The specified slider does not exist.
With an acquisition in Montreal, the global SaaS company, Zendesk, decided to revamp its offices for its new Canadian team, stepping away from its initial 2020 plans for a 2,415-m2 (26,000 sf) office space.
Since the pandemic disrupted the traditional office work dynamic, this prompted the company to cancel the construction project and re-evaluate their approach to work and the role of the office in the future.
Working in collaboration with the architects, MRDK & Studio MHA, the process of reimagining a post-COVID office began with a companywide survey, revealing that while people found it easier to focus on work from home, collaboration, interaction, information sharing, and problem-solving were better accomplished in person. As a result, Zendesk embarked on finding a smaller space, half the size of the original office, to accommodate the same number of employees.
The new design prioritized collaboration and event spaces, ensuring flexibility for future needs and remote collaboration. The concept of assigned workstations was replaced with bookable desks, reducing the number of traditional desks to a minimum. The office incorporated a series of adaptable spaces resembling the relaxed work environments people have grown accustomed to while working from home.
The office layout guided staff and visitors through a straightforward journey from public to private areas. Upon entering, everyone passes through the reception, cafe, and event space. This leads to a large garden area, utilizing plants to create both private nooks for focused work and collaborative meeting spaces. Beyond the garden, a sequence of meeting rooms act as a buffer between the lively entrance spaces and the workstations, fostering chance encounters and a vibrant atmosphere while still providing quiet, focused areas for staff.
In addition to the spatial separation from public to private, different levels of material transparency were employed to create varying degrees of privacy. Reflecting Zendesk’s culture of openness, glass and acrylic panels were preferred over solid walls. However, these materials were textured and made translucent to limit and modify views. Fluted glass offered the next level of privacy by distorting images and reducing sound. Translucent polycarbonate panels, allowing light but not views, acted as screens at the entrance to the open office area and along the lounge.
The overall material palette featured white oak, stainless steel, grey felt, concrete, and tan leather. These materials embraced a Scandinavian esthetic, honouring Zendesk’s Danish origins. To incorporate local elements and pay homage to Montreal’s history of brutalist architecture, prominent fluted concrete panels were integrated. Together, the materials provided a backdrop for the office’s liveliness, complemented by art accents and greenery.
Plants and the central garden played a vital role in integrating health and wellness into the workplace.
The office design emphasizes biophilia, natural materials, clean air, and good acoustics throughout. Abundant natural light and exterior views contribute to a healthy work environment. The inclusion of artwork, including murals by local Montreal artists, further enhance the space. These elements collectively contributed to the project’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and WELL certifications.
