Johnson Chou

Grip Limited, Toronto

Deborah Wilk -- Interior Design, 12/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

Champagne results on a beer budget—that's what Johnson Chou concocted for this advertising agency, known for TV spots pitching Labatt Blue. Conferences convene in the "fridge," a formal boardroom clad in stainless steel and equipped with a vintage refrigerator handle on the door. Staffers brainstorm in the "hot tub," a meeting area consisting of a circular orange banquette sunk in a white-tiled enclosure; in the center is a cooler big enough for three six-packs. Better make that a soft drink if you're planning to try out the fire pole and slide that Chou installed for instant access between the top two floors of the 21,500-square-foot office.

Merit

Method Home, San Francisco

DESIGN Garcia + Francica.

STANDOUT Retro-modern swank comes courtesy of minimalist furnishings and workstations.

College Sports Television, New York

DESIGN A+I Design.

STANDOUT Ingenious sports references include screens constructed of leather string and hockey pucks.

DFGW, London

DESIGN Richard Hywel Evans Architecture & Design.

STANDOUT Plush monkeys perch on the rough-sawn pine slats enclosing a meeting space called the Forest.