On the 18th floor of a high-rise office tower in downtown Toronto, Ontario, this lounge space is located within the boutique law firm of McLeish Orlando Lawyers.
With the staff, flexibility and comfort at its core, the client's goal to have a space to gather, meet, work, eat, celebrate, and relax was achieved by creating an open plan that has the required functionality for daily office use, while the elevated amenities and design allow the space to adapt from casual work meetings to hosting small functions, from day to night and from professional to social.

“When the clients reached out to our firm, they had a clear vision of how they wanted the space to function for their team/staff from a usability perspective, but did not have a clear vision of how to achieve it,” remembers Erin Hannon-Watkinson, founder and creative director of Studio Ha/Wa. “They wanted to combine the functions of two existing spaces within the law firm: a lawyer's lounge and a lunch room. The project was a great opportunity to merge our experience from the hospitality and residential sectors and to reimagine what the new idea of corporate spaces can be, while remaining true to the client's core (company) values.”

After the demolition was completed and the clients were able to see the space empty, in its raw state, they had concerns about the size of the new lounge being smaller than envisioned, and ultimately, we decided to pause construction and add additional square footage to the space by taking over an adjacent office (to the south) that was no longer needed.  At the time, it felt like a pivot to redesign the space, pause construction, and delay completion, but ultimately it was the right choice.  It did not require a complete re-design at a conceptual level, but it did improve the entry location while providing additional seating in the lounge zone, making the overall space feel more spacious.
The base and architectural finishes have a neutral base for the whole space: white walls, tonal greys (in the tile-patterned floor, melange fabric of the sofa, and countertops), balanced with warm tones (in the white oak millwork, ceiling, architectural details and furniture), the marble backsplash that picks up both warm and grey tones, and hints of black to anchor the space (hardware, lighting, coffee tables, stools). Studio Ha/Wa introduced a balance of sophisticated colours and tones to complement the more neutral architectural finishes — for example, green boucle on the armchairs, camel-coloured performance velvet on swivel chairs, sage-coloured vinyl for durability on the banquettes, rust coloured leather on the counter stools and the jewel-tones in the artwork by Alexander Jowett, a Toronto-based artist.

The most dominant material is the architectural use of rift-cut white oak. The design team used it throughout the beamed ceiling design, wrapping the architectural columns and on the kitchen millwork. Studio Ha/Wa opted for a porcelain floor for durability and ease of maintenance, given the space's use. Two different colour ways from the same tile line create a subtle pattern on the floor for visual interest and bring dimension to the flooring.
Due to the hardworking nature of any commercial space, Studio Ha/Wa opted for Caesarstone/quartz on the countertops as they are low maintenance and durable from a functional perspective.  

Rather than opting for uppers in the kitchen, the design team wanted to make a focal point at the north end of the space, which is visible upon entry, by installing a full-height natural stone (Calacatta Gold) fluted tile from backsplash to ceiling. 
Durable fabrics adorn the seating, ranging from performance-grade fabrics, vinyl and leather to ensure longevity.
This multi-functional commercial space — anchored in strong architectural details and comfort — strays away from your standard idea of a corporate space. 

Team:

Interior Architects: Studio Ha/Wa

MForm Construction Group (General Contractor)
RDG Millwork (millwork)
Alexander Jowett (Art)
Coolican & Co (Custom dining tables)

Photographer: Niamh Barry

Materials Used:

Column & Ceiling  cladding: -Rift Cut White Oak
Backsplash: -Big Flute Calcatta Gold/Convex from Cercan Tile 
Counters:  Turbine Grey  6313/ Caesarstone
Flooring: Ice Stone from Stone Tile 
Specialty Outlets:  Bocci
Faucet:  Kallista One/Pull-down faucet.
Doors: Existing 
Windows: Existing 

Interior lighting: -Pendant over kitchen:  Column Pendant by AND Lighting from  Standard Shop
 -Linear Pendants between beams by VYVYD Lighting from Sterling  Architectural Lighting Products
 -Sconce: Malamata Wall lamp by Luceplan from Lightform

Interior furniture: -Custom Dining Tables: Coolican & Co
 -Custom Coffee Tables: Coolican & Co
 -Dining Chairs: Atelier Arking 
 -Black Counter Stools: Atelier Arking 
 -Comma Counter Stools from Design within Reach 
 -Lato Side Tables by &Tradition from Kelli Shop
 -Savoi Swivel Lounge Chairs from Restoration Hardware
 -Collar Chair by Bensen from Kiosk Design
 -Custom Sofa from Decor Studio
 -Custom Banquettes from RDG Millwork and Decor Studio
Original artwork (in the lounge area: Alexander Jowett