Housing Central office design

Vancouver, British Columbia

Co-locating optimizes cross-sector alliances

Housing Central brings together the BC Non-Profit Housing Association, Co-operative Housing Federation of BC, Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, Community Land Trust Foundation of BC, COHO Management Services Society and Encasa Financial Inc. The organizations that form Housing Central, with 95 full-time employees at present, have co-located to optimize their cross-sector alliances to impact the public, policy, media awareness and deliver world-class education and events to support their vision of safe, affordable housing for everyone.

P+A INTERIORS has worked with the different groups of Housing Central since 2012, as Prime Consultant and Interior Designer in the fit-up of their offices, as they continue to grow. Co-locating allows the organizations to achieve economies by sharing reception, meeting and training rooms, a large multi-purpose conference room and an equipment room. Shared amenities include a kitchen, lounge area, a first-aid/quiet room and a phone room.

 

interior design solutions 

design concept + colour palette

  • The colour palette contributes to a welcoming and professional environment with natural Maple, warm sand walls and other earth tones in the flooring with accents of plum and charcoal that reinforce the Housing Central brand.
  • The main corridor was activated by adding a range of different types of seating and tables for use by staff and visitors. Continuity between the east and west sides was created by applying Housing Central's materials and finishes standards to the main corridor.
  • While there was a need to retain the main corridor for security reasons, connectivity between the east and west sides was achieved with transparent  elements, such as the glazed meeting room across from reception, frameless glass doors and side lites, and French doors with glass lites.
  • The Douglas Fir glulam portal distinguishes the entry to reception from other access points along main corridor. Simultaneously, the presence and stability of the glulam portal alludes to the mandate of the organizations, "affordable housing for everyone".

daylight + views

  • The open floor plate has good access to daylight from the perimeter exterior windows, augmented by interior windows overlooking two atriums.
  • Most enclosed spaces are located at the core and a large portion of the exterior glazing is accessible to the open office areas.
  • Full height glazing on the fronts of enclosed spaces and frosted glass privacy panels on workstations maximize access to daylight and views. 

 

The talented and hardworking team at P+A INTERIORS did a brilliant job designing our new offices on Commercial Drive. They exceeded our expectations, accommodating the unique needs of several co-locating organizations.

—Thom Armstrong
Executive Director | CHF BC
12,000 size (SF) 1,115 size (SM) RENO ti type

team

  • AME Group (mechanical engineer)
  • AES Engineering (electrical engineer)
  • BAP Acoustics (acoustic engineer)
  • Martin Tessler (photographer)
  • Murray Johnson Engineering Ltd (code consultant)
  • P+A INTERIORS (prime consultant/interior designer)
  • Reotech Construction Ltd (construction manager)

 suppliers (selection)

  • Armstrong (acoustic ceiling systems)
  • Brooks Corning (Haworth furniture and Humanscale accessories)
  • Cascadia Design Products (Solarfective teleshades)
  • Forbo (Marmoleum linoleum flooring)
  • Keilhauer (seating and tables)
  • p+a furniture (tables)
  • Philadelphia Commercial (carpet tile)
  • Propellor (decorative lighting)
  • Provide Home (David Ellingsen photograph, accessories)
  • Salari Fine Carpet (area rug)
  • SLS Group Industries Inc (architectural lighting)