LCH Developments Debuts Merge Spaces Modern Office Experience in Scarborough
LCH Developments partnered with RAW Design to design a colourful co-working space ripe with amenities and events programming to support creators and businesses on the growing Kingston Road artery.
As the Scarborough community grows and the ways we work and connect continue to evolve, LCH Developments is launching an inspiring and creative community hub, Merge Spaces. Located in the Southwest Scarborough community of Cliffside Village, Merge Spaces is the first of its kind in this close-knit neighbourhood on Kingston Road.
The space offers a variety of amenities and workspaces including private offices, a presentation and events space, dedicated desks, sound-proof phone booths, a games/lounge room, and a fully stocked café with bottomless coffee, tea, and snacks. Alongside the inspiring offices and workstations, Merge Spaces is designed as an experience – where members and visitors will be exposed to inspiring energy, curated programming and business-building collaboration opportunities in a lively atmosphere.
“Our world has changed and the concept of a static office for the workforce doesn’t make sense anymore,” says Michal Wywrot, Co-Founder and President of LCH Developments. “We have always been strong believers and investors in the Scarborough community and we’re proud to launch Merge Spaces to serve the Cliffside and Bluffs neighbourhoods. This will be a dynamic environment where freelancers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and all kinds of professionals can connect, build relationships, and bring their best selves to work. We’re offering a variety of experiences and different membership packages to ensure there’s something for everyone at Merge Spaces. This has been a passion project for everyone at LCH Developments.”
Merge Spaces is two floors of communal spaces, private offices, collaborative workstations, and meeting rooms – all knit together with a series of bright and vibrant murals that incorporate uniquely Scarborough motifs. Programming and animating the space with regular and recurring events and gatherings is an integral component of the Merge Spaces’ offering, with plans to offer bi-weekly networking events, informational fireside chats, fitness experiences like yoga, and various DJ’s performing Workflow music at no cost to members. Events will be hosted in the expansive Treehouse presentation space, designed in open concept style with amphitheatre seating. The Treehouse offers a large television and podium with capacity of up to 150. A two-storey live moss wall anchors the space, providing an uplifting connection to nature and enhancing the acoustics of the area.
Upon arriving at Merge Spaces, guests are greeted by a white granite reception desk, set against another live moss wall that provides a welcoming and warm entrance. A bright magenta motif carried throughout the two-storey space infuses the environment with a bold yet harmonious feeling, carefully accented by pops of colour through the upholstery, complimented by natural and muted undertones throughout the finishings.
Prioritizing flexible, dynamic spaces, a variety of office types and meeting rooms are available for a range of needs, from individuals to small companies. Each office or meeting room is designed as its own “house”, named and designed to pay homage to different housing typologies. Whether in the “Castle”, “Victorian”, or “Loft”, each office features transparent glass doors and windows to let in natural light while maintaining privacy. Custom wood tables serve as anchor pieces, with different sizes available to accommodate a range of teams. Harvest tables in communal working spaces are designed to facilitate less formal seating arrangements and give everyone the option to choose the level of interaction that best suits their working style.
“Throughout our work on Merge Spaces, our focus was on making this a comfortable, welcoming and inspiring space,” says Heather Woolvett, RAW Design. “Scarborough and the Cliffside neighbourhood are changing rapidly, becoming more vibrant and walkable, and Merge Spaces is the next phase of this evolution. While the space was being built, we saw right away how many eyes were attracted to the bright magenta colour scheme, striking curiosity about the action inside the space. This is positive progress for an already charming neighbourhood and this flexible working environment will help draw more people back into the community.”
The upper floor compliments the offerings on the ground level with dedicated individual desks, offering panoramic views of Kingston Road and the quaint restaurants, cafes and businesses that line the busy commercial strip surrounding Merge Spaces. Each workstation is outfitted with a monitor and filing cabinet to ensure a seamless work experience. The second level also provides larger meeting rooms and office spaces to suit growing businesses.
Colourful murals by Toronto muralists Mel Coleman and Colombian-born Cesar Rodriguez adorn all available wall space for a total of 12 unique creations. With a signature graffiti-style, each mural explores different themes and flavours specific to Scarborough, with elements of realism woven throughout. Contrasting textures, black and white juxtaposed with vivid colours, and photorealistic elements contribute to the energizing environment. Leveraging Rodriguez’s experience in creating event-centric art installations, select pockets of the murals will glow in the evening or under black lighting, adding another layer of vibrancy for Merge Spaces events.
The Treehouse presentation space is flanked by the fully stocked Café with lounge and booth seating available for members and event guests. Unlimited coffee, tea, and snacks are included at no cost. The common spaces are intentionally flexible and juxtaposed, designed to encourage spontaneous interactions and collaborations over lunch.
Directly behind the Treehouse presentation area lies the games room, a place to disconnect from work while liaising with other entrepreneurs and creatives. Open to all members, the games room includes a pool table, a ping pong table, various video game systems, and more. A staircase leads up to the second floor where bigger light-filled offices and dedicated desks are available.
Access to the Merge Spaces facilities is offered in a variety of formats and packages. A virtual pass enables businesses to use Merge Spaces as their official business address, with mail and package services available. Day passes are offered for short-term use, and monthly and weekly passes are being explored as well. For members who choose to utilize a dedicated desk, a monitor and filing cabinet are offered as part of the package, a rarity in the co-working space model.
Merge Spaces is the latest foray into Scarborough from LCH Developments, who has a long history of investing in the community. Current projects include Merge Condos (adjacent to Merge Spaces), 2350 Kingston Rd, Park Central, 3291 Kingston and 144 Galloway. Alongside these projects, LCH Developments has supported the neighbourhood through various philanthropic efforts and is a primary supporter of the Scarborough Food Security Initiative, which is a community food bank previously located within Merge Spaces. SFSI began serving the community in 2020 originally servicing a couple dozen residents. Through their partnership with LCH Developments, they now have multiple locations servicing over 1000 residents on a weekly basis supporting food security in the community.
To find out more, please visit: https://mergespaces.com
ABOUT LCH DEVELOPMENTS
LCH Developments is a Toronto-based real estate developer, specializing in mixed-use communities designed for a live-work-play lifestyle. LCH is evolving into one of Canada’s premier residential builders, becoming recognized for its ability to unlock potential in growing neighbourhoods, and create vibrant and dynamic communities. With a deep commitment to and investment in the Scarborough community, LCH currently has six projects in development in the Cliffside, West Hill, Guildwood, and Scarborough Village neighbourhoods.
