Building the city we love. That’s CreateTO’s purpose and it set the tone for everything that followed. As the City of Toronto’s real estate agency, CreateTO manages the city’s real estate assets and develops city-building projects that benefit all Torontonians.

For B2B organizations like CreateTO that don’t market directly to the public, there are often very few physical touch points where their brand can really show up. Most of it lives online, or as digital files such as reports and slide decks. So when a chance like this comes along—to shape a real, physical environment that tells a story—it’s a rare and exciting opportunity.

“The team at Clear Space completely understood our vision, and then took it further. They brought clarity, creativity, and a deep respect for our purpose into every detail. The result is a space that truly reflects who we are and inspires our team every day.”

When we came to meet and get the office tour with Susan O’Neill, Head of Communications and Public Engagement, we were delighted and daunted by such a big blank canvas. While that might sound like a designer’s dream, the truth is, it’s actually much more challenging. Filling a large space with meaning and not just decoration takes thought, restraint, and clarity.

But here’s the thing, it wasn’t our work that made the office space great. It was CreateTO’s work. Their purpose, their projects, and their role in building the city we all love. That gave us something worth designing around. Our job was to make that visible.