How Northleaf Reimagined Its Toronto Office HQ for Growth, Brand & People

Client Objectives

In early 2023, Northleaf Capital Partners, a global private markets investment firm, began exploring a move or renewal of its 30,000-square-foot office in a high-quality building in downtown Toronto. The goal was to create a workspace that could accommodate a growing team, better align with their brand identity, and deliver a modern, cohesive employee experience. Driven by a commitment to employee satisfaction, engagement, and collaboration, the global organization sought a location that could support future growth and enhance its ability to attract and retain top talent.

The project kicked off with the Workplace Solutions team, who collaborated closely with the client to craft an integrated workplace and change management strategy, and a defined list of relocation criteria. By integrating all of these elements into one unified discovery phase, the team reduced duplication and re-briefing while developing a workplace solution that fully supported the project goals. A key feature of this phase was the ability to pilot new workplace strategies in the current office, where furniture and layouts were tested to inform the final design.

To align with the company's values, the strategy had a people-led focus, emphasizing mentoring and a strong in-office presence of senior staff, supporting learning and collaboration. The change management process included a customized enablement program, helping employees smoothly transition to the new space while instilling a sense of ownership over the new workplace vision. Leveraging data and analytics on operations, team structures, and site-specific needs, the Workplace Solutions team crafted a forward-thinking workspace strategy adaptable to future growth and evolving organizational needs.