Perched atop the Royal Bank building, Fahey et associés' new head office offers a workplace that is open to the city and in keeping with its image, both flexible and rigorous. The blanchette team drew inspiration from the practice of its clients, who specialize in urban planning, landscape architecture and urban design, to develop a concept centered on urbanity.

This narrative begins at the entrance, where a series of windows offers a glimpse of the downtown west side. The reception area reveals itself through different shades of grey and a composition of two monolithic volumes, one in stainless steel sheet and the other in granite quarried in Saint-Henri-de-Taillon. The reception area, a stone's throw from the conference room, plays the role of a forecourt, where visitors gather before entering an institution.

The choice of materials echoes the urban furniture and minerality of the public spaces we encounter on a daily basis, while the proportions and zenithal lighting evoke a certain monumentality. The studio recaptures the experimental qualities of Montreal backyards. It offers a soothing workplace, combining monochrome and biophilia. The rising desks are positioned to provide a constant visual link to Old Montreal, the St. Lawrence River and the mountain ranges in the distance. The unusual appearance of a floral patterned carpet and chipboard panels stained in the company's signature color. 

The print and locker room explores the idea of the urban interstice, connecting the workshop and the kitchen. In addition to marking a threshold, the application of a dark color and the lowering of the ceiling in a half-arch, in reference to the company's logo, contribute to the intelligibility of the concept and offer contrasting experiences that modulate the space.

The designers created a kitchen space that resembles a park - a place that can be easily appropriated for working, eating, relaxing, socializing and celebrating. The multi-zone layout allows for different uses throughout the day. It's just as easy to isolate yourself for a coffee break, to gather on the sofa for an informal meeting, or to move the furniture around for a happy hour. The integration of plants and the selection of tables and chairs reminiscent of urban furniture subtly complete the park setting.