Located in Winnipeg, bf workplace is a commercial furniture dealer to corporate, healthcare, education and government facilities. The company has been selling furniture to corporate, healthcare, education and government facilities for over 50 years.
In January of 2011, bf workplace decided to downsize and move to a different part of the city. Glénat Duxbury Interior Design was contracted to create a modern showroom, office and warehouse. This was all to be done on tight timeframe: beginning the design in January of 2011, with move-in scheduled for September 2011.
The design challenges were many: strengthen bf workplace’s corporate brand; enhance the customer experience; accommodate quick change for multi-functional use and display; incorporate new technologies, like wireless communications and electronic visual display; and optimize every square foot of real estate.
The solution: breaking the space down to five separate zones.
Zone 1: HOSPITALITY Bands of alternating carpet tile are used to direct flow between the entry doors and the reception desk. Just beyond the reception desk is a café bar. The café bar is a horizontal band of clean white cabinets, highlighted by a fresh green wall. Bar-height tables with comfortable, white leather stools offer customers a spot to get a beverage and meet with a sales representative, or just take a break
Zone 2: PRODUCT SOLUTIONS In many of today’s workplaces, corner workstations that once accommodated deep monitors now house dust bunnies; cables stretch from walls to boardroom tables for teleconferencing, inline projectors and laptops; and pop culture pokes fun at office cubicles.
bf workplace’s main supplier is Steelcase. Steelcase conducts ongoing research, and strives to have the latest information on workplace trends, on understanding how people really work, and on how creating great space can make a difference. The new bf workplace had to show the results of Steelcase’s research. It had to support the changes in how people communicate; the latest tools and technology that are used; and the expectations of the new generation of workers.
The product solutions zone is where customers can experience creative new options for today’s workplaces. A Collaborative touch down space with LCD display called “Media:scape,” is defined by a Steelcase post and beam product. Within the Post & Beam is a stool height table with LCD display called “Media-scape.” This table has a switcher that allows up to six people to connect their laptop computers via a puck. With a simple touch of a puck, the image on the LCD display can quickly change between notebooks.
Next to the Media-scape is a multi-functional Learning Centre/ Presentation Area/ Meeting Space. The space consists of four height adjustable flip top tables, “Cobi” chairs and a smart board screen. The smart board screen, which is used for presentations, collaborative discussions, and video-conferencing. Just left of this area is the “Flexframe Workwall”: a steel framed, wall- mounted system with a 3” cavity to allow power to be concealed within. Power outlets, LED lighting, LCD screens, shelving and drawers can be placed anywhere on the frame, allowing for it to be used as a video unit, storage unit and display space. Interspersed is a changing display of seating and casegoods options.
Zone 3: APPLICATIONS Up a few stairs, is the Applications Zone. This space features varied and changing furniture displays defined by modular walls, lighting and carpet changes. Here you will see a chair display, healthcare vignettes, private office suites, height-adjustable workstations and open- office desking solutions with various degrees of privacy.
In the spirit of utilizing every square foot of space, a “healthcare modular casegoods” display doubles as the employee lunchroom. Also, the staff of bf workplace is accommodated in a “working showroom,” which includes an array of private office applications and open workstations.
Zone 4: SURFACE MATERIALS LIBRARY The Library area is defined by Steelcase’s “privacy wall” modular system, which allows for reconfiguration of the space and provides vertical slots for hanging the displays of finish options. A large meeting table provides customers with layout space to work on their finish selections.
Zone 5: WAREHOUSE The warehouse area houses shipping/receiving, millwork and upholstery shops, and storage.
Throughout bf workplace’s new space, the color scheme is neutral to allow for the product to be highlighted. The ceiling was exposed and painted white, and walls were also painted white with colored accent walls. Carpet tile throughout is charcoal grey tweed with solid light grey accents. Shaw Contract’s Linage 24”x24” carpet tile in Versatile (59106-05500) was specified for the showroom and office areas. Its subtle pattern and neutral color create a handsome and sophisticated look, while providing an excellent base for displaying our client’s products. Byline in Versatile (59113-05500) and Tru Colours in Grey Metal (59368-68530) were used to create four display “islands.” These “islands” feature product displays and are accented and lit with dropped bulkheads.
Lighting throughout the showroom is indirect/direct T5 four foot and eight foot fixtures. The warehouse lighting is standard T8 eight foot fixtures.
To learn more about Glénat Duxbury Interior Design, visit glenatduxbury.com
