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A new 4645-m2 (50,000-sf) head office in Ottawa, Ont., for a sustainable homebuilding company features wood primarily, in an efficient, conservation-minded approach, reflecting the company’s approach to all its residential projects.
Figurr Architects Collective (Figurr), the project’s architect, designed the office for two companies, Caivan and its subsidiary organization, the Advanced Building Innovation Company (ABIC). Other sustainability features of the project include:
- Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
- Solar shade along the perimeter of the administrative wing.
- Atrium has minimal south-facing glass.
- Main entry glass is protected.
- Bird-safe glass that prevents reflections.
- Environmentally friendly products selected wherever possible.
The design blends modern workplace elements with warm textures and natural light to create a space brimming with creativity. Located in Barrhaven, Ontario, a suburb of Ottawa, and close to a growing community, Caivan/ABIC’s new headquarters and manufacturing plant supports the company’s long-term vision of creating a modern work environment for their employees, and a dynamic new space to support the homeowners in their purchase journeys.
The building integrates wood and steel columns, leaving nothing exposed, and everything fits together seamlessly. Mechanical ducts are hidden from view, and electrical work is embedded in the structure. Wood was a central part of the design strategy as part of a commitment to minimize the project’s environmental impact.
The office is the second phase of a multi-phased construction project. Phase one, also designed by Figurr Architects Collective, was a fast-tracked fabrication facility that houses innovative robotic fabrication systems. That new approach builds sustainable, prefabricated residential home panels for Caivan’s home-building business.
The new two-level headquarters is part of phase two. It includes administrative spaces, a public sales centre, a design centre, an “experience centre,” a reception area, a town hall atrium, a boardroom, meeting rooms, a combination of open and closed office spaces, a series of kitchenettes throughout the building, and touchpoints where the team can come together for informal collaboration and conversation.
A unique element of this design is the town hall atrium, which links all of Caivan’s internal communities, including sales, the design centre, fabrication, and administration. The town hall atrium can also host company-wide events.
The communal space, infused with natural daylight, has expansive bird-safe glass walls linking the indoors and outdoors. To ensure the town hall atrium would be a comfortable place to work throughout the day, the design team studied the sun’s angles and analyzed reflections in the glass design.
Caivan wanted to create an immersive visitor experience. As such, the “experience centre,” includes a mezzanine with views into the company’s fabrication facilities. This connection between the design centre and the fabrication plant gives prospective homeowners a behind-the-scenes look at how their home is manufactured.
This project encountered several design challenges. Situated on top of an old quarry, the site conditions were challenging to navigate. After initial design approvals and test digs, the building’s location was changed. Figurr’s design team and the contractors were agile enough to adapt to unforeseen conditions and to replan the design to meet the new site constraints.
The following served as collaborators on the project:
Contractor and project manager, BBS Construction; interior Designer, Figurr; landscape designer, nak design strategies; mechanical engineers, Goodkey Weedmark; structural engineer; Cleland Jardine; civil engineer, Dsel; electrical engineers, Drycore / WSP; and lighting designer, Gabriel McKinnon.
