It is a mark of a truly mainstream green design industry when new developments are completed to offer value and a distinctive architectural and design flair while resting on a foundation of sustainable building and performance principles.
Montreal’s newest design addition, the redeveloped 7,000 square foot showroom for Teknion Corporation, certainly achieves this goal.
Designed by Vanderbyl Design and Kiva Design, the site includes a showroom, office space, conference rooms, boardrooms and kitchen areas, which will function as a hub for designers in the region.
It has been designed in such a way that Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) takes top priority. This includes the implementation of many interior materials and finishes that meet GREENGUARD Children and Schools and GREENGUARD® indoor air quality standards.
“Our striking new Montreal showroom brings something new and dynamic to the region,” said Teknion President and CEO David Feldberg. “It’s a great place for local architects, designers, facility managers, students and businesses to come together and share innovative ideas.”
While the environmentally responsible interiors are a prominent component of the development, cultural design influences leave a far more notable effect on the design of the building as a whole.
The redesigned showroom is a vibrant, light-filled space. This was achieved through the implementation of a traditional French brocade pattern coupled with a modern interpretation highlighted by a high-tech modern dot pattern that was used in the featured screen walls.
These patterned walls are reverse-stencil cut out of ¼-inch-thick aluminum panels, then finished in white. To further enhance the reflection of natural light, walls were removed to open up the space and a white, light material palette was employed.
It is a testament Canadian design that green building features lie at the basis of interior design projects rather than overpowering them with a stereotypical green aesthetic.
The Teknion showroom highlights the best in cultural design within the region, complementing that with the best of modern green building practices.
