A black-painted wood structure separates spaces inside an old industrial building in Toronto that local firm StudioAC designed as office space for a visual effects company.

Located inside a former factory, Artjail is an open-plan office for a high-end VFX company that required ample space for its screening and computer equipment.
Studio AC redesigned the space with the aim to create work areas that eliminate acoustic interference and allowed lighting control ? both necessary because of the client's colour correction work.

"The concept revolved programmatically around the creation of three VFX suites, which house editing equipment and client presentation capabilities," StudioAC said.
"As these spaces had the most intense requirements technically the design response proposed to elevate these as interior architectural elements."
The black-painted wooden frames are used to outline two volumes: one is closed to house a pair of VFX suites and the other is an open communal kitchen. The third VFX suite is located in the open-plan area outside of the box.
"Through a rigorous study of plan, function and form a concept that housed two of the VFX suites and a kitchen/meeting space into one architectural gesture was chosen," the studio added. "This element presents itself immediately when guests and staff enter the space acting as the functional and visual identity of the space."

The studios are fronted with glazed doors, while the kitchen is ...