Pivot

Pivot, Canada’s first architectural cooperative, was founded in Montreal in 2017. This company offers architectural services and research and development support and is distinguished by a participatory design process involving users at every stage. While primarily local, it undertakes projects across Quebec, focusing on social projects. Inspired by housing cooperatives, Pivot’s founding members sought an alternative to conventional practice, emphasising transparency, collaboration, and responsibility. The cooperative now has a self-management model, which contrasts with traditional master-apprentice structures. The client selection process is aligned with the cooperative’s values, with a focus on cooperatives and not-for-profits. Pivot actively fosters cooperation among cooperatives, participating in initiatives such as ESSA to share contracts and challenge competitive bidding models. The cooperative offers a flexible working hours policy, values member well-being over traditional performance metrics, and involves all team members in decision-making through various committees. It focuses on participatory design, incorporating co-creation workshops to ensure inclusive and responsible architecture. Strong partnerships with social economy organisations help address the housing crisis. Pivot’s unique model has achieved financial stability. The cooperative’s future goals include long-term work sustainability, becoming a model for other cooperatives, and solidifying its place within the social economy.