Westland Insurance: A Masterpiece of Office Design by Aura

Flexible, Brand-Centric, and Promoting Connection

The design of Westland Insurance's new 5500 square meter head office is inspired by the company's values and the natural beauty of Canada. The office space is designed to be flexible and adaptable, with a focus on promoting connection among employees. The design concept is inspiring and approachable, with each floor having a consistent welcoming feel. Common elements and repetition in materiality provide unity between floors and easy navigation. Inspiring views are celebrated by highlighting them for shared common use among staff.

The unique properties of this design lie in its focus on flexibility and diversity. The top floor houses the reception area, conference center, bistro and catering kitchen, and can double as an event space when needed. A featured staircase adjoining the top floors allows for connection between workstations and the reception. Westland’s value of diversity is seen throughout the space through distinctive artwork, accessible signage, and graphics.

The realization of this design was achieved through modular planning, creating a future-proof workplace that suits various work styles. The design enables various forms of work, from intimate brainstorming sessions to conferences. There is an equitable distribution of offices and workstations, and employees can sit anywhere and feel at ease. To highlight Canada, local elements were utilized. Concrete, wood, handwoven rugs are included to provide a calm space for staff.

The technical specifications of the design include a workplace of 5500 square meters in size and split into six levels. The reception area, conference center, bistro, and catering kitchen are located on the top floor. 338 workstations, 38 offices, and 34 meeting rooms are distributed across the five lower floors. Support and collaboration areas are positioned in the same or comparable locations on each floor to provide staff familiarity across all levels.

Despite the irregular floorplate of the base building featuring sharp corners, the designers were able to overcome this challenge by including curved forms to provide a calming sensation and a subconscious relation to the natural environment. The design was realized in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, with the project beginning in September 2020 and the company taking possession of the space in June 2022.

Westland Insurance's new head office is a testament to the power of design in creating a work environment that is flexible, represents the brand's culture, and promotes connection. This design was awarded Silver in A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2023, a testament to its outstanding expertise and innovation. The design showcases a remarkable level of excellence and introduces positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.