Project: Hudson Yards Financial Services Firm
Architecture: A+I / Architecture Plus Information
Project Team: Tim Aarsen, Vivien Chin, Brad Zizmor, Sommer Schauer, Julie Hong, Patty Harris, Andrew McBride, Vané Broussard, Maria Lazano, Pieter Schiettecatte, Cheryl Baxter, Anjali Patel, Sam Titone, Carmen Potter.
Location: New York City, United States
Area: 250000 ft2
Year: 2019
Photo Credits: Magda Biernat
For their new Manhattan headquarters, this financial services firm chose 55 Hudson Yards. This new tower is in the mixed-use neighborhood west of Midtown. Notably, it is the only tower with a 360-degree wraparound terrace.
CEO’s Vision
The company’s CEO had three key goals for the new workspace. First, consolidate all company entities into one space. Second, promote collaboration. Third, create an inclusive environment where workers can “get out in the world.”
Welcoming Design
Visitors enter on the 10th floor, which is the heart of the new space. The space spans floors 4 to 14. When they step off the elevator, they see an illuminated lobby made from three-dimensional perforated aluminum panels. This design element resets visitors’ expectations about what is to come.
Subtle signs direct them to an open welcome area. Instead of a typical reception desk, a concierge works from the PointBar. This custom, interactive digital table provides information about the company’s history and culture. It also serves as a central meeting point for all employees.
Innovative Meeting Spaces
The Experience Room is a multi-functional conference space. It features a unique curved LED screen on both the interior and exterior. This screen shows real-time market information on a digital canvas. Inside, people can engage in interactive presentations with full touchscreen and video-conferencing capabilities. Outside, the technology extends to the exterior canvas, allowing presentations to be broadcast to a larger audience. Therefore, the whole east side of the floor becomes an ideal all-hands gathering space.
Collaborative Pavilions
The office is organized around a collection of pavilions. These unique meeting and educational spaces encourage coworkers to leave their desks and “get out in the world.” Each pavilion offers a unique feature. For example, the Pit is a semi-open reading room surrounded by banquette seating. It requires one to step down from the main floor, adding a sense of hominess to the space. This informality is intentional, promoting inter-team discussion and collaboration.
In conclusion, the new Financial Services Headquarters designed by A+I at 55 Hudson Yards successfully consolidates the company’s entities, promotes collaboration, and fosters an inclusive environment. The innovative design elements, such as the PointBar and Experience Room, along with the unique pavilions, create a dynamic workspace that aligns with the CEO’s vision of a collaborative and outward-looking office environment.
