Questrade Headquarters

Questrade, Canada’s largest independent online brokerage, needed to update its headquarters to support evolving employee needs, celebrate its brand and provide clients with a one-of-a-kind experience.

HOK’s design accomplishes these goals in a variety of ways, beginning with the transformation of Questrade’s underutilized ground floor into an inviting new reception space. While traditional brokerages offer buttoned-up conference rooms for client and employee meetings, Questrade’s street-front reception allows clients and advisors to meet away from the office in warm and comfortable settings. Meetings may take place at the coffee bar, adjacent lounges, private rooms off the mezzanine or—for bigger events—townhall spaces with stadium seating. Large windows allow passersby to view in and see the activity and digital branding incorporated within the interior design.

HOK also designed Questrade’s offices spanning multiple upper-level floors of the Toronto tower. Inspired by the company’s deep Canadian roots, the team imagined each floor as a unique ecosystem along the Trans Canada Trail—the world’s longest multi-use trail network. There is the Lake floor, Park floor, Forest floor, Summit and Stellar levels. Nature graphics and curated wayfinding (such as collaboration rooms named for scenic landmarks) distinguish each floor as a separate environment while holistically celebrating Canada’s beauty and the Questrade brand.

The workplace program breaks the office into multiple neighborhoods that allow employees to choose quiet heads-down areas, open collaborative environments and multi-use spaces such as huddle, phone and video conference rooms. Hospitality-inspired lounges, game rooms and refueling stations on these floors offer employees additional opportunities to bond and brainstorm. A kosher kitchen, sit/stand desks at all workstations and prayer/wellness rooms support inclusion and employee health.

The design team actively engaged Questrade staff throughout the redesign, relying on them to help program spaces, name conference rooms and provide photography for common areas. Following a successful rollout, Questrade decided to expand the office transition to additional floors.