Insights

Across our portfolio, we’re helping companies turn legacy into space and Canadiana into connection.

In a time when companies are seeking deeper connection with their people, their communities, and their purpose, Interior Design has emerged as a powerful way to express identity. And in today’s charged political environment, for Canadian businesses in particular, there’s a growing desire to reflect the richness of our shared culture, history, and landscape within the spaces we inhabit.

At Figure3, we see interior design as more than a visual language. It’s a storytelling tool. One that can carry the weight of a company’s legacy, pay homage to place, and express what it means to be proudly Canadian. Across our portfolio, we’ve helped clients bring these stories to life by interpreting their unique histories, and the broader context of Canadiana, through thoughtful design moves and powerful partnerships with local vendors, artists and makers.

“When a space is grounded in who you are and where you come from, it resonates in a way that design alone can’t,” says Suzanne Wilkinson, Principal at Figure3. “We look for the threads of legacy—family stories, company origins, ties to place—and bring them forward in meaningful ways.”

At AGF, their legacy spans decades in Canadian finance. The company’s commitment to growth, integrity, and stewardship mirrors the landscape it was built on. To bring that sensibility into their Toronto office, Figure3 collaborated with Canadian artist Steve Driscoll, whose dreamlike landscape pieces reference Canada’s natural beauty. His work prominently lives within the space—not as decoration, but as a reminder of AGF’s enduring roots and ever-evolving perspective. It’s Canadiana reimagined, through the lens of corporate identity.

Design rooted in history and heritage offers more than visual appeal—it builds emotional resonance. When people see themselves in a space, they feel more connected to it.

History and legacy was equally central in the design of Menkes Developments’ head office. As a multi-generational real estate company deeply intertwined with Toronto’s urban growth, Menkes needed a space that felt both elevated and personal. Figure3 brought that to life by commissioning art from local Canadian artists, and by curating materials and finishes that quietly reference the company’s decades-long impact on the city. The result is a workplace that carries the dignity of its legacy with the clarity of a forward-looking brand.

Weaving culture into design isn’t about symbolism alone, it’s about authenticity. It’s about capturing the essence of the place, people, and purpose in a way that feels lived-in and real.

At Richardson Wealth, the Canadian narrative runs deep. With Prairie roots that date back generations, the firm’s identity is closely tied to the expansive, grounded quality of that geography. Figure3 translated this into a design language of quiet strength, long sightlines and corridor graphics inspired by the horizon.

A curated integration of their existing art collection, paired with large-format historic graphics, inspired by an old black & white photo album, are paired with new custom art pieces to provide intentional moments of visual storytelling throughout the space. Collaboration with an art consultant ensured meaningful placement that reflects the company’s Canadian legacy.

While some projects reference vast natural landscapes, others turn to the rhythm of the city. For RioCan, one of Canada’s largest real estate investment trusts, Figure3 found inspiration in the urban texture of Canadian cities. The office design blends industrial materials like concrete and metal with natural wood and warm tones, creating a space that speaks to the country’s evolving cityscapes and varied landscapes. There’s a quiet confidence in the design—an expression of scale, but also of locality.

To further celebrate their Canadian history, RioCan invested in a curated art collection, including works by Canadian and Indigenous artists; adding cultural richness, celebrating their commercial legacy and values, and deepening the narrative connection between space, people, and purpose.

Sometimes, the site itself holds the story. Adagio, a boutique condominium project in Toronto, occupies land once home to a prestigious Canadian ballet school. Rather than erase that legacy, Figure3 made it central to the design. Ballet is referenced subtly throughout: in the graceful curvature of fixtures, the softness of drapery-inspired textures, and a material palette that feels poised and elegant. It’s a tribute not just to the art form, but to the cultural depth embedded in the site’s history. Through this lens, heritage becomes luxury.

A wide variety of artwork, depicting local scenes from Lake Ontario to plant and animal species that thrive in Toronto’s bustling urban environment, were created by numerous Canadian and Toronto based artists and featured throughout the design in Adagio. Additionally, a series of modernized archival photographs from the Boris Volkoff Ballet studio, originally located here in the Adagio building at 4711 Yonge Street, between 1937 and 1951, pays homage to the people who came before.

The takeaway for businesses? Don’t underestimate the value of legacy. A company’s story—its origins, values, and place in the world—can be a powerful foundation for design. Whether through curated artwork, references to geography, historical context, or generational roots, there are countless ways to express identity through space. When done well, it’s not just an office or a showroom, it’s a living embodiment of the brand. And when that brand is proudly Canadian, the story becomes even richer.

Founded in 1995, Figure3 is proudly 100% Canadian-owned and operated. With deep roots in the communities we serve, we bring a uniquely local perspective to every project—celebrating Canadian culture, craft, and connection through the power of interior design.