GKC Architecture & Design - Montreal Offices

“When it came to interior design, management's objective was clear from the start,” says Robert Weleschuck, a senior designer on the project. “We needed to create a space that would make employees want to come back to work in the office and feel good while they were there, while encouraging knowledge sharing and reflecting the company's new visual identity.” To achieve this, every interior space was created around three key principles: collaboration, comfort, and an aesthetic aligned with GKC's rebranding.

To express the brand’s energy and momentum, the design team chose angular shapes, clean lines, and GKC’s new signature colours: dark blue and light grey. These aesthetic choices are evident throughout the offices, from the reception desk to the imposing canopy overlooking the central open-plan area known as “the Hub”, the felt acoustic panels applied in trompe l’oeil on the cafeteria walls, the custom furniture, and the projecting frames above the glazed walls of meeting rooms. This visual language helps create the dynamic, inspiring environment the design team envisioned.

Each area is built to support teamwork, whether in small or large groups, with flexible layouts tailored to users’ needs. The headquarters features meeting rooms of different shapes and sizes to encourage discussion and creativity, a modular training room, enclosed offices for focused work, two wellness and relaxation booths, a recording studio, an innovation lab, and a large cafeteria, as well as several open-plan collaboration spaces. A comprehensive technology program was implemented to maximize the functionality of all workspaces, supporting both in-person and hybrid work modes.

At the heart of GKC’s new office, the main work area spans 465 square metres and features about 30 double workstations. “We wanted to create an open, workshop-style environment that would still allow everyone to have their own space,” explains Weleschuck. To support focus and productivity, this space includes carefully considered acoustic treatments, such as ceiling baffles, sound-absorbing carpet, and soundproof panels that can be raised or lowered depending on whether someone is sitting or standing at their desk. Throughout the new offices, many original features, such as exposed columns and ceiling structure, have been preserved and painted white to add brightness and highlight the building’s architectural elements.

Thoughtful details throughout the spaces enhance both comfort and functionality: two large green walls contribute to occupant wellness; the cafeteria counter was designed like a residential kitchen island to evoke a sense of home; and the coffee corner features still and sparkling water dispensers. “Every element was designed to make these offices a space where employees can reach their full potential, while also being a vibrant living environment that fosters belonging,” says Fernando Lozano, CEO and Senior Partner at GKC.