After a successful trajectory of providing photographic supplies in a nondescript industrial building, the president, Mr. Basil Hal, wanted to have his own building for logistics and as a personal reward for his many years of labour. The vision that he articulated to me, after a game of tennis, had little to do with physical organization and lots to do with image, the staff’s well-being, and the comfort of guests. This being the potential design program I accepted the invitation to work with him.
The site, an irregular parallelogram, was in a new industrial development area in Vaughan. Its geometric configuration was suggestive of the resolution of the ‘design’ program. The parti was made up of two squares, each addressing its adjacent street.



The square facing the main street was dedicated to administrative and executive spaces, whereas the square on the secondary street became warehouse and shipment functions. The two squares joined each other with a slight superimposition, forming a transition space. This area was highlighted by a substantial skylight and exposed steel structure. A staircase from the administrative square rises on a mezzanine above the warehouse square. A kitchen and eating area occupy this mezzanine with a direct view of the outside through the skylight.Basil wanted to see the snow fall when he sat enjoying a cafe’.
This boutique industrial project received a special recognition certificate from PCI… and for you who may wonder, I do not remember who won the tennis match.
