Lightspeed commissioned ACDF Architecture – the designers for the first phase of the firm’s headquarters – to create a new floor dedicated to product development.

The workspace of the point-of-sale software company is located on the ground floor of a 19th century railway hotel, the Viger Railway Station. With its distinctive architecture and its historical significance, the building is an iconic landmark that stands out in Old Montreal’s skyline.

Inspired by the contrast between the historic railway station and the growing tech company, ACDF created a functional and lively office space providing an ideal environment for development teams, expressing at the same time the audacious and creative nature of Lightspeed. Daylight reflects off the slick surfaces of the glossy white epoxy-coated floor and the gypsum ceiling of the large and bright 4.5-m-high space. The harmonious setting creates a unique synergy driven by spontaneous interaction. Each group works as a unit, almost like an independent start-up company, and the collaborators adapt the space to fit their needs. Each group has its own desks, meeting room and social area in the open floor plan. Varying pastel tones spread on the walls and floors in shadow-like shapes define each team’s zone. Like small islands, these areas form a dynamic archipelago that encourages gatherings to take place in the in-between spaces, while the surrounding pastel walls double as whiteboards for impromptu meetings and presentations.