Sobeys Inc.

The 25,000-square-foot hub introduces activity-based work through a people-first lens. Active and quiet zones acknowledge different tolerances for sound, light, temperature, and social energy. Workstations, project rooms, collaboration areas, a work café, prayer room, wellness room, and lockers in varied sizes give employees practical choice. Accessible and gender-neutral restrooms, water-filling stations, healthy snacks, and room-level temperature controls extend that care into the everyday details. The original timber, oak, and brick remain visible, now paired with contemporary technology, tactile textiles, and dark metal accents.

Reused cans become custom light fixtures, while vintage and artisanal furniture sits alongside work by local artists, OCAD students, Canadian manufacturers, and craftspeople. A resident industrial-design student contributed custom furniture, giving the hub a direct connection to emerging talent. Glass meeting rooms line a three-floor circulation route, sharing daylight and glimpses of activity. Two levels combine into a double-height town hall, an outdoor mezzanine overlooks the public atrium, and a new lift improves access and security. Virtual-reality tours, workplace guides, and ongoing sensor data supported the shift to activity-based work, helping Sobeys introduce a new model while continuing to learn from how employees use it.