Hudson’s headquarters is located in the street level commercial space of one of their most recent developments, Broadhurst & Whitaker. The Edwardian building is one of the oldest examples of mixed commercial and residential use in the area. Working with MA+HG Architects, Hudson set out to revitalize and restore the existing building, turning the units above into updated rental units and slipping a new infill multi-family building into the east side of the property. The space between the heritage building and the new infill became a green courtyard, shared by the various user groups.
When we were approached by Hudson to design the layout and interiors for their office space, we identified the connection between the street and the courtyard as a driving idea for the project. For this reason the space was organized with the more private programs (offices, storage and washrooms) lining the north and south perimeter walls, while more public and interactive programs were concentrated in the middle. The large boardroom that occupies the epicentre of the space features glazing on it’s east and west sides, allowing for unencumbered transparency and views.
In order to preserve views from the street, through the boardroom and into the courtyard, the kitchen is composed entirely of lower cabinetry. A bank of perimeter millwork runs along the east wall, under the boardroom glazing. An eleven foot island with seating on both sides becomes a sculptural volume in the space and provides an additional area for informal meeting for the Hudson team.The kitchen millwork is finished in black laminate and the countertop is black large format porcelain. Over the island hangs a copper Pipeline fixture from local lighting designers A-N-D Light which provides a bright metallic contrast to the deep sable tones of the space.
Occupying the middle of the storefront is a lounge and waiting area that features sage green millwork with reeded glass fronts, custom daybeds with weighted bolsters in a cream pebbled leather and a large coffee table for architectural model display.Bookending the lounge on the north and south sides of the storefront are two oak clad library spaces. Providing flexible storage for the teams’s material collections and the option to share and display vignettes for Husdon projects. The entire front area can be transformed thanks to massive floor to ceiling drapery that, when extended, provides a neutral backdrop for window display.
In the washrooms, glossy courses of oxblood field tiles clad the washroom walls, finished at wainscot height with fir trim.
The boardroom walls and millwork are painted a muted grayish green, a colour selected for its historical connection to the building, which is one of the oldest mixed commercial and residential use in the area.
Charcoal felt sound baffles hang above a massive custom black oak table and globe lights hovered inside the baffle grid, casting a warm glow and softening the rectilinear forms.
