Toronto Waterfront Event / Office / Communal / Co-Working Space / Educational Space

The space is part startup incubator and part executive training hub, with both sides focusing on what the university knows best: design. “There are a lot of places in the city where companies can get tech help, but we are focused on the experience,”says the space’s managing director. So far, they’ve hosted executive teams from organizations like Bell and the Ontario government. Clients come in for week-long “creativity bootcamps,” where they brainstorm in campfire-style circles and use basic arts and crafts materials to create prototypes. “We want to break their current way of thinking,” “We tell our clients that most people think to build, but we want you to build to think.” Before launching the space, they conducted market research to find out what types of things people associated with the comapany. Pink hair and paintbrushes were two of the most popular responses, so they gave the space a fuchsia colour scheme. “We decided to own it,” the manager says. The main reception area (called “the commons”) is an open space scattered with movable sofas, desks and square block seats. The colour scheme is meant to be shockingly vibrant. “You see a lot of muted blues in executive spaces,” We wanted people to feel slightly unhinged.” There’s more of the signature pink hue in this casual meeting area. There are also whiteboards everywhere. Board rooms are versatile and filled with light (there’s a view of the lake).