Smith Creek Cycle

This tenant improvement project was developed in close collaboration with a passionate bike shop owner, translating the energy of a fast-growing business into a space that reflects both the performance and personality of the brand. The design draws inspiration from the shop’s culture—equal parts precision, grit, and enthusiasm—creating an environment that matches the “cool factor” of the bikes and the welcoming vibe of the team behind them.

Early in the process, a comprehensive building code assessment was undertaken to align the client’s operational goals with regulatory requirements. This code-driven framework informed spatial planning, life-safety considerations, and fixture layouts, allowing the design to push creatively while remaining firmly within defined boundaries.

With a focused budget, the project prioritized high-impact elements such as colour, materiality, and lighting to achieve maximum effect. A bold brand-matched orange wraps the public showroom, expressed through vertical corrugated metal that adds texture and durability, while warm birch plywood above softens the space and introduces a tactile, human scale. A painted concrete floor provides clear directional and navigational cues, intuitively guiding patrons through the shop and reinforcing zones of activity.

Given the building’s generous ceiling height, suspended lighting was strategically introduced at key locations to visually anchor the showroom. This layered lighting approach brings focus to the bikes and retail displays, reducing visual noise while enhancing the overall clarity and experience of the space. The result is a highly efficient, brand-forward interior that supports growth, celebrates craftsmanship, and invites customers to linger.