Workplace Culture 
World-class Fintech company Trulioo hired Vancouver design firm Edit Studios to lead the workplace and interior design strategy for their new 35,000 sq. ft. Vancouver headquarters in Mount Pleasant to encourage return-to-work efforts for Trulioo’s team members. A global company with offices worldwide, Trulioo is one of the world’s most trusted identity verification platforms. Recently completed in early 2023, the challenge was understanding what would motivate people back to the office from the comfort of their homes.
The priority was to unite all 300 staff into a collaborative, functional and productive environment that would drive interaction and collaboration. Edit Studios utilized tools such as surveys and one-on-one interviews to uncover themes that reinforced the design direction for the space.
What was incredibly unique about this project was this space was designed and planned during Covid lock down with Trulioo was in growth mode. The majority of staff in the Vancouver office had neve even met one another due to the covid lock down. We were essentially planning an office for people who had never worked with one another!
Janay Koldingnes, founder of Edit Studios
Their new headquarters spans two floors, and the space revolves around a brightly painted interconnected stair featuring a custom mural by a local artist Rory Doyle, depicting Trulioo’s number one asset, their people!
Perhaps the most popular theme that emerged was privacy and quiet spaces to focus and work. Open working environments crammed with desking was not going to cut it for this group. Employees are on virtual calls daily and require more phone and small meeting rooms to conduct their work without disrupting neighbors. Clusters of phone rooms ranging in size break up the office work points and offer respite to concentrate. Open collaboration areas are positioned away from work points, limiting the number of interruptions in a day.
We became comfortable with tech being a numbers game over the last ten years. How many open seats can you fit in one space? Through the pandemic, we saw a shift in sentiment towards having more control over private space. People want spaces with little distraction. The Trulioo space plan became an exercise not in the headcount but in optimizing the number of private spaces teams can access without booking them.
Janay Koldingnes, founder of Edit Studios
A total of 60% of Trulioo’s space comprises amenity areas, meeting spaces, and open collaboration areas that are centrally located around work points, each with a slightly different fit and feel. Edit designed a 1,500 sq. ft. library created for heads-down focused work, and a “living room” that offers a more social setting to collaborate, watch the news or play Xbox with a colleague. The café allows the staff to meet weekly with state-of-the-art technology to host town halls. Within this space, Edit carved out “Arcade Alley”, home to various vintage arcade games. Discreetly tucked away behind wooden doors is Trulioo’s very own Irish pub, offering a bespoke nod to their satellite office in Dublin. “Arcade Alley” is home to vintage arcade games, foosball and ping pong.
Trulioo’s office design was intended to reflect a residential feel and home comforts, with the modern office’s amenities and technology. Resimercial became the anthem for the design incorporating a layered lighting approach, soft furnishings and a warm colour palette. A corporate rebrand allowed Edit to use the concepts and colours to inform the office’s palette, signage and wayfinding. Everything down to the wall coverings was custom designed, referencing shapes and colours from the Trulioo rebrand.
From “library” settings that boast no zoom calls to “living room” spaces that allow one to kick back and watch a game, there is something for everyone. One of the most exciting features of the space is the plant libraries scattered around the office. During engagement, employees identified how important plant life is to their well-being. As a result, they can borrow a plant from the many plant libraries and take it back to their desk for the day.
About Janay Koldingnes
Janay founded Edit Studios in 2018 out of a passion for combining brand and interior design. With 20 years in the commercial interior design industry, Janay is interested in creating long lasting relationships with her clients. Janay’s passion is to take her clients businesses and brands to the next level. Prior to settling in Vancouver, Janay worked in Europe, where she collaborated with a Dutch architectural firm in creating innovative and architecturally significant spaces.
“If we can’t have our client over for dinner after a project, we did not do our jobs right.”
About Floorspace Commercial
Floorspace is a technology powered commercial real estate brokerage that helps companies with their real estate solutions. Floorspace was not involved in the lease up of Trulioo’s new space but we are proud to showcase the Vancouver based company. If you have any questions about subleasing your space or finding a new space, one of our advisors at Floorspace would be happy to connect.
We’re here to help – contact us https://www.floorspace.ca/who-we-are.
