The Smart City Sandbox

The Smart City Sandbox, Toronto

IBI Group Architects (Canada) Inc., Toronto Photography: Ben Rahn/ A-Frame Studio

True to its name, this is a place intended to encourage creative types to play well with others: specifically technology developers, whose ideas are incubated, cultivated and accelerated in the hopes of being shared both in-house and externally. Upon entering through an energetic light portal, intense black surfaces become the dramatic backdrop against which three different zones co-locate: a central collaboration area with movable furniture, seated and counter-height shared tables and portable tech screens used to facilitate events and team meetings; a heads-down work area; and several colour-saturated “boxes” that provide both individual and group work space.