Guiness Tower Repositioning

space

Office lobbies have long been overlooked, often cold, transitional spaces designed for people to move through quickly rather than linger. Butt hat’s changing. As workplace culture evolves, the modern lobby is being reimagined as a third space: part office, part café, part community hub. It’s a place to grab a coffee, take a meeting, or pause between moments, not just pass through on the way to an elevator.

For landlords and developers, this shift isn’t just aesthetic—it’s strategic. Activating these under-utilized spaces adds measurable value. A thoughtfully designed lobby helps retain tenants, attract new ones, and elevate a building’s character in a competitive market.

from pass-through to vibrant

We see lobbies as powerful first impressions — spaces that reflect brand values, set the tone for the tenant experience, and foster connection. When designed with intention, they become more than entry points. They become urban living rooms.

This thinking shaped our approach to the lobby renovation at Guinness Tower, a prominent 1960s office tower in downtown Vancouver. In partnership with Oxford Properties, we transformed the space from a transactional pass-through into a vibrant, multi-functional environment aligned with today’s workforce needs.

The design introduces a locally operated coffee kiosk, diverse seating zones to support casual meetings and focused work, and warm, hospitality-inspired finishes that bring comfort and character to the space.

The multi-tenant lobbies

Beyond the lobby, we refreshed the tower’s multi-tenant common areas and washrooms to establish a cohesive, contemporary design language that supports Oxford’s long-term leasing goals.

The Result

The result is a welcoming, future-ready environment. A new front door for the next generation of tenants and a lobby that acts as an “urban living room” in the heart of downtown.

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