Creative Office Design in Montreal: Parade Studios by Ivy Studio

Parade Studios, designed by Ivy Studio, is an innovative office space that reimagines a two-story industrial printer building into a dynamic, creative hub in Montreal’s vibrant Rosemont neighborhood. The design blends professional functionality with an energetic, colorful aesthetic, creating a space that inspires creativity while maintaining a practical approach for the city's artistic community.

Transforming an Industrial Space into a Creative Hub

Located on St-Hubert Plaza, Parade Studios has retained the industrial charm of its original building while updating its function and design. The building’s façade remains largely unchanged, preserving its commercial roots, but the rear façade tells a new story with large openings that allow natural light to flood the interior. The second-floor workspace is particularly well-lit, offering ample daylight for the Parade team.

The entrance makes a modest yet personal statement with tiled flooring featuring the studio's name, setting the tone for the rest of the space. The blend of professional functionality with quirky design elements reflects the creative energy of both the team and its clientele.

Ground Floor: A Space for Focused Creativity

On the ground floor, Parade Studios offers state-of-the-art facilities for artists, including two professional recording studios and rentable production rooms. This area embraces a darker aesthetic, with blacked-out hallways and velvet-clad studio walls to enhance acoustics and create a retro-inspired, cozy atmosphere. The combination of wood accents and mid-century furniture further complements the space, contributing to an inspiring and focused environment for creativity.

Integrated lighting fixtures ensure that artists feel comfortable while working, enhancing both the ambiance and functionality of the space.

Second Floor: Bright, Open, and Collaborative

In contrast to the intimate, focused design of the ground floor, the second floor is designed to maximize brightness and openness. The office space features cream-painted walls and light wood flooring, which helps to reflect the abundant natural light from large windows and a new skylight. The skylight allows sunlight to pour into the building’s core, illuminating key areas, including the open desk space, conference room, two call rooms, and the kitchen.

The second floor is framed by glazed partitions, maintaining open sightlines while offering distinct spaces for collaboration and private meetings. One standout feature is the conference room, which is fully enveloped in light blue hues—walls, furniture, and carpeting—creating a vibrant and cocoon-like space perfect for brainstorming sessions.

Design Elements that Foster Creativity

The design of Parade Studios is marked by playful and creative touches that enhance the overall atmosphere. Beneath the skylight, a two-tiered banquette with integrated seating and plants offers a cozy spot for informal meetings and relaxation. The kitchen, tucked behind an arched wall, features a striking blue-tiled counter that extends outward to serve as a café bar, adding an element of surprise and warmth to the studio.

Parade Studios represents a creative synthesis of openness, light, and intimacy, where each space is designed to foster both creativity and focus. The dynamic contrast between the ground and second floors illustrates the dual needs of the creative process—collaboration and privacy—and embodies the essence of what creative office design in Montreal can achieve.

All Photographs are work of Alex Lesage