CI Financial:
Investment Pays Off Long-Term
Office furniture systems allow for quick and easy reconfiguration, and a fresh and modern look without sacrificing functionality.
CI Financial Corp. is the third-largest mutual fund company in Canada. Since CI Financial began managing money in 1965, it has consistently anticipated and responded to the changing needs of Canadian investors. This foresight that has helped CI Financial become the country’s third-largest publicly traded fund company is also clearly evident in its choice to invest in office furniture systems.
CI Financial recently moved into an elegant, modern headquarters at Maple Leaf Square, near the Air Canada Centre. During expansion projects at its previous location, CI Financial chose to make a long-term investment in Inscape Platform systems furniture, a decision based on product reusability with minimum down time. This helped CI Financial manage growth while residing at this location, and more importantly when it came time to move, these same product qualities allowed for quick and easy reconfiguration. This created a fresh and modern look without sacrificing functionality. The other big benefit to the organization was the money it saved during this transition, and the environmental responsibility of not sending any of their 15-year-old office furniture to dump sites.
Under the guidance and support of Harkel Furniture and Straticom Design Insight, the decision was made to dismantle and move about 950 office workstations and refurbish 950 office chairs, which would be updated to suit design aesthetics, as well as intense technical requirements to run both UPS and “normal” power to the work stations. Another 300 new work stations were then added to supplement the overall growth. In addition, 50 private offices and a number of meeting rooms were furnished with new office furniture to meet the staffing needs at the expanded location.
The overall result is an inviting and collaborative open general office area flooded with natural light. The remodeled stations appear to be new and can now support the staff in their various office tasks. This project was all successfully executed with ease and efficiency, within budget and on time.
Product highlights
- Lowering panel frames, capping with up-mounted frosted glass, providing visual access with new galley work surfaces.
- Sliding-door bookcases that save space and provide storage.
- Removing corner work structures to provide clean, flat surfaces to support new technologies.
- Adding white tile finish and tapered trim to give the product a fresh new look.
- Providing various storage elements that support individual work needs.
- Refurbishing 950 task chairs which is cost effective and a green alternative to purchasing new chairs.
