduce energy consumption. Passive strategies, such as the reuse of existing spaces and furniture, were adopted to create adaptable and flexible offices.
By reinvesting in existing spaces with sustainable and local materials, Groupe A demonstrates its commitment to the socio-ecological transition while creating a comfortable and collaborative work environment, where notions of well-being and comfort are at the heart of the design concept.
Collaboration
