Relection Academy, a renowned barbering academy recognized for the excellence of its training and its contemporary approach to the craft, set out to create its first space entirely dedicated to education. More than simply a training facility, the project was envisioned as an extension of the company’s distinctive identity and vision: a place where creativity, technical expertise, and community come together.

Located on Notre-Dame Street in the heart of Montreal’s Griffintown neighbourhood, the project occupies a former industrial factory converted into commercial spaces, just steps away from one of the company’s barber shops. The space offered an inspiring architectural framework, with two distinct areas: a smaller, more intimate, dark, and enveloping room, followed by a large volume filled with natural light and well suited to creating an evolving learning environment.

The design fully embraces this spatial duality. The first room is conceived as a multifunctional reception space that can also transform into a photography and video studio. Its darker atmosphere, combined with adaptable lighting, allows the space to shift according to different settings and uses. The second room forms the heart of the academy: a space dedicated to small-group training, demonstrations, and barbering conventions. Inspired by professional photography studios, it features technical lighting adapted for both education and content creation.

The project’s expression is rooted in a distinctly material and lighting-driven approach. Inspired by futuristic environments, the space is primarily defined by stainless steel surfaces, chosen as much for their sculptural character as for their ability to interact with light. Burgundy and red accents punctuate the space, reinforcing Relection Academy’s visual identity. Designed around the dialogue between materials, reflections, and light, the project creates an immersive environment that is both versatile and strongly distinctive.