Gary Shoemaker Architects, PC

New York, N.Y.
gsarchitects.com

Location: New York, N.Y. | Contractor: Peter DiNatale and Associates | MEPFP Engineer: JMV Consulting Engineering PC | Structural Engineer: KPFF Consulting Engineers | Zoning/Code Consultant: J. Callahan Consulting Inc | Green Wall Consultant: New York Green Roofs | SuperCurl Desk Millwork: SItu Fabrication | Photographer: Paul Warchol Photography Inc. | Project cost: $4 million |
Square footage: 18,000

This space is located on three contiguous floors and is a workplace that attempts to provide areas for collaboration and concentration. The desk was designed for to bring about face to face collaboration, breaking down the walls of the traditional workspace, by creating a continuous non-hierarchical seating arrangement. All teams are seated at the curl, including the executive team, to allow for cross-team collaboration and communication. Arches allow for the circulation through and around the curl, and provide informal meeting spaces. The configuration allows for all employees seated at the curl to have access to natural light along the south and west orientations. The auxiliary program spaces, such as meeting rooms, quiet rooms, team development areas etc., are all positioned to the periphery of the curl, creating a Cartesian edge in contrast to the fluidity of the curl.

Given the open concept of the desk, it became important to balance areas of quiet focused work, and collaboration. Meeting rooms of various sizes across all three floors allow for teams to meet casually throughout the day. The two quiet rooms have green wall installations, and were designed to be areas of refuge and reflection to contrast the open office collaboration. The three floors are connected by a steel and solid plank oak open tread stair, encouraging movement between the three floors. To further unify the three floors, the original hardwood floors were sanded and stained dark gray, as were the solid oak stair treads. The public event and mingling space is found on the middle floor- allowing for equal access to the centrally located cafe and town hall gathering space.

The space, sculpted and continuous throughout, fosters the notions of open collaboration, teamwork, and easy information exchange.

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