Practicing What We Preach: Inside Clearspace’s New Office
Table of Contents:
1. Introduction: Living What We Do
We build offices for a living, and we believe in their power. That conviction has only grown stronger. Over the past few years, Clearspace has been on a remarkable growth trajectory—not just in size, but in capability. More fundamentally, we’ve evolved—taking on more complex, design-driven projects and refining our processes to deliver even greater value to our clients.
Our new headquarters presented an opportunity to bring that evolution to life. As a firm that helps others shape their workplaces, we saw a chance to put our own philosophy into practice—one grounded in purpose, performance, and people.
At a time when many are questioning the relevance of physical offices, we’ve taken a clear stance: thoughtfully designed workplaces still matter. Our new environment reinforces that belief, validates our approach, and redefines expectations. This move is a statement. It’s about showing who we’ve become—and who we’re becoming—as we step into a new chapter with a fresh brand identity. Our headquarters isn’t just bigger; it’s a reflection of our ambition and the next level of our business.
2. The Journey: From 20 Victoria St. to 1 Adelaide St. E.
Our journey to this new office started years ago at 20 Victoria Street, a GWL Realty Advisors building in downtown Toronto. That space played a defining role in our early growth. It helped put Clearspace on the map by proving what was possible at an unheard-of price point—a thoughtfully designed, high-performing office that didn’t break the budget.
But as our capability and ambition outgrew that space, the need for a purpose-built headquarters became clear.
This move reflects an intentional shift. We approached the design with the same process we apply to clients—programming, budgeting, strategy, and culture mapped from day one. It was an opportunity to walk in our clients’ shoes and bring our entire methodology to life. We set a strict budget, and had to make the same tough choices our clients face. That experience made us better. It taught us how to prioritize under pressure, find creative solutions, and refine our own process with real empathy.
3. Why It Matters: A Space Built for Brand, Culture, and Clients
Brand
Our office is a physical manifestation of our core values—integrity first, grit, ownership, treat people well, and continuous improvement. From material choices to layout logic, each element was selected to reinforce these values and create a seamless brand experience. Now, our space demonstrates that you can have both: beautiful, inspiring design without losing sight of practical outcomes.
Culture
The design supports both autonomous focus and vibrant collaboration. We have flexible zones, quiet spaces, open meeting areas, and social lounges to enable our team to choose their mode of work fluidly. We intentionally built in a mix of formal and informal environments, creating more opportunities for team members to connect organically. The result is a team that feels more energized, more engaged, and more proud to come to work. Some of the most impactful moments happen outside of scheduled meetings—around the water cooler, over lunch, or simply overhearing a conversation that sparks a new idea. Those interactions create a dynamic, innovative culture you can’t replicate remotely.
Client Impact
Clearspace is unique in that our product is office space. This gives us a different lens when designing our own environment. Our new office is also a business development tool. It allows us to bring clients into a fully realized workplace strategy and walk them through the real decisions behind every detail.
We treat the space as a showcase of material choices, layout options, branding integrations, and cost trade-offs. For many clients, especially those new to building out space, it’s invaluable to see and touch the possibilities in person.
This ability to showcase our thinking in action has shifted conversations with clients. It builds credibility, trust, and helps our clients make better-informed decisions. It allows people to see what’s possible when value and design come together, signalling a new standard in workplace design.
4. Proof of Impact: What’s Changed
Since opening:
Voluntary office attendance has increased by over 30%
Business development conversations feel more engaging and confident
Client tours are translating into faster decisions and stronger close rates
Recruiting candidates frequently cite the office experience as a deciding factor
5. The Bigger Picture: Why the Office Still Matters
Return‑to‑office mandates are back. Canadian institutions like RBC, Scotiabank, TD, BMO, Rogers, and CIBC have announced 4–5 day in-office expectations starting fall 2025, citing collaboration, culture, and strategic alignment as drivers.
We agree. Our position is that the office is an essential tool for culture, creativity, and performance—but only when paired with meaningful flexibility. Our model is built around choice: being together when it matters, and trusting our team the rest of the time.
There’s a level of energy and high-resolution interaction that happens in person—and can’t be replicated through screens. It’s a leap of faith, but the payoff is real. The highest-performing teams are back in the office more often, and that’s not a coincidence.
When offices are designed with intent and purpose, they become spaces people want to use—not spaces they’re forced into.
6. What’s Next: Sharing, Learning, and Leading
This space is just the beginning. We’re going to share more about what we’ve learned:
The design decisions that worked—and what we iterated on
The real-world cost decisions and how we made them
The impact of working inside our own product every day
We’ll continue using the space as a platform for conversation. It’s a place to bring clients, partners, and peers to learn, collaborate, and be inspired.
7. Conclusion: Practicing What We Preach
Great offices are intentional—they reflect values, enable culture, and drive impact. Since moving into our new space, the team’s energy and collaboration have noticeably increased, creating a more motivated and connected workplace.
We’ve built a living testament to our belief that a well-designed workplace is not a cost, but a catalyst.
Mark reflects that what he’s most proud of is the team that built it—their commitment, creativity, and resilience. It shows what can be achieved together when design, strategy, and people align.
As the broader market returns to physical work, we’re not just following the trend—we’re showing why thoughtfully designed offices continue to matter.
