Page 88 - Designing Ways 258

a nucleus, typically a church. The approach was truly reflective of
Vention’s workplace community, where team members work in a
collegial mode.

The city concept emerged early in the project. As a result, even though
they were not explicitly aware that it was at the heart of the concept,
some employees started referring to the new workspace as a “village.”
The space was officially opened in June, 2022, after nine months of
design and construction work.

“Our employees form a community working on shared projects,”
said Michelle Mathieu, Vention’s project manager for the office
redesign project. “The architecture implemented by the specialists at
Blanchette Architectes aligns with that philosophy, because it creates
multiple meeting points for employees.”

A lively, welcoming space
After installing a volume in the centre of the space as a way to divide
it, meeting areas were created. Here too, the idea of urbanity inspired
the designers, with the work and meeting rooms playing a similar
role to the public and recreational spaces typically found in cities.

Gravitating around the main object, we find a monumental arch to
one side. It is an imposing structure, created to link two existing
technical conduits. Like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, this structure
magnifies constraints, celebrates victories and serves as a portal. On
the other side, an adaptive podium serves as a parvis, promontory
and threshold. Linking the two levels, the structure animates the
space as a place of interstices and informal encounters.

As a nod to their frequent use in robotics and on production lines,
structural shapes are used extensively in different sections, creating
a look reminiscent of Meccano toys. But their function is not merely
symbolic, because these metal structures serve, among other things,
to support the cantilevered roof.

The signature blue used in Vention’s imagery was integrated
harmoniously, for example in the tinted glass of the windows in
offices and other closed rooms.

88 Issue 258 • dw