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An Open Office with Room for Personal Storage
Case Study - Toronto, Ontario
A New Approach for a Traditional Office
The leadership team of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the parent company of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Raptors, and other sports teams and a variety of entertainment venues, wanted to remodel their headquarters to reflect a fresh and modern approach.
They wanted the new office spaces to be bright and inspiring, taking advantage of natural light and city views throughout the headquarters’ multiple floors. They also wanted to create comfortable work spaces for every employee, even though expanding the office’s footprint wasn’t an option in the densely populated downtown area.
The interior design team removed outmoded cubicles and most private offices to bring in light and open up views, and they designed collaborative work areas, benching systems, and glass-walled conference rooms.
The new design approach meant that everyone would be able to enjoy a brighter, more open workplace, but it also presented a challenge: personal space would be more limited, and employees would need storage for coats, boots, and other belongings.
“The client was moving their users from spacious desks to a benching
system with minimal storage, so they wanted to make sure every user
had a secure place of their own to leave their belongings.”
- Interior Designer
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Personal Storage in an Open Environment
The design team knew that the “open office” strategy would create a more modern and appealing work environment, but it would also reduce personal storage space for employees. The designers approached the local Spacesaver consultant for help: they were wondering if Spacesaver could design lockers that would store coats, winter boots, and other personal belongings in corridors located on each floor. In addition to optimizing space, the lockers needed to be sleek and streamlined to complement the offices’ modern aesthetic.
“The client was looking for a sleek, cohesive look for their lockers. They did not want the typical ‘school’ metal locker look.”
- Interior Designer
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A Creative Way to Optimize Space
The local consultant worked with the designers and Spacesaver’s engineering team, and together they modified Spacesaver’s Day Use Locker design to develop the concept of “Z Lockers.” These lockers optimize space by providing full-width compartments for storing shoes or gym bags at the top and bottom of each pair of lockers, along with half-width compartments for storing a coat or jacket. They’re conveniently located in corridors adjacent to work areas.
The lockers provide convenient storage, make the best use of limited space, and enhance the look of the new offices. The designers wanted the lockers to help unify the building’s multiple floors, each of which featured a different accent color. They chose high-pressure laminate for the over-frame doors and they specified blue-grey, which would coordinate with all the accent colors and help provide continuity throughout the headquarters facility. To coordinate with the laminate, the interiors and bases were powder-coat painted to match.
"Spacesaver provided us with a variety of laminates to choose from that suited our aesthetic. They also provided drawings that suited the client’s exact request."
- Interior Designer
Enduring Solutions for Modern Workplaces
The way people work and learn is evolving, and so is the way they interact with their work spaces. At Spacesaver, we know that innovative workplaces boost employee engagement and productivity. That’s why we work with architects, designers, and our clients to design solutions that are as attractive as they are practical. As you begin designing a new or renovated office, contact your local Spacesaver consultant to request a free space assessment and learn more about your options.