Page 78 - Designing Ways 238

With only a limited possibility of outward expansion, the renovations
had to make maximum use of interior space. The program developed
by Luc Plante architecture + design miraculously boosted available
office space from 12,000 square feet to 24,000 square feet.
The two priorities behind these changes were to ensure the well-being
of employees and to become a high-quality exhibition space for all
Artopex products.

A larger and brighter employee room has been meticulously designed
in the plans, with an inviting series of comfortable benches, attached
to a complete and functional kitchenette for 130 employees. Nearby,
ping-pong and foosball tables encourage employees to engage in
healthy competition. The decompartmentalisation of offices, glass-
paned meeting rooms, and hallways linking the various departments
also encourage interaction and highlight the friendly atmosphere so
dear to the Pelletier family, who founded the company.

Upstairs, a mezzanine repurposed into office space will neighbour
a viewing area overlooking the factory to wow investors and
demonstrate the company’s know-how. Once again, glass dominates,
enhancing the team’s work environment. These glass partitions were
also manufactured by Artopex. The workplace becomes synonymous
with pride. Wherever employees look, they see products designed
and manufactured by them: wood furniture, freestanding furniture,
architectural walls, storage systems, and chairs.

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