As we imagined our new office facility, affirming Richardson Wealth’s commitment to the Comox Valley and Vancouver Island market, Richardson Wealth and Morson Carson Wealth Counsel had a shared goal: to design a welcoming, collaborative space for our team and our clients with environmental sustainability at the forefront.
That’s why we selected IBI Group, a national interior design firm, to manage this project. They are a global team of industry leading architects, engineers, planners, designers and technology professionals who are holistically minded, design inspired, environmentally responsible and technology driven.
Our new space
Designed by IBI, our general office space incorporates offices with glass fronts along the core and workstations adjacent, providing access to daylight and exterior views for all. We’ve reduced individual office size to feature larger workstations and more circulation space — and meet social distancing requirements. We’ve also invested in employee wellbeing by providing sit/stand desks in each workstation, as well as portfolio technology enabling our team to work remotely as needed Meeting rooms with integrated AV allow the team to easily collaborate with clients virtually or in person. Finally, our outdoor space with a view creates a pleasing space for guests and employees alike to experience a little bit of nature during the workday.
Our project suppliers
After completing the layout and design, IBI then went to work selecting finishes, materials, and products to finish the space. Below, you will find a little background on each of the major suppliers to the project.
DIRTT Environmental Solutions LTD. (DIRTT) — supplier and installer of interior partitions
DIRTT takes pride in revolutionizing the interior construction industry by considering sustainability at every stage of the business. From their design process and material selection to installation and beyond, sustainable behaviors are built into DIRTT’s decisions and processes. Every innovation works with what came before it. Everything can be disassembled and reconfigured. And every job DIRTT takes on helps reduce waste created by the global construction industry. Even their name DIRTT is an acronym for “doing it right this time” — their mission to save end users from potentially painful projects and inflexible premises.
Guided by the principles of resiliency, relevancy, and respect for individuals and the environment, DIRRT’s construction process not only minimizes waste but also enhances the functionality and longevity of office spaces. Their mission is to help their clients have the customized sustainable space they need that will adapt with them over time.
Learn more about DIRRT’s commitment to sustainability: DIRTT ESG Report 2020
Miller Knoll (formerly Herman Miller) — furniture manufacturer
MillerKnoll is a collective of dynamic brands and one of the largest and most influential modern design companies in the world, committed to designing a more equitable and sustainable future for all. Protecting the environment has been a core value since the company’s founder D.J. De Pree first articulated it in 1953, “We will be a good corporate neighbor by being a good steward of the environment.” Guided by a shared vision, common values, and a steadfast commitment to design, MillerKnoll innovates and designs the future for all the places where life happens while contributing to a more equitable and sustainable future for all.
Learn more about Miller Knoll’s commitment to sustainability: Better World Report (hermanmiller.com)
Patcraft — carpet supplier
Patcraft’s approach to sustainability and product design comes from the inside out, connecting inner spaces with the outer world. Inside-out design lets Patcraft create spaces that mimic the outdoors in aesthetics, sustainable materials, light, texture, and flow, leading them to design products that combine transparent materiality and inner beauty.
Patcraft is keenly aware of the impact the built environment has on overall human health and wellbeing. This commitment to sustainability is demonstrated by the fact that they were the first manufacturer to have a Cradle to Cradle Certified® flooring product. All of Patcraft’s commercial soft surface flooring offerings are manufactured in carbon neutral facilities.
Learn more about Patcraft’s commitment to sustainability: Patcraft | Environmental Impact
Sherwin Williams — paint supplier
Sherwin-Williams’ approach to corporate social responsibility and other Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risks and opportunities is grounded in their commitment to creating and maximizing long-term value for shareholders, employees, customers, communities in which they live and work, and their other stakeholders. Their commitment is also deeply embedded in their culture and business practices. From their manufacturing plants to company-operated stores and other places where their products are sold, Sherwin-Williams invests in sustainability and other ESG initiatives to help grow their business with care and make a positive impact on the world.
Learn more about Sherwin-Williams's’s commitment to sustainability: Sherwin-Williams 2020 Sustainability Report (q4cdn.com)
Committed to sustainability — as a team, and as a firm
Richardson Wealth and Morson Carson Wealth Counsel believe in creating positive, lasting change for our stakeholders and clients by managing the ESG factors we affect through our work.
That includes guiding our clients to make investment choices that will help make our community and world a better place, as reflected by our team’s Responsible Investment Advisor Certification (RIAC) — Canada’s financial industry designation that recognizes expertise in responsible investing. It also includes modernizing and upgrading our physical footprint — both Richardson Wealth’s Platinum LEED-Certified Toronto headquarters on Toronto’s waterfront opening later this year, and our new office here in Comox Valley.
We’re proud of our new facility and the care we’ve taken to make sure our team and our clients benefit from thoughtful and sustainable best practices. We can’t wait to welcome you to our new office!