Informa Canada produces and manages over 45 annual conferences, trade and consumer shows in the construction, design, craft, art, real estate, and furniture sectors, including the Interior Design Show, IIDEXCanada, the Artist Project and Fan Expo. Informa is known for their global and holistic approach, offering unparalleled opportunities for industry insight from around the world, with a mandate of innovation and design excellence in their exhibitions. The fit-up for Informa’s Toronto expansion into one of midtown’s Class A office buildings comfortably accommodates a growing team of 110 employees in a 16,000 s.f. floorplate. 

Informa’s department teams working in different sectors (real estate shows, consumer shows, Fan expo, finance department) were previously isolated from one another, and with communication and productivity decreasing it was necessary to integrate the teams into a more collaborative environment. The new layout divides the department teams into coloured quadrants which are visually identified by bold coloured accents in the Teknion workstation furniture and wall graphics. The workstations are located around the perimeter to provide access to views and natural light. Private offices and meeting rooms have glass partitions to allow for borrowed light in adjacent interior spaces. The new office layout, reflecting the creativity and collaborative nature of their process, has dramatically improved Informa’s workflow and productivity. 

In the elevator lobby a directional graphic in the company’s brand colours directs guests to the reception area where a mural by local artist Mike Parsons depicts themes from some of Informa’s exhibitions. A fresh material palette of light wood to add warmth in a corporate environment combined with deep hues of blue in the furnishings and linear carpet incorporate Informa’s brand colours and contrasts with the white walls and workstation furniture. Similarly, in the communal kitchen, splashes of colour from the furniture and light fixtures offset the neutral grey AyA cabinetry and countertop. The result is a space that successfully communicates Informa’s brand and its transition from a disconnected and poorly lit environment to an open workspace flooded with light. 

Data Sheet

Location: Toronto | Size: 16,000 s.f

Interiors: Dubbeldam Architecture + Design

Project Team: Heather Dubbeldam, Andrew Snow, Scott Sampson

Photography: Shai Gil

Dubbeldam Architecture + Design

Dubbeldam Architecture + Design (DA+D) is an award-winning, full-service architectural practice recognized for creating projects that demonstrate design clarity, thoughtful planning, and rigorous attention to detail. Founded by architect Heather Dubbeldam, the studio has grown to include a team of architects and designers from different backgrounds and disciplines. DA+D’s portfolio consists of a diverse range of projects including a mixed-use retail/residential/educational project in Batawa, Ontario; a daycare centre; office renovations for Slack Technologies, Azure Magazine, Travelzoo, Informa Exhibitions and the Museum of Canadian Contemporary Art (MOCCA); numerous residential projects; and hospitality design for Dark Horse Espresso Bar, Wallace Espresso, the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto and the Walper Hotel in Kitchener, Ontario. The commitment to design excellence has earned DA+D numerous design awards and wide recognition in national and international publications. Dubbeldam is the recipient of the 2016 Professional Prix de Rome in Architecture from the Canada Council, one of the oldest and most prestigious prizes in architecture created to recognize outstanding achievement in Canadian architecture.