The Workshop

THE
WORKSHOP

Quiet but confident, The Workshop is a testament to our love of timeless architecture–and a bold counterpoint to Vancouver’s emerald city skyline. The Workshop is proud to have received the 2023 AFBC Award for Design Excellence – Commercial.

Collaborators

- Perkins & Will
- Equilibrium Consulting
- Introba / WSP
- Hapa Co
- Morrison Hershfield
- Mark Roozbahani Consulting
- TI
- Wycliffe Construction

Location

Vancouver, BC

Completion

2022

Type

Commercial

Units

9 Offices

Site Size

11,651 sq ft

Gross Built Area

62,836 sq ft

Ambitious in Its Restraint

The Workship is a building shaped by process. In close collaboration with Perkins & Will, we extensively studied contemporary European architecture in pursuit of timeless design references that matched Mount Pleasant’s mix of industrial, technological, and counter-cultural character. Through relentless iteration, we shaped The Workshop into a maximally flexible form, ambitious in its restraint of colour, shapes, and materials.

The Workshop lobby. Copper panel and cove light detail.

1/4

The Workshop Lobby. Curvilinear plaster wall detail.

2/4

The Workshop lobby. Precast, niche-lit concrete stair.

3/4

Expansive glazing to accommodate ample natural light.

4/4

The First in Canada

At Mondivan, we’e defined by our ambition, and that means continually raising the bar. The Workshop was the first project in Canada to employ a 3D mitred system in the application of German-sourced Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) panels, which give the building its Swiss-German character. This innovation enabled us to uphold our design principles resulting in a beautiful, functional facade.

GFRC Cladding Detail

The use of non-local GFRC panels was an architectural and logistical challenge. We came together with our collaborators, locally and internationally, to develop an innovative, elegant facade solution.”

—Harrison Nesbitt

An Open Air, Open Plan

Situated on the top floor, the Mondivan office is designed around an interior courtyard, open to the sky and surrounded by sliding glass walls. These walls not only promote natural airflow but also seamlessly extend the kitchen and dining area outdoors, creating an ideal setting for hosting events during the warmer months. Centred around the courtyard, the office plan forgoes hierarchy in favour of spaces that encourage collaboration.

Mondivan private courtyard.

1/4

Full-height operable interior doors provide open access between spaces in warmer summer months, while accommodating cross ventilation for passive cooling.

2/4

Centralized courtyard provides universal natural light to all occupiable spaces.

3/4

View from shared rooftop to Mondivan’s kitchen.

3/4

Vines in Interior Courtyard

With operable vents in all floor-to-ceiling windows, fresh air and natural light in all working spaces was a driving factor in designing our office layout.”

—Megan Lu

Formed by Flexibility

The Workshop was designed for flexibility, from its form to its floorplates. Most floors were left unfinished to allow businesses to shape the space according to their needs. On all levels, operable windows provide natural ventilation. On the rooftop, a shared deck with a landscaped divider provides a semi-private space for allâ€”and a chance to see take in the surrounding mountains.

Rooftop view, looking North.

1/3

Native flora were selected to provide a near maintenance-free green buffer for rooftop spaces.

2/3

In construction.

3/3

A Legacy Piece in Our Portfolio

The Workshop is proof of Mondivan’s dedication to quality. We spared no expense, from assembling a top-notch consultant team to selecting, and installing, the facade cladding materials. The Workshop stands as a legacy piece in our portfolio. It’s not just a building; it’s a testament to our love of timeless design.