Up Inc. Wellington

488, Wellington Street West, Old Toronto, Toronto, Canada

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Up Inc. Wellington

488, Wellington Street West, Old Toronto, Toronto, Canada

Type

Commercial › Office

YEAR

2009

The principals of Up Inc, a progressive branding firm located in Toronto, were making an important move; they wanted to create their first purpose built studio environment that supported the unique way they worked and expressed their corporate identity. After working together for more than 15 years on a series of partial renovations to their existing space, theyentrusted us to create the physical embodiment what they were about. Because of the existingbase building’s robust concrete structure, the right stage was set. In fact this allowed us to focus the design on the heart of how Up Inc works - the studio.A giant screen of staggered, stainless steel panels seemingly floats from the floor, and snakes across the ceiling of the studio with a polished precision that starkly contrasts with the rough features of the host building. This sculptural device displays the firm’s work, shields the studio from the client area while still emitting light and glimpses into the hum of the busy office, and with white felt backs on the panels, it softens acoustics and brightens the light within the studio. Its zigzag abstraction reflects the dynamism of the office and gives an organic presence to an otherwise rectangular and inorganic space.