Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has announced its Four Seasons Research and Discovery Studio (R&D Studio), a workshop that focuses on experimentation and play, at its Toronto headquarters. Touching on all aspects of the guest experience, the R&D Studio houses numerous creative and collaborative workspaces where team members can test ideas, overcome challenges, and find inspiration as they craft each unique property.
“The R&D Studio is a critical tool for us because it allows us to make detailed decisions in a holistic environment. When we bring everything together in this space, we better understand how the different elements energize and inform one another,” says Dana Kalczak, the company’s vice president of design.
“No two Four Seasons properties are the same,” adds Four Seasons president and CEO J. Allen Smith. “So while we draw on our experience from previous projects, all of the decisions we make for each property require careful consideration of what the needs of that particular project are, what the vision of that owner is, and the decisions that we think will best enhance the guest experience in that property. Lots of great ideas will come through the R&D Studio; the space allows us to work through a myriad of options in greater context to identify the best solutions for each specific project.”
The studio features graffitied walls, communal meeting and workspaces, and numerous testing areas. Several spaces are designated for focus on various brand items, from bedding to employee wardrobe and tabletop design. A central space also showcases 3D cardboard replicas of guestrooms with furniture and other details designed to scale.
