COLLABORATE DESIGN

MCM Architects worked with the Pyrford International and their parent company, The Bank of Montreal to design their new workplace. Pyrford had two challenges. Firstly, they were leaving a space which was a typical Victorian style office with lots of small spaces, changes of level and limited opportunity to work in true open plan (There were also the need for some chinese walls). They were moving to a brand new building with curtain glazing and a large open plan CAT A space. Secondly, they had been bought by The Bank of Montreal and were looking to align their brand to that of The Bank of Montreal's (but without losing their core identity.)

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With this in mind, the planning of the space needed to embrace the new opportunities but also to allow a level of familiarity. This was achieved with a number of smaller open plan spaces but using as much glass as possible to separate corridors and open plan. Offices were located to ensure that they did not block the natural light for the those in open plan. A luxurious meeting suite was developed alongside a spacious reception. The standard Bank of Montreal finishes palette was reinvigorated with contemporary design details and where quality of detail was key. 

 

I was contracted to join MCM to assist another Project Leader who was very busy, but ultimately took the project from the end of the concept design stage to completion.  I quickly put together the Employers Requirements Package to enable the project to go to tender under a Design and Build Contract. I was then asked to continue and worked closely with the Project Manager and the Contractors to ensure the details were of high quality and were what was intended. I was subsequently told that the Employers Requirements package was of such a high quality that the cost was spot on and (apart from client change and addition) the project came in within budget. 

"An alignment of brand in a new open plan space".