Pinterest Toronto

Overview

Opportunity

Solution

Impact

Team

Inspired by the curatorial nature of the platform, Pinterest’s Toronto workplace is a uniquely Canadian reflection of its brand.

Location

Toronto, Ontario

Client

Expertise

Technology [FPO] Built To Suit & Headquarters [FPO] Sustainability Brand Design

Opportunity

At Pinterest, discovery is a foundational principle. It’s why their Toronto HQ is infused with moments of surprise and delight.

Pinterest’s original office lacked the spaces and experiences proven to attract employees. They required a workplace capable of fostering connection and creativity and activating employee networks. It also had to support employee health and well-being, and inclusion.

But Pinterest’s goals didn’t end with the employee experience. To maximize sustainability, they also sought to reuse much of the space’s existing features. As Pinterest’s home in Toronto for years to come, the workplace needed to impress, engage, and inspire everyone who walked through its doors.

Why This Matters

01
Reflecting the Platform
Pinterest required an office capable of reflecting its iconic brand, where each workspace, meeting room, and amenity felt distinctly unique, yet curated.
02
Employee Connection
Employee connection doesn’t begin and end at the physical office, and Pinterest needed a workplace that could bring people together in-person and virtually.
03
Net Zero Carbon and Energy
As the space featured “great bones,” Pinterest sought to save time, budget, and most importantly, embodied carbon by maintaining as many of the existing elements as possible.

In today’s hybrid environment, employees have diverse needs when it comes to a workplace. We set out to create a space to inspire creativity and collaboration where Pinterest employees can do their best work.

Solution

Rooted in the idea that people are the number one workplace amenity, the design team worked hand-in-glove with Pinterest to create a 3-D version of the platform.

Inspired by the films of Wes Anderson, 55% of the Pinterest Toronto office is dedicated to “immersive wonder,” all designed to inspire creativity and connection. While every workspace and amenity feels just as unique as Pinterest’s platform, each element comes together to form a distinctly Canadian workplace.

Here, employees are empowered to collaborate across a host of amenity spaces, including: the barista bar, gaming pod, glamping tent, greenhouse, café, and library, which even includes its own hidden speakeasy.

From Brief to Build: Embedding Whimsy and Canadiana Into the Workplace

Pinterest is all about discovery, curation, and inspiration. The workplace design follows the same philosophy, enticing employees and visitors to explore and find the space that appeals to them.

To get there, the team translated Toronto’s quintessential neighbourhoods, diverse cultures, and rich urban fabric into a cohesive design. The colour palette is pastel, with light wood tones. Detailing is refined, with organic shapes and archways. The space is inviting, warm, and full of surprises.

Barista Bar

Grab a coffee and stop in for a chat. The barista bar is tailormade for connection.

Impact

Be it just around the corner, or behind the bookshelf, Pinterest Toronto has something for everyone.

Pinterest Toronto proves success isn’t always measured by traditional performance metrics. A physical manifestation of its platform, Pinterest Toronto is an engine of inspiration, collaboration, and connection.

What Changed Because of This

01
Environmental Performance
By retaining more than 50% of the existing architectural assets, including all workspaces, the design team saved an estimated 225 tons of embodied carbon.
02
A 3-D Reflection of the Platform
Inspired by the films of Wes Anderson, 55% of the total workplace is dedicated to “immersive wonder.”
03
Attractive Amenities
Employees are empowered to connect, or simply recharge, across a variety of workspaces and amenities.

Our team worked hand-in-glove with Pinterest to curate the workspace. The resulting design feels like a 3-D version of the platform: a fun and quirky space that’s full of surprise and delight presented through a uniquely Canadian lens.

Recognition

01

Storeys

Gensler’s Design Director, Annie Bergeron, interviewed with Storeys on designing Pinterest’s office to be a 3-D version of the platform.

02

Canadian Business

A peek behind the curtain into Pinterest Toronto’s most alluring spaces.

03

ARIDO

Pinterest Toronto’s recognition as an ARIDO award-winning project.

Team

Project Leadership

Annie Bergeron

As a Design Director and Principal in Gensler's Toronto office, Annie has more than 30 years of experience designing for tech, media, and financial services companies.

[FPO] Abigail David

Placeholder for office leadership name "Abigail David" — no matching pagePeople yet. "pnpm migrate resolve-stubs" swaps this for the real page once it exists.

[FPO] Nina Bast

Placeholder for office leadership name "Nina Bast" — no matching pagePeople yet. "pnpm migrate resolve-stubs" swaps this for the real page once it exists.

[FPO] Melissa Vattiata

Placeholder for office leadership name "Melissa Vattiata" — no matching pagePeople yet. "pnpm migrate resolve-stubs" swaps this for the real page once it exists.

FAQ

01

Where is the project located?

Pinterest Toronto is located in the heart of Toronto’s Financial District.

02

Why did Gensler retain existing architectural elements?

Because the 1920’s office building already had great bones. It also helped to save time, budget, and embodied carbon.

03

Has Gensler designed other offices for Pinterest?

Gensler also designed Pinterest projects in Sydney and Mexico City.

04

How is the workplace distinctly Canadian?

Beyond the nods to iconic Canadian franchises, or plaid-wearing buffalo, the workplace also includes a glamping tent, reminiscent of Canada’s cottage culture.

05

How large is the project?

Pinterest Toronto spans 40,000-square-feet across three floors.

06

How do you find the speakeasy?

Head to the Library and look a little closer at the bookshelves. Half the fun is finding the entrance yourself.

Related Work

project

Pinterest Mexico City

Pinterest’s Mexico City headquarters transforms the workplace into an immersive cultural experience where creativity, technology, and local identity inspire collaboration and innovation.

project

Pinterest Sydney

Pinterest's Sydney studio is a living Pinterest board, where Australia's landscapes, culture, and creativity collide to inspire the people who shape the platform.

project

Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan

After more than 30 years in its uptown location, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) moved to the heart of Toronto’s Financial District to attract and retain the best talent.

Related Expertise

Technology Built to Suit & Headquarters Sustainability Brand Design

Inspired by the curatorial nature of the platform, Pinterest’s Toronto workplace is a uniquely Canadian reflection of its brand.

At Pinterest, discovery is a foundational principle. It’s why their Toronto HQ is infused with moments of surprise and delight.

Why This Matters

Rooted in the idea that people are the number one workplace amenity, the design team worked hand-in-glove with Pinterest to create a 3-D version of the platform.

From Brief to Build: Embedding Whimsy and Canadiana Into the Workplace

Be it just around the corner, or behind the bookshelf, Pinterest Toronto has something for everyone.

What Changed Because of This