Edelman PR

Edelman, the world’s largest independent PR firm with 67 locations, wanted a high energy, collaborative space with unique branding for its Canadian headquarters.

Objectives:

  • Unique branding/ Canadian presence
  • Enhance profitability, retention, recruiting
  • Inspirational contemporary space
  • Multipurpose functionality
  • Enhance collaboration

Function:

  • Boutique hotel style Reception, memorabilia on library shelves, powerful wall murals, Patio — unique branding
  • Toronto landscape murals (Nelson French), ice hut photos (Richard Johnson), subway stop meeting rooms — Canadian presence
  • Reception/ Cafe/ Patio axis ideal for client receptions, seminars, working lunches, staff training and socializing — multipurpose
  • Open plan/ breakouts/ Cafe + Patio enhance collaboration, build community of Edelman
  • Branding in Reception, strong graphics, vibrant colours, Patio, loft-style open plan provide inspiring, hip space enhance retention, recruiting

Aesthetics:

  • Unexpected boutique hotel Reception with fireplace + loft-style space in standard office tower — welcoming, hip space
  • Creative branding — bookshelves display icons from PR world: aqua rotary phone, typewriter, Brownie Hawkeye camera, books on groundbreaking artists. Classic furniture pieces (Saarinen, Wegner, Jacobsen, Platter) establish quality
  • Super-scaled wall graphics with vibrant colours define neighbourhoods, provide energy
  • Landscape murals in plan and elevation, transparent boxes (meeting rooms) manipulate perspectives, provide creative layering
  • Extension of murals to adjacent corridors increases visual size of meeting rooms
  • Colour palette aligned throughout, including Patio
  • Lime green, leaf patterned Patio “walls” establish scale, create virtual forest

Innovation:

  • Black and white Toronto landscape photos super-scaled and colour washed to create striking wall murals
  • Leaf pattern “Camouflage” fabric from Finland creates scale, virtual forest, withstands wind and temperatures to -35 C, first corporate use in North America
  • Boutique hotel Reception a unique defining first impression for clients and staff alike

Accessibility/ Sustainability:

  • Polished concrete floors — healthier indoor environment
  • Internal chair lift to Patio
  • Coco chairs made from 100% recycled materials
  • Access to views, lighting relies heavily on ambient and daylight
  • Tectum panels of renewable wood fiber
  • Inscape workstations: pre-consumer (53%), post-consumer (10%) materials, manufactured locally
  • Occupancy sensors
  • Eco fireplace clean burning, no venting required
Built
2011

Project Type

Address

300-150 Bloor Street West, Toronto, M5S 2X9, Canada

Related links

Credits

  • Bartlett & Associates
  • Bartlett & Associates
  • Govan Brown
  • TMP
  • Mulvey+Banani