A world-class institution, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto houses an extensive collection of cultural artifacts and natural history curios, from decorative objects to dinosaur bones. But earlier this year, the ROM relinquished one of its fossils: the museum’s most heavily trafficked washroom suite. The pair of nondescript 1970s lavatories, situated in the ground floor’s Currelly Gallery, was replete with tan tiles and mustardy laminate countertops until local firm Superkül tackled its excavation. In the rooms’ stead emerged upscale facilities that can stand up to the wear and tear of the more than 1 million guests who visit the museum each year.

“These are the washrooms for a historic hall where they host weddings, galas, and political events, but they get all these kids and school groups during the day,” explains Superkül principal Meg Graham. “They’re spaces that need to transition easily from day to night, that need to be bulletproof but also a bit glamorous.”