lanyon-phillips-offices: Lanyon Phillips Offices, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canda
Designed 1998 with Francisco Kripacz and Nick Milkovich Architects Inc.
Lanyon Phillips Communications is a non-traditional advertising agency that takes a more holistic approach to solving client’s problems. The objective for their new office space was to build a stimulating interactive working environment which would promote creative thinking. They wanted their clients and visitors to sense who they are when they experience the space.
The 9500 square foot space, 48 feet wide and 200 feet long, is located in the World Trade Centre at Canada Place in Vancouver. Full height glass walls give access to terraces on the south and north ends of the space, while the east side has a full length strip of glazing overlooking sweeping views of the harbour and the eastern slopes of Vancouver.
The program required 38 individual work stations for four distinct work groupings, 3 executive offices, two conference rooms, two workrooms and various back of house functions. The main entry and reception are situated at the south end of the space and overlooks the deck and the city view. The enclosed spaces treated as islands define the various working areas and give form to the progression through the space. The experience is that of a meandering path from the reception through work areas to openings, or meeting places, ending with the staff common area which opens to the north terrace overlooking the harbour and the mountains.
All the principal walls and partitions in the north/south direction are constructed of polygol polycarbonate, set in aluminum frames anchored to round aluminum columns which also act as door frames for frameless glass doors. The polygol gives visual and acoustic privacy to conference rooms and private offices while allowing light to penetrate to the working areas behind. The curved translucent walls here arranged to offer visual connection between the various working areas thus promoting an interactive working atmosphere.
Two joined enclosed circular rooms used for intensive group work sessions are housed within solid walls of drywall with sound absorbing pin-up paneling on the interior. The doors are frameless glass offering visual relief and connection to the rest of the office.
The floor and ceilings are treated as two seamless planes giving continuity to movement through the space. The ceiling is steel wire woven mesh backed by acoustical panels set in the T-bar frames painted to match the clear finish steel mesh. The floor is cobalt blue, coloured vinyl tile highly polished to give a seamless appearance and to enliven the inner spaces with reflected light. The custom designed work stations with five foot high enclosures allow privacy but also offer the ability to overlook other areas of the office. They are finished in silver automotive paint.
Lighting consists of pot lights and fluorescent fixtures with reflective parabolic lenses set in the mesh ceiling for general light augmented by task lighting at all work stations.
Photo of reception area by Roger Brooks
