Innovative Spaces for Innovative Places
The NWOIC is a launch pad providing staff and resources for students wishing to start businesses and introduce products in Northwestern Ontario. Located on the Confederation College campus, the NWOIC was looking to update their space and refresh their image. The renovations included the removal of interior walls to open up the space for presentations and create an open-concept drop-in workspace for students. The existing ceiling was removed and painted to increase light and four new office areas were defined with curtain wall systems to achieve flexible professional spaces for meetings, seminars and summer programming.
The centerpiece of the project is the new reception desk/cafe situated at the front entrance to the building. The purpose of the space was to inspire innovation in the working environment through the use of computer modeling technologies aiding production. Abstracted local references generate the forms within the space, the desk takes the shape of the inverted topography of Mount McKay and the trellis above is a nod to Lake Superior.
