Ventum Financial

Omicron was awarded full design and construction services for Ventum Financial's (previously PI Financial) head office at Vancouver Centre II, a new tower under construction in Vancouver, BC. From early on, we were deeply involved in the building systems, base building details, pre-construction, and estimating. Over the course of the project, we developed a strong relationship with PI Financial by immersing ourselves in their culture and getting to know their people, allowing us to create a design that reflects the fabric of their organization.

The design concept of a “timeless piece” shaped the entire aesthetic direction, from the ceiling to the materials and millwork. This idea was expressed through repetition, constancy, rhythm, and radial forms, resulting in a high-design, boutique corporate office experience. PI Financial’s program objectives included maintaining highly reconfigurable private offices with strong acoustic privacy, creating flexible room sizes and quantities for future needs, maximizing natural light and views through the building’s glazing, and communicating a professional identity distinct from their existing brand. They also required sophisticated client-facing areas, high levels of acoustic separation, and durable, low-maintenance materials and finishes.

From the onset, PI Financial remained committed to preserving a traditional layout of private offices, valuing privacy and dedicated focus spaces. We advised introducing versatility through modular walls aligned to a systematic grid, using a recyclable kit of parts. This strategy enhanced acoustics while enabling future reconfigurations, whether shifting wall placements or integrating technological updates, with excellent sound seals around glass doors. Most importantly, it preserved access to natural light across all office fronts.

Initiated at the peak of the pandemic, construction was driven by an anticipation of returning to a work environment optimized for focused tasks. The decision to implement enclosed offices throughout most of the floorplate, while reserving the best views for shared areas such as the staff lunch room and client-facing reception wing, proved highly successful. The grid-based planning system offers ongoing flexibility, allowing PI Financial to add or remove offices, or repurpose space between offices and meeting rooms as their needs evolve. This forward-thinking combination of privacy and adaptability positions PI Financial to navigate future workplace shifts with ease.

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