New York Financial Firm
New York, NY

Project Strategy

The Global Investment firm used the move to a new 400,000 SF headquarters to demonstrate their strength as global investment firm, while embracing a work environment built with flexibility and employee well-being in mind.

Staying in mid-town was important to the firm, and they selected a 1960’s era building that provided large podium floors to accommodate their trading functions

The low, deep floors, while excellent for trading functions, did not lend itself to promoting visibility, transparency, and daylighting. The following design strategies were undertaken to solve this architectural challenge:
• The dramatic three-story opening and stair – in addition to providing vertical connectivity across conferencing – aids in bringing daylight to the dark large floorplate, as well as draw people to the Park Avenue end of the floor with dramatic city views south.
• Mirrors were added to the perimeter columns to reflect light into the deep floors, dematerialize the columns large size, and counteract the lack of full height perimeter glass.
• Hand-in-glove coordination occurred between the architect and consultant teams to strategically implement ceiling articulations and lighting to allow for an increased perception of height and brightness throughout the space, particularly in the trading areas

The architecture of the Global Financial Investment firm’s office space responds to the unique features of the building. Intense attention was given to emphasizing verticality to increase the perception of light and height in this older 1960’s building. Perimeter circulation and organization of key elements promote views and access to natural light.
• The extensive use of materials such as mirror at the perimeter reflects natural light into the deep floor plate and compensates for the window size.
• Strategically implementation of ceiling articulations and finishes allow for an increased perception of height and brightness throughout the space.
• A bespoke solution for the glass office fronts and furnishings, creates a seamless unified architectural statement.
• The varied articulation of the white stone promotes texture and scale as one progresses through the space.
• The custom designed carpets compliment the design features throughout the space.

The design team embarked on bespoke carpet solutions that hold its own across the large floor plates, while providing a dynamic but also subtle and sophisticated aesthetic.
Conference Carpet- Tarkett Custom Broadloom:
• The conference carpet is a custom color that combines multiple cool greys and purple tones to create an overall quiet but sophisticated solution to provide a soft backdrop to the curved design features and furnishings in the space.
Office Carpet – Milliken Custom Carpet Tile:
• The curved pattern of the carpet tile recalls the curved stair opening, and custom sofas. The pattern counteracts the orthogonal lines of the building and trading desks, softening the environment.
• The pattern repeat is meant to draw the eye to the beautiful curved lines that seamlessly move from carpet tile to carpet tile. This undulating pattern is pronounced and appears to be continuous, instead of celebrating the carpet tile.
• The custom color adds depth to the ground plane. While neutral in tone, the underlying color provides a needed burst of color to support the trading desks.
• The white pattern line connects the architectural elements to the pattern, creating an overall pleasing whole.