Client: Baan Company Inc.
Start up date: August 1998
Completion date: January 1999
Design team: Principals-in charge: John Apostolis, Catherine Natlacen
Design team: Aimée-Jill Bradley, Roxane Matte
Technician: Agostino Ambrosio
Engineers: Bouthillette Parizeau (mechanical and electrical)
Consultants: First-Vision (audio-visual)
Teknion (furniture systems)
Socrates (cabling / data)
Contractor: P & R Desjardins
Signage: Rick Ullman
Photography: Yves Lefebvre


Project description:

A new 15,000 sq.ft. sales and marketing office for Baan Canada, a leading developer of enterprise software used to automate business processes.

The west wing on the 22nd floor of 1 P.V.M. was selected to permit direct views on many of Montreal’s leading landmarks, including Mount-Royal, St-Lawrence river, the Old Port, and Kohn Pederson Foxs’ IBM Tower.



Preliminary Perspective


Program:

-A multi-purpose video-conference room for sales and marketing presentations.
-Reception / waiting area
-5-6 sales offices
-Executive and administrative offices
-Research and Development work areas
-2-3 training rooms
-2-3 meeting rooms
-Client and staff cafeterias
-Computer and telephone room
-Service and storage rooms.


Design Challenge:

P.V.M., the most identifiable address in Montreal’s downtown core, has traditionally maintained a conservative corporate standard. Baan wanted to explore a different approach in creating a unique and contemporary environment more in tune with the progressive nature of their business.

Design Intervention:

The primary focus in design was the client areas; reception, video-conference room, common corridors and client kitchen.

Natural maple wood was used as the primary unifying material throughout, combined with elements of glass, metal, acrylic and plastic laminate.


The custom reception desk was designed to be the focal element in the reception, incorporating many of the materials, colours and finishes used throughout the space. It was positioned directly in line with the main entrance double glass doors for immediate visibility from the main corridor. Various solid carpet inserts were used in these areas to complement the main patterned loop carpet.

The design of the new video-conference room behind the reception was critical. It is where most of the sales presentations occur and the need for a highly controlled environment area was essential.

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Click on plan to enlarge image

1- Reception 2- Conference Room 3- Kitchen (staff)
4- Kitchen (client) 5- Services 6- Meeting
7- Management 8- Executive 9- Support
10- Sales 11-Management

Preliminary 3-D rendering

The conference room includes two rear projectors, a recessed projector screen, and a computerized lighting system designed to allow for various settings, depending on the nature and the mood of the presentation. All the controls are adjusted digitally from a touch-pad monitor on the conference table.

The horseshoe shaped conference table was also custom designed, with solid clear maple being the principal material, combined with metal laminate and stainless steel.

One of the critical elements of the design was the curved wall separating the reception from the conference room. As shown in the preliminary 3-D design sketches, this wall was designed to open and close electronically, slicing through the projection wall of the conference room. This would serve to announce the commencement of a meeting and allow controlled visual access from the reception.

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