When the American video game publisher 2K commissioned ACDF architecture for the design of its Montreal offices, the local firm opted instead for a design more akin to that of a boutique hotel than a typical office for technological developers. With its warmth and sophistication, the project serves as a fine example of how ACDF reinvents the ambiance of specific programs, such as offices, and infuses traditional elements with emotion, without extravagance.
Details
With its warmth and sophistication, the new studios of video game publisher 2K are a beautiful example of how ACDF reinvents the ambiance of a traditional program and infuses it with emotion without extravagance. As a starting premise, ACDF drew inspiration from mid-century residential architecture and played with the proportions of spaces, viewpoints across all components, and a warm color palette for the design of their new Cloud Chamber studio.
At the center of the floor, a series of volumes comprising the “technical” core are visually unified and enveloped in a warm palette of copper panels, wood panels, and tinted glass. These volumes, which house elevator shafts, reception, private offices, recording studios, and locker rooms, add order and rhythm, subtly subdividing the open workspace.
To ensure the office remains adaptable and comfortable, ACDF also created a variety of zones based on the type of work being done, from spaces resembling gardens, cafes, and sunlit outdoor terraces for small group meetings, to dimly lit areas catering to specific needs for developers who typically prefer working independently.