UBC VPRI Office

The concrete structure of the Arthur Erickson-designed library at UBC provides a disciplined backdrop for the Offices of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation. To balance the need for departmental cohesion with the requirement for private tasks, Public Architecture introduced an arrangement of acoustically absorptive volumes. These “spatial sponges” create an environment that feels simultaneously open and protected, managing sound while defining the office geography. The integration of warm wooden casework for private offices offers a tactile contrast to the original institutional concrete. By nesting these quieter, introspective zones within the larger collective space, the design fosters a sense of warmth and intimacy without sacrificing the library’s ordered character. The result is a sophisticated workspace that honors Erickson’s architecture while providing the modern functionality and acoustic comfort necessary for high-level research administration.