PROJECT 08

PESTO STUDIOS RENOVATION 

1200 SQ. FT. 

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Pesto Studios is a digital design and development studio in the heart of Toronto. The open office layout was previously a residential suite. Office work is computer-based and employee time is often divided between videoconferencing and focus tasks. The client wanted to recreate the coveted “brick-and-beam” look that’s en vogue with tech companies (Kucharsky, 2021). To achieve this, brick veneer accent on the north and west perimeter walls coupled with the ceiling’s architectural beams mimic the appearance of an authentic industrial-to-office conversion. A small dose of green was used in the lobby tile, referencing the company’s green branding.

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Circular design principles were major drivers of the finish proposal. Maintaining existing finishes that were in good condition such as the solid oak hardwood floor and sourcing reclaimed products when possible were decisions that both support circularity and the client’s aesthetic goals and mandate.

Privacy and acoustic issues of the open office layout were addressed by enclosing the meeting room with a glazed partition system. The glass partition does not visually impede the space, maintaining a sense of grandeur upon entry. For sensitive client meetings where additional visual privacy is required, smartglass technology was spec’d as a glazing treatment.