Archetech Issue 52 2021 | Page 27

“ The two priorities behind these changes were to ensure the well-being of employees and to

become a high-quality exhibition space for all Artopex products .
LUC PLANTE ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN
A larger and brighter employee room has been meticulously designed in the plans , with an inviting series of comfortable benches , attached to a complete and functional kitchenette for 130 employees . Nearby , ping-pong and foosball tables encourage employees to engage in healthy competition . The decompartmentalization of offices , glass-paned meeting rooms , and hallways linking the various departments also encourage interaction and highlight the friendly atmosphere so dear to the Pelletier family , who founded the company .
Upstairs , a mezzanine repurposed into office space will neighbor a viewing area overlooking the factory to wow investors and demonstrate the company ’ s know-how . Once again , glass dominates , enhancing the team ’ s work environment . These glass partitions were also manufactured by Artopex . The workplace becomes synonymous with pride . Wherever employees look , they see products designed and manufactured by them : wood furniture , freestanding furniture , architectural walls , storage systems , and chairs .
The reception area , the only structural addition to the building , is a glass cube linking the ground floor , the first floor , and other zones , where a cozy lounge welcomes visitors . As soon as we enter this space , the two-storey open volume is intended to bring people together . It is vast but friendly , a sure sign of quality .
The industrial skeleton is prominent thanks to a complete overhaul of the ventilation system : pipes and exposed wires accompany the visitor throughout his journey in the building . The white paint gives a sense of airiness , where these industrial elements are present but not too dominant , subtle but reminiscent of an industrial style . Cream-tinted wood brings a warm touch , adds visual richness ,
and reminds the visitor of the products that are actually designed in this factory . Wood floors make way for soft and soundproof grey carpeting with soothing patterns .
Technology is omnipresent ; the training rooms , which can also be used as meeting rooms , are equipped with a touch screen at the entrance to check their availability or reserve a time slot . Widescreen TVs can be found both in common areas and meeting rooms . All of these elements are a logical follow-up to major investments in the plant ’ s robotization . Thanks to this major project , Artopex ’ s slogan , “ Art and manner ”, takes on its full meaning .
Technical Sheet Project : Artopex head office Location : Granby , Quebec Client : Artopex Architecture and space planning : Luc Plante architecture + design inc Interior design : Cyr Cathcart interior designers Structural Engineer : EXP Granby Mechanical engineer : EXP Granby General Contractor : IDEAL Construction Photographers : Francis Di Salvio from F6foto , David Boyer and Savitri Bastiani
Photos : Francis Di Salvio / F6fotoBastiani photography
lucplante-architecte . com
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