Skylab Architecture

A box within a box is the name of the game at North, a branding firm. The 10,000-square-foot office was conceived by Skylab Architecture as a series of breakaway modules for working, collaborating, lounging, and eating. "Cubicles can be too comfortable," says principal Jeff Kovel. "The client specified a space that would stretch the parameters of work." A cantilevered "think module" of exposed pine dominates the airy workplace, like a tree house offering inspiring views. Yellow Post-it Notes, for jotting down brainstorms, cover a wall in the media room. A lounge area encourages standing, thus productivity, by centering on a high table crafted from a sliced fallen tree trunk. It's all meant to generate creativity—and lots of wiggle room.

project Edelman, Seattle.

standout Angled walls of pristine painted plasterboard lean against rich mozambique paneling to unify the public and work zones in the 21,000-square-foot outpost of a global public-relations firm.

project Centre for Ethics, University of Toronto.

standout Window fins in walnut and yellow plastic laminate and a graphic wall of multilingual text punctuate the 3,750-square-foot space.

project Toshiba Medical Research Institute, Vernon Hills, Illinois.

standout Partitions of semitransparent acrylic separating breakout areas, work spaces, and labs highlight the 31,000-square-foot office of this company, which designs medical-imaging software.