Soap Factory Studio

This adaptive re-use project is the new headquarters for a prominent Toronto film production studio - Scouts Honour. Excited to work within a heritage building and with a keen interest in keeping many of its existing features, the clients brought us on to convert the soap factory into a functional and unique space that would host the many needs of their growing studio.

The existing building consisted of a small heritage building with an more recent industrial addition. By taking advantage of the already divided space, we established three zones of program: an everyday office space, an open staging area and communal kitchen and flexible hot-desk space. The everyday office is hosted in the smaller heritage building and is characterized by the existing yellow brick and a framed glass enclosure. This acts as a 'fish bowl' where views through the building are uninterrupted, allowing light to filter through. The open staging space and communal kitchen are situated in the newer, industrial addition while the hot-desk space is in the lower-level.

Although distinct in character and use, new thresholds through the old brick wall connect the spaces, turning two buildings into one.