CANADA
CHRISTENSEN & CO. leads the way in sustainability and architecture in North America
The architectural landscape in Toronto is undergoing a major transformation and with assistance from The Trade Council, the Danish architect studio Christensen & Co. has become part of the development within architecture and sustainable building.
In October 2019, The Trade Council in Toronto, in partnership with Christensen & Co., invited more than 30 Canadian stakeholders to attend a seminar on incorporating UN’s 17 sustainable development goals within architecture and building. The seminar served as a kickoff on Christensen & co’s Canadian adventure and one year later, the Danish studio won a tender to build new student housing at one of Canada’s leading universities.
Sustainability in focus
Compute B324 at Denmark’s Technical University (DTU), the Niels Bohr building, K.B. Hallen and the DTU Life Science & Bioengineering building B202 are just a few examples of the many architecturally beautiful buildings that Christensen & Co. has designed. The appealing exterior is, however, not the only common denominator for these buildings; the studio works actively with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which is apparent in their projects promoting social, economic and environmental sustainability. This unique ability and practice make Christensen & Co. an interesting actor on the Canadian market.
Like many other places around the world, Canada has experienced a fast-paced urbanisation and the challenges following this trend. In order to meet these challenges, Canada has investd heavily in infrastructure, which has led to an impressive development within architecture and the building industry in general. In addition, during the past couple of years, Canada has adopted various political green initiatives and is thus witnessing a growing focus on sustainability. Based on this trend, many Canadian companies are seeking partners that have experience with implementing new, green goals.
Denmark upholds a strong reputation in Canada within the architectural and building industry and thus it was an obvious choice for Christensen & Co. to zone in on the Canadian market.
Knowing the local market
By first glance, Canada may not seem too different from Denmark but there are, however, both cultural and political differences that may be difficult to navigate. For this reason, Christensen & Co. sought out export counseling and support at The Trade Council in Toronto, once they decided to look into the Canadian market. The Trade Council is an obvious third party in the cooperation between Canadian and Danish companies - with their in-depth market knowledge and neutral position; they can assist in building trust and increase the credibility of Danish companies.
The Trade Council can assist Danish companies from beginning to end. With a prolonged presence for many years in Canada, our sector experts have gained a comprehensive and deep understanding of the Canadian market’s political landscape, tendencies and development. And this combination in particular made it possible for The Trade Council to advise Christensen & Co on the complex regulations and the licenses need to operate as an architectural studio in Canada.
In addition, The Trade Council has a comprehensive network, broad cultural understanding and knowledge about the Canadian context overall. As Marie Partoft, Head of Business Development and Communication for Christensen & Co. says, The Trade Council has been instrumental in identifying and setting up meetings with Canadian partners, break down cultural barriers and communicate clearly with the Canadian context in mind:
When we decided that we wanted to test out the Canadian market within our own segment, we were very pleased and benefitted greatly from the cooperation with the Consulate General and The Trade Council. We received an encompassing understanding of our ambitions and need as well as with tailored solutions for our company and the market. We got support and guidance on anything from planning meetings with relevant entrepreneurs and potential partners to assistance in facilitating workshops as well as strategic planning of our efforts in Canada.”
Virtual workshops and multiple cooperations
Christensen & Co. and The Trade Council in Toronto maintain a close partnership. Despite the fact that the past year’s travel restrictions made it impossible for the studio to travel to Toronto, its presence in Canada remained unconstrained by the situation. With assistance from The Trade Council, Christensen & Co. has continued to expand their network in Canada and thus the partnership remains strong. This resulted in, among other things, a virtual workshop about UN’s Sustainable Development Goals with specific focus on sustainable development of campus environments at universities. In so, Christensen & Co. remains close to its local customers and potential partners.Want to know more?
You are welcome to reach to our advisors in Canada, if you want to learn more about your possibilities on the Canadian market.
CONTACT
Pamela Lynn Tiller
Trade Advisor, Toronto
+1 (416) 640 7485
[email protected]