Versatile Lighting Creates Fun, Dynamic Employee Spaces at Union Headquarters

LDS Eureka Union 400

August 24, 2021

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) represents over 60,000 public service professionals employed at federal, provincial, and territorial levels of government. When PIPSC entrusted HOK Ottawa to renovate its workplace at its Ottawa Headquarters, its business’ nature demanded that its values of trust, maturity, and responsibility be incorporated into the design.

HOK responded by delivering a timeless, comfortable space over the two floors that excites the senses while promoting a functional and healthy workspace.

“By implementing nature-inspired colors and textures in the finishes, furniture and fixtures, we were able to create a sense of comfort in the environment that serves all users and leads to workplace wellness,” said Soha Ebadi, designer at HOK.

Extensive renovations included the retrofit of the main floor café, which also serves as conference space, and the addition of a new café on the second floor.

Eureka Scout luminaires, in various mounting types, sizes, and colors, provide the primary source of lighting in both cafés. With one exception, all cylinders are 4.5” in diameter. They feature an extra matte paint finish, which ensures the minimalist cylinders make a statement throughout. And a clean exterior, with no visible seams or hardware, completes the aesthetic.

Eureka PIPSC 3“We wanted a lighting design that is sophisticated and timeless, with the possibility to specify different sizes and colors to create a fun and dynamic space,” said Christian Cruz, senior designer at HOK Ottawa.

The main floor café represented the most dramatic transformation. Walls that had previously blocked perimeter windows were removed. Daylight now bathes the entire kitchen space that has metamorphosed into a bright, flexible, and inviting room.

A large slatted, dropped dark wood ceiling frames the kitchen’s functional area. Six-inch high Scout luminaires are mounted onto the wood. The fixtures, with a black matte finish, illuminate the kitchen workspace, open floor space, and communal harvest tables.

The second-floor café has a similar look and feel to its main-floor counterpart, with light tones producing a relaxed, hospitable atmosphere for employees. It too features a dropped dark wood ceiling with the same 6” high luminaires, supplying general lighting to the kitchen area and direct lighting down to café style seating.

Eureka PIPSC 3An industrial vibe emanates from a partially open slab ceiling. Scout pendants in a larger 10” height are interspersed across the ceiling in black and pale green, adding fun splashes of color against a white background. They provide illumination for harvest tables and window-facing counters.

Banquettes are nestled under a bulkhead, where 18” high Scout fixtures are mounted from the dropped ceiling, lighting the table below for a casual lunch or work meeting. The black matte finish complements the wrought-iron geometric design set against the pale blue wall behind. Identical luminaires illuminate the nearby kitchen counter, which pop against the white tile backdrop.

Anticipating that both café areas will serve multiple purposes in the future, from dining to informal meetings to employee events, all lighting was specified with a 64-degree wide-angle beam to create a functional, well-lit environment. A frosted lens minimizes glare, ensuring comfortable illumination for employees no matter how they utilize the space.

“We took a thoughtful approach to the café ceilings,” Cruz said. “Mixing and matching surface mounted and pendant ceiling fixtures helps to frame specific areas and bring them to life while providing the appropriate color temperature and illumination levels.”

Additional 18″ high ceiling-mounted Scout luminaires, in a smaller 2.75” diameter, provide a more delicate profile above main floor hoteling desks. Designers specified a 48-degree medium angle beam to direct light to work surfaces adjacent to the computers while avoiding hot spots.

A second-floor corridor, with an industrial ceiling, is lit with five 18” high Scout pendants, in black.

The project also features two small focus rooms, designated as quiet spaces for employees. Each is illuminated with a ceiling-mounted Big Spin by Eureka. At 26” in diameter, the aesthetic is bold. Circular Big Spin uses an engineered steel diffuser and a gently curved reflector to create a simple yet elegant illumination. The parabolic reflector provides subtle non-glare direct and indirect lighting, ideal for the focus rooms.

“We are extremely happy with the results,” Cruz said. “The luminaires provide the right lighting levels, and while elegant, still create an impact when you enter the space.”

Project Name: The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Architect/Interior Design: HOK Ottawa

Eureka Agent: WSA Light Energy Design

Completed: 2020

Photographer: Miv Photography

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • Luminis Wins Red Dot Award for Pelican Line

    Luminis Wins 2025 Red Dot Award for Pelican Line

    Luminis, an established innovator and manufacturer of specification-grade, interior and exterior lighting solutions, has announced its Pelican family has received a Red Dot Design Award for Product Design. Dating back to 1955, the Red Dot Design Award is one of the world’s largest design competitions. Every year, the Red Dot Award: Product Design sets out… Read More…

  • May 19, 2025 - Contact Delage Announces New Representation Agreement with K-Array

    Contact Delage Announces New Representation Agreement with K-Array

    Contact Delage is pleased to announce their partnership with K-Array for the representation of their ultra-compact and powerful audio and integrated lighting solutions in the Quebec Province. Founded in Florence in 1990, K-Array is a true pioneer in high-performance compact sound. Their vision? To deliver uncompromising professional sound quality with a discreet and refined aesthetic.… Read More…


Design

  • Illuminate Your Project with Modern LED Panels

    Illuminate Your Project with Modern LED Panels

    Lighting plays a crucial role is shaping the ambiance and functionality of any space. At Zaneen, their modern LED Panel collection delivers high-quality lighting solutions with sleek designs, energy efficiency, and customizable options to meet diverse project needs. From trim designs like Harmony Elipse and Harmony Square to frameless panes like Infinite Honeycomb and Infinite Ring, to modular marvels like Infinite Canvas and… Read More…

  • T5 vs. T8 Lights – What’s the Difference?

    T5 vs. T8 Lights – What’s the Difference?

    T5 and T8 lights are two popular options when it comes to creating the right ambiance and lighting in a house, business, or commercial setting. But were you confused about these two light tubes when talking with suppliers? Don’t worry! In this article let’s discuss T5 vs. T8 tubes thoughtfully, so that you can make the right… Read More…


New Products

  • Cooper Lighting: Streetworks – Avenaire – Decorative StreetLight

    Cooper Lighting: Streetworks – Avenaire – Decorative StreetLight

    The Avenaire luminaire is a decorative streetlight perfect for downtown areas, residential streets, and parks, offering zero up light and a range of customizable features. You can choose from various optical distributions, color temperatures, and architectural styles to create the ideal ambiance for both day and night. Avenaire’s modular design empowers you to create the… Read More…

  • Liteline: New STRIPE Linear Lighting Solution

    Liteline: New STRIPE Linear Lighting Solution

    STRIPE is linear made easy. This sleek, plug-and-play, linear lighting system is designed for modern spaces. The easy to install construction enables seamless power connections through junction boxes, electrical device boxes, hardwiring and plug-in. Available in multiple lengths and capable of joining up to 150ft no light gaps. STRIPE’s modular design allows for creative configurations,… Read More…