L2 Design Studio

The redesigned PARAMA Credit Union uses material continuity, colour, light, and formal interventions to reinvigorate the services this neighbourhood branch has to offer.

Established in 1952 by Lithuanians who immigrated to Canada after the Second World War, PARAMA was founded with the goal of helping community members establish new lives and is now the largest Lithuanian Credit Union in the world.

Located on a commercial street in a residential neighborhood in Toronto, this main branch is housed on the ground floor of a three-storey, multi-use building.

The client wished to expand the functional program with an additional private meeting space while maintaining four teller stations, three offices, and an open waiting area for guests. The intervention required the reconfiguration of the existing space in the front-of-house as well as rearranging the back-of-house to include a staff kitchen and storage area.

The design aesthetic draws inspiration from Lithuanian culture and Nordic design principles such as the use of light woods, clean lines, and warm minimalism. A wood plane is used as a unifying element that anchors the space as it extends from behind the tellers, along the ceiling, to the new meeting room. Functionally, it absorbs the large structural column in the middle of the space, visually, it articulates the bank’s circulation and provides material continuity. Wood slats create visual interest by providing depth and texture along this surface.

PARAMA’s visual identity were incorporated into the design including the use of colour. Green, to represent wealth and abundance; yellow, to represent happiness and sunshine. Together, they brighten and harmonize the space while also accentuating the richness of the wood.

The redesign offers a welcoming, light-filled environment that strengthens the relationship between PARAMA Credit Union and the community it serves.

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