Aura partnered with Olympic Industries, an international trading and distribution company focused on lumber and forest products, to design and build its new 13,000 SF North Vancouver office. As Olympic Industries continued to grow, its existing workspace no longer supported its expanding team.

Seeking a partner to create a future-ready office, the company turned to Aura, Canada’s leading design-build firm, for expertise in workplace strategy, interior design, and construction. Aura was entrusted with transforming Olympic Industries’ new office into a dynamic and functional workspace tailored to its needs.

The Challenge

Before the transformation, Olympic Industries faced the opportunity to enhance its workspace to better support its evolving needs. As the company expanded, its existing office, which was designed primarily around individual workstations, no longer provided the flexibility or collaborative spaces the company required. With a vision for the future, Olympic Industries sought a workspace that would reflect its company culture, strengthen team connections, and accommodate future growth while staying true to its roots in the lumber trading industry.

The Design Strategy

The design of Olympic Industries’ new workspace is centered around the concept of interlinking, both as a reflection of its core business and as an abstract representation of its collaborative work culture. This idea is brought to life through interwoven wood elements, a subtle yet distinctive feature integrated throughout the space. These interlinking details appear in millwork, ceiling accents, and feature wall partitions, symbolizing the company’s role in connecting forestry-region lumber mills with global buyers.

The open-plan layout, with minimal enclosed offices, embodies Olympic Industries’ values of transparency, authenticity, and collaboration, fostering a workspace that is interconnected, adaptable, and resilient. The overall design aesthetic is bold, timeless, and refined. A darker color palette, softened by natural wood finishes, creates a striking yet inviting environment that reflects the company’s strong and enduring presence in the wood industry.

Key Features and Design Solutions

The renovation successfully addressed several of Olympic Industries’ key challenges:

Enhanced Knowledge Transfer and Training

The open office layout fosters knowledge sharing and mentorship by breaking down physical barriers. Junior employees, interns, and traders can interact and learn from each other, making knowledge more accessible. Furthermore, the open workstations encourage spontaneous conversations and collaboration, allowing employees to observe and learn from colleagues in real time. With increased visibility and easier communication, junior employees can quickly absorb industry best practices, gain insights into decision-making, and develop skills through informal mentorship.

Additionally, the new workspace features informal meeting areas designed for training and development purposes. A standout feature is the casual meeting zone, complete with tiered seating and mobile digital screens, creating an ideal environment for team collaboration and staff training.

Adaptability for Future Growth

The new space was designed to grow with the company. The open layout allows for future expansion of workstations, and flexible meeting rooms can be converted into private offices as needed. This adaptability ensures that the space remains functional as Olympic Industries continues to scale.

Support for Employee Wellness

To promote mental and physical wellness, a fitness room was included in the design. Equipped with workout gear such as a treadmill, a spin bike, and floor mats, this space encourages employees to prioritize their health during the workday. Catering to Olympic Industries’ culture of fitness and movement, the designers thoughtfully created an area that empowers staff to stay active and energized throughout the day.

Reflection of Company Identity and Brand

The design infused Olympic Industries’ identity into the workspace. Natural wood elements throughout the office reflect their core business, while local artwork, including a mural and custom pieces from Vancouver artists, reinforces their connection to the region. A meeting room features artwork of a bear and a bull, symbolizing market conditions and bringing the dynamic nature of the trading industry into the space.

Employee Collaboration and Connection

The staff lunch area can transform into a multifunctional space that can serve as a casual meeting spot, recreation area, or venue for company events. The inclusion of a pool table, ping-pong table and open dining space fosters social connection among employees, aligning with the client’s value of maintaining a close-knit, collaborative work culture.

The Outcome

The renovation transformed Olympic Industries’ office into a bold, modern, and highly functional workspace that reflects their core. By partnering with Aura, Olympic Industries was able to create a workspace that not only addressed its immediate needs but also set it up for future success. Aura’s expertise in workplace strategy and their integrated design-build approach ensured a seamless transition from concept to completion, delivering a space that is as functional as it is inspiring.

Discover how Aura can transform your workspace and support your business’s growth. Contact us today to speak with our workplace experts!