In2014, ACDF Architecture began work on repurposing the former Place Viger hotel and train station. Covering three floors, the space would house the offices of the startup software company Lightspeed. The initial objective was to give new life to this historic 19th-century building by retaining many of the original materials, including steel columns and girders, rough-hewn brick walls, and timber ceiling beams, and to elegantly juxtapose them with modern, sleek design elements. Each of the floors has a specific function and defining signature. A sense of levity is evident as soon as visitors step into the lobby. It features an optical illusion consisting of a series of red raised shapes that extend across the floor and up the wall, which form the company\u2019s logo when viewed from one angle. White laminate privacy booths that resemble mini, high-gloss houses add to the fun, along with an adjacent kitchen and informal meeting space, designed to reference the swimming pool Lightspeed had at its former offices. The jury was struck by the successful marriage of old and new as well as the balance between whimsy and restraint that resulted in an energizing atmosphere and vibrant work environment. ACDF was able to create a space that highlighted the company culture based on a vision for the community and a personalized design.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-3794","project","type-project","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n