Contract - November/December 2011 - (Page 69)

By Jean Nayar Photography by Tom Arban If Red Bull gives you wings as the energy drink’s tagline promises, then you might say the company’s recently completed Canadian headquarters space is like the wind beneath them. Designed by Toronto-based Johnson Chou (see interview with Chou, page 136), the founder of his namesake design firm, this 5,000-square-foot third phase expansion of Red Bull’s office brims with surprising juxtapositions of materials, light, and form that engage the eye and craftily lift the spirits. Located on the second level above shops in an 80-year-old building on bustling Queen Street West in Toronto, the crisp-yet-casual flavor of the space was driven, says Chou, by Red Bull’s CEO, Jim Dailey, whose holistic approach to doing business was central to the program. To expand awareness of its singular product and reinforce its brand, “Red Bull has developed a unique form of corporate sponsorship of race car drivers, skateboarders, athletes, musicians, and visual artists,” explains Chou. “It’s not just a one-shot deal, but instead is conceived of as a kind of mentorship in which Red Bull participates in supporting an individual in his or her career.” And so, says Chou, the offices were designed not only to provide an inspiring work environment for Red Bull’s employees, but also to nurture and express the vitality, imagination, and charisma of the celebrity athletes and artists it supports. Expressing vitality To integrate Red Bull’s mentorship program into the mix of the overall office scheme, the design team was charged with executing the project in three phases. The first phase involved creating a space in the Toronto The dynamic board room enclosure with rib-like maple strips is evocative of a sauna and the Canadian landscape. The conference table was custom made for the room by Treehouse Furniture Company. A felt wall adds an unusual texture and aids in softening acoustics. www.contractdesign.com c ontract november/december 2011 69 http://www.contractdesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - November/December 2011

Contract - November/December 2011
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Product Briefs
Product Focus: Classic Touch
Product Focus: Generating Buzz(i)
Gelfand Partners Architects Office in San Francisco Designed by Gelfand Partners Architects
Sorg Architects Office in Washington, D.C. Designed by Sorg Architects
Sauerbruch Hutton Office in Berlin, Germany Designed by Sauerbruch Hutton
Roth Sheppard Architects Office in Denver Designed by Roth Sheppard Architects
AOL West Coast Headquarters in Palo Alto, California Designed by Studio O+A
Red Bull Canada Office Expansion in Toronto, Ontario, Canada Designed by Johnson Chou Inc.
Goods Shed North in Melbourne, Australia Designed by BVN Architecture
Bota Bota Spa in Montreal, Quebec, Canada Designed by Sid Lee Architecture
A’maree’s in Newport Beach, California Designed by Paul Davis Architects
2011 Contract Brand Report Awareness Survey
Sources
Designers Select: Building Products
Ad Index
Perspectives

Contract - November/December 2011