A Construction Company Merges Industrial and Scandinavian Aesthetics in Its New Headquarters

The 45-year-old company Garoy Construction, based in Quebec City, was looking to build a new office building because its former space was becoming too crowded, and it lacked key amenities and meeting spaces. Faced with these challenges, it made sense that Garoy, with expertise in real estate management and construction, take on the management, evaluation and construction of the project internally.

To make sure that the interior design was welcoming and cohesive in their new headquarters, they collaborated with interior design studio Perron, also headquartered in Quebec City. “The owners of Garoy Construction have been Perron clients for years and have loved working with us,” said Rebekah Maciagowski, designer and associate at Perron.

The Perron design team was involved in many aspects right from the start, including planning, design and decorating. “We were in contact with all project participants, from engineers to architects,” Maciagowski said.

The design process was extended to two years due to the pandemic, which proved beneficial in the long run, because it allowed Maciagowski and her team to do things right.

Located on Boulevard Sainte-Anne in the Montmorency sector of Quebec City, the new 18,000-square-foot (1672-square-meter) building offers breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River.

Since the new office is spacious and spans three floors, it was important for the design to be unified while not identical throughout, according to Maciagowski. The use of wood, metal, glass and concrete is visible throughout the building, giving it an industrial feel, which Maciagowski balanced out with a colorful and daring design.

Perron incorporated Scandinavian furniture from MUUTO, as well as light fixtures from Lambert et Fils and office furniture from Rouillard, two Quebec-based companies.

One of the biggest challenges of the project, according to Maciagowski, was to “succeed in integrating materials that were pretty raw, without it being too industrial or cold, so we did that through textures, carpets and furniture.”

The Garoy logo colours, red and white, were integrated within the interior design without being too dominant, according to Maciagowski. It appears in small details such as the construction helmets that are suspended on the wall, in a nod to construction sites.

“The helmet details, for example, are little extras that we cannot plan at the beginning of the design process,” Maciagowski said. “Final styling and these little add-ons make a big difference in the project.”

A wider array of colours was also included in the mix, with a mint-coloured bar and bar stools in the kitchen, and mirror and counters of a striking blue in the bathroom.

“The idea was to feel like a home at work while staying functional and professional. It’s important and a lot of it is done through colours,” Maciagowski said. “People often underestimate the extent to which incorporating colour feels good; it’s lively, and it doesn’t need to be aggressive, even if there is a little bit of colour everywhere.”

Since Garoy Construction employees spend most of their work week at the office, facilities and amenities are important. “Garoy Construction is a business that has always preferred that people come in to work because it makes things easier,” Maciagowski said.

As such, the new office focuses on the strategic use of technology and employees have access to adjustable desks where they can work seated or standing up. They also have access to a gym and a golf simulator on the third floor, which allows them to stay active while at the office.

Each floor is dedicated to departments, such as administration and management, and in each department, there are dedicated offices and common spaces. “I think that the pandemic confirmed that it was relevant to have non-dedicated spaces, but it’s not a 50/50 division [in this office],” Maciagowski said.

Beyond office functionality, the new Garoy Construction headquarters can also host events such as happy hours, conferences or training sessions. It was important for them to have a comfortable and functional space for employees while also being a great space to welcome clients, according to Maciagowski.

The reception area is designed to conduct meetings with clients without disturbing employees. Upon entering the building, one finds a reception area, a large conference room and a café and lounge area. “They built a space that was big enough to welcome people, and then there are other common spaces further in the building where access is needed,” Maciagowski said.

Garoy Construction set aside dedicated spaces, mostly on the third floor, to accommodate their expanding workforce. Some of this additional space has already been filled by new employees.

“They kept desks and rooms that can be either future offices for specific employees or meeting spaces,” Maciagowski said, adding that when companies invest in large amounts of space, it’s often about the flexibility of uses and accommodating future employees.