WZMH Architects was tasked with designing Waterfront Toronto’s new office within T3 Bayside, a mass-timber development on Toronto’s eastern waterfront where the firm also served as Architect of Record. The brief called for a workplace that would support both day-to-day operations and Waterfront Toronto’s broader public-facing role as a city-building agency. The design needed to reflect the organization’s values of inclusivity, sustainability, and wellness, while providing a flexible environment capable of accommodating collaboration, presentations, and community engagement. Accessibility was also a central requirement, guided by the Toronto Accessibility Design Guidelines.

One of the primary challenges was balancing openness and flexibility within an exposed mass-timber environment while maintaining acoustic comfort and workplace functionality. The project also needed to work within the constraints of the T3 Bayside base building, integrating with its exposed structure and mechanical systems while meeting the requirements of a complex tenant program. Additionally, the design had to support a wide range of uses—from everyday workplace functions to larger public-facing gatherings—within a cohesive and adaptable layout. 

The exposed mass-timber structure became the defining material element of the project, bringing warmth and reinforcing the project’s connection to sustainability and reduced embodied carbon. This was paired with a restrained palette of natural-toned, durable materials selected to support longevity, visual clarity, and a calm, biophilic atmosphere. Acoustic elements were integrated into the open ceiling environment to manage sound and reduce reverberation while preserving the exposed timber aesthetic; in some areas, acoustic blades form subtle wave-like patterns inspired by the waterfront context. Wood furnishings and natural-toned finishes further reinforce the project’s cohesive material language.

Team:

Architects: WZMH Architects

Photographer: Tom Arban Photography

Materials Used:

Flooring: 
Florim Sensi – Floor Porcelain Tile on Ivory Dust (matte natural)
Tarkett – Floor Vinyl Tile in Citizen Oak

Doors: 
Teknion - Focus

Windows: 
Teknion - Focus

Interior lighting:
Deltalight — General Lighting
Luceplan Petal — Accent Light
Flos Gregg — Accent Lighting

Interior furniture: 
Arrmet Belle Accent Armchair
Pedrali Malmö General Dining Armchair

Additional products/materials
Uniqspace Operable Partition
Armstrong  Acoustical Blade Ceiling System