Our work with PwC Canada for its Toronto headquarters has been named a winner in the Corporate Space category at the 2025 Global Excellence Awards, presented by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). The award recognises excellence in originality and creativity across international interior design and interior architecture, placing the project among the world’s most forward-thinking workplaces.
Spanning 271,500 square feet, this headquarters was conceived as both a cultural anchor and a national prototype, setting the benchmark for the firm’s portfolio-wide workplace transformation.
Entries were reviewed by a prestigious jury of design professionals. “We are honoured to celebrate these winners for their visionary work; these projects will resonate across the global design community for years to come,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA. “These projects are united by a shared commitment to intentional detail, creating immersive and inviting spaces that elevate the human experience.”
At the heart of this project was the clear ambition to align the workplace with how people actually work today. Deep engagement, data analysis, user interviews and co-creation workshops revealed a strong desire for choice, control and comfort, alongside spaces that support focus, collaboration and seamless hybrid work. The design goes beyond accessibility compliance, incorporating universal design principles to support people with diverse sensory, physical and cognitive needs, setting a new internal standard across PwC Canada’s portfolio.
The Toronto office introduced a flexible ‘kit of parts’, a modular system designed to support multiple workstyles and evolve over time. Tested across several Canadian cities, this approach was formalised into a national workplace playbook that ensures cohesion across the portfolio while allowing each location to feel locally grounded. The result is a workplace that performs at scale without sacrificing the human experience.
Our team introduced an experiential branding concept that ties the Canadian portfolio together. Rather than relying on logos or signage, the project expresses PwC Canada’s brand through layered lighting, FSC-certified woods, biophilic elements and regional colour palettes woven into the architecture itself. These elements connect Toronto to PwC Canada’s national and global presence while reflecting the city’s unique character.
Hospitality-forward amenities, including a barista bar, flexible lounges, an internal stair and a fully AV-integrated event space, transform the office into a vibrant hub for connection, culture and client engagement. Designed for longevity, adaptability and sustainability, we prioritised the reuse of existing materials, flexible infrastructure and systems built to evolve with PwC Canada’s needs. Since completion, utilisation has increased, employee presence has become more consistent and the workplace has been activated as a true strategic asset.
Recognised globally by IIDA, PwC Canada’s Toronto headquarters stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when workplace strategy, inclusive design and brand ambition come together, offering a blueprint for the future of work across Canada and beyond.
Furthermore, this award is an incredible honour and a reflection of the close partnership, shared vision and ambition behind this workplace transformation.
All finalists and winners will be celebrated at the Global Excellence Awards Gala on Saturday, February 14th, 2026, at L’Atelier des Abbesses in Paris, France.
Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this workplace to life. We also extend our congratulations to all fellow finalists and winners, whose work continues to raise the bar for global design excellence and collectively shape the future of the built environment.
