This 1951 warehouse was renovated in 2000 to become Perkins+Will’s Vancouver office and a potent symbol of its values of sustainability, collaboration and design. As well as providing space for the growing firm, the existing building with its high ceilings, exposed concrete mass, and open floor plan, had the potential to be developed into a highly efficient flexible building. We cut two large openings in the floor slabs to create atriums at the front and centre of the building, providing a stack effect to facilitate natural ventilation.

The office is organized around the central atrium, sized for optimum levels of ventilation and day lighting, providing visual connections among three levels of workstations and creating a sense of community and common purpose. A circulation spine runs the length of the office on each level, separating the service zone from the main work area. Workstations are organized to optimize flexibility in team sizes and maximize daylight and ventilation at each station. The custom workstations are comprised of a system of easily reconfigurable components.

Recycling an existing building was central to our mission to creation of a green office which is a great place to work. The building is naturally ventilated; automatically controlled operable windows and a greenhouse skylight contribute to the project operating at 40% of ASHRAE 90.1 1999. Two heat recovery units recover latent heat from computers, lights, and occupants and supply the building with warm air, while occupancy sensors control artificial lighting used in meeting and workshop areas.

The reinvention of 1220 Homer Street is certified as LEED Gold.