Born in 2006 from the passion of three students of the École de Technologie Supérieure, this software development company aims at putting humans at the center of their technologies and helping businesses take care of the wellbeing of their employees all around the world. Occupying 70,000sqft on the ground floor of the building, built in 1913, iconic of the industrial and modern past of Montréal. This office project was ambitious to say the least. The Nordelec is one of the largest red brick buildings built in North America. After decades of hosting a coil factory it has been renovated since, still has its old charm. It was therefore logical and essential for us to continue on this path. We have made sure to leave visible the elements that characterize the building.
We are talking about all these concrete columns with rounded angles, protected by thick riveted steel plates, high vaulted ceilings, large red brick walls and of course this magnificent metal structure on which the cathedral roof rests in the Ghall and in the central corridor. While doing our research on the history of the building we found photos dating from the early 19th century showing the original appearance of the Ghall. It was then that we decided to reinstall skylights, sandblast the walls and metal trusses in order to bring back natural light and revive the red brick from the old days! We also wanted to keep the huge metal beams that were previously used for the lifting system, now emphasized by a thin ribbon of light, they are now part of the Ghall. Thanks to all of that, we have been able to preserve and even sometimes give back its character to the building. The result is a perfect harmony between new and old.
GSoft’s DNA is made up of skateboarding. Some of the things which arose when thinking about skateboarding and skate culture as a whole were the freedom to explore endless possibilities and the strong, passionate community which surrounds it. The design of the office space is done in a way which encourages exploration. There are a multiplicity of areas to discover and explore in GSoft’s new home. The intention behind the multiplication of atmospheres is to allow the user to have their daily experience. To be able to choose different ways of living and interacting with their community every day, according to their mood and personality. And thus make the office a destination in itself. While we couldn’t provide truly endless possibilities, we’ve done our best to create unique ways to move around the office. The whole space is designed to be rideable and there are numerous ways to get from point A to point B. Perhaps you’ll find a hidden passage while traveling through the space. You’ll have to explore!
We are trying to convey the joy that comes from exploration and the close bonds that are built within a tight knit community. Oh yeah, they’ve also got a half pipe. No big deal.
