DKA moves away from conventional workspaces for its new headquarters

03 Oct 2024

Architecture firm DKA is pleased to unveil its new offices, located on the 6th floor of a building in Sainte-Thérèse, where meeting rooms are shared with the building's community. The firm has taken advantage of this mutualization to reduce its square footage requirements and devote more space.

Photo credit: Josée Marino

Architecture firm DKA is pleased to unveil its new offices, located on the 6^th floor of a building in Sainte-Thérèse, where meeting rooms are shared with the building's community. The firm has taken advantage of this mutualization to reduce its square footage requirements and devote more space to team members.

Throughout the design process, the vision for the new head office remained the same: to create an environment that promotes harmonious collaboration and facilitates interactions. The notion of comfort quickly became a predominant element of the design.

A common living space

Rather than a conventional reception desk, the initial approach overlooks a panoramic view of Montreal and the surrounding region, and then onto a vast kitchen. This common area, conducive to meetings and exchanges, invites users to socialize and chat informally throughout the day. Its versatility enables it to host a variety of activities that enrich daily social life, including all-staff meetings, team dinners, board game evenings, and meetings with suppliers.

“Creating spaces favourable to encounters and exchanges between colleagues called for leaving enough free space, rather than maximizing the number of workstations,” explains Sonkham Khamlong, architect and founding partner of DKA.

The thoughtful programming of the spaces allows everyone to benefit from the best views. The main circulation is organized around the central core, which houses the bathrooms, cloakroom, and access, leaving the periphery free for the various work areas.

Optimum comfort and flexibility of use

The traditional open office space, typical of layout practices, has been redesigned here to guarantee acoustic, thermal, and lighting comfort. A large storage wall, located in the northern section of the central corridor, separates the workshops from the rest of the open space, creating areas that can be enclosed to provide a more intimate and flexible atmosphere. At the same time, the remaining open area is subdivided by constrictions to separate the southern and western workshops, ensuring their acoustic comfort.

“Thermal comfort was also taken into account by optimizing natural lighting, moving workstations away from direct sunlight, and controlling the effects of heat near curtain walls,” explains Joël F. Lortie, architect and lead designer for the project.

All closed offices are sized to accommodate various uses and scenarios, without fixed desk assignments, allowing each employee to use them according to their needs. This organization promotes a dynamic where each team member can choose the work environment that suits them best. Flexibility is present through a variety of workspaces: open or closed workshops, and adjustable workstations, with or without a view, for teamwork or solo work.

Residential inspiration

Materials with natural tones, residential-inspired furniture, the presence of plants, and access to a fully equipped kitchen enhance the welcoming atmosphere and evoke the comforts of home. The layout reflects the unifying spirit of the company, fostering a warm and human-scale environment conducive to professional and personal interactions.

The firm has created optimal conditions for working efficiently and comfortably in an environment where it is pleasant to coexist daily. Consequently, DKA has been able to offer a wise balance between professional needs and the well-being of its team.