DBB/Spacesmith Workplaces 2022 by Davis Brody Bond

Boies Schiller Flexner (BSF) New York, NY

Firm Profile

Davis Brody Bond is an architecture, planning, and design firm founded in 1952 with offices in New York and Washington, DC. The firm is led by five partners who take hands-on roles on their projects and work closely with clients and a team of 65 architects, planners, and designers to create a firm-wide atmosphere characterized by respect, focus, collaboration, and innovation. In its second generation of leadership, the partners include: Steven Davis, FAIA, William Paxson, AIA, Christopher Grabé, FAIA, Carl Krebs, FAIA, and David Williams, AIA. Our extensive experience with large-scale, complex projects provides us the knowledge and analytical skills necessary to complete multi-faceted projects in many sectors, both private and public. Our portfolio includes corporate and industrial structures, government buildings, research complexes, university facilities, museums, and libraries. The scope of these projects includes new construction, interior design, renovations, and adaptive reuse, as well

as programming, master planning, and surveys and assessments. We implement new initiatives based on lessons learned and targeted research. Our goal is to yield the best results possible for our clients and their projects based on our clients’ criteria. In 2011, Davis Brody Bond formed an alliance with Spacesmith, a certified Woman’s Business Enterprise and full-service architecture and interior design firm. Established in 1998, Spacesmith is driven by individuals who share a prodigious respect for the natural world, combined with a finely tuned understanding of our clients’ organizational strategies and brand. The firm was founded and is led by Jane Smith, FAIA, IIDA, and her partners who share common values of open communication, team work, and the necessity for consummate technical skill and project management expertise. We are seasoned in crafting work place planning and design packages for clients such as shared office provider Convene, financial giant

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

BlackRock (on-call contract), and fintech firm MarketAxess (repeat client for over 20 years), among others. Spacesmith has programmed spaces for clients across all sectors, public and private, ranging in size from 5,000 to 500,000 square feet. Since our firm’s inception, approximately 70% of our work has come from repeat clients. We believe this speaks to our approach towards service, management, and collaboration. No matter the project, we strive to be responsive, proactive, transparent, and open in our process and communications, respectively. Together, Davis Brody Bond and Spacesmith work as a single design studio with both firms participating in all discussions and aspects of the design process. We are collocated at One New York Plaza in the Financial District, and believe this ensures a cohesive understanding of our clients’ challenges and the solutions to them. Both our firms’ processes rely on understanding our clients, how they work, and their vision for the project.

Columbia University Northwest Corner Building New York, NY

Workplaces 2022 and Beyond: Strategic Planning Approach

Davis Brody Bond | Spacesmith’s strategic approach to workplace design focuses on the use of proprietary research methods and processes to create an environment that serves to increase employee performance, agility, wellbeing, and morale, aid in the recruitment and retention of talent, reduce operation and facilities costs, and further the organization’s corporate culture and brand presence. Our approach is centered on understanding each client’s unique set of current and future business objectives, needs, values, processes, and metrics, as well as how the organization interacts with external customers, service providers, and talent recruiters. Additionally, we take into consideration the existing workplace conditions and any design standards that may need to be adhered to. We begin our research through a series of proprietary in-person interviews and electronic surveys, which are conducted with the organization’s individual employees, as well as its leadership across functions and levels of management. From this research, we extrapolate the most pertinent, relevant, and valuable information which can then be used to inform the creative decision-making process.

With the research phase complete, we begin to shape the actual workplace vision and design. Key to this is not only the research and input gathered from the client, but our years of experience, knowledge, and insight which has been obtained by working on a wide variety of projects by market sector, type, and scope. In addition, we pay attention to architecture and workplace design best practices, as well as current trends in the marketplace. The last component of our strategic approach deals with the future proofing of the workplace. Based on our experience, we have learned that it makes sense to design for future workplace-related events and outcomes (e.g., changes in staff size, use of new technology, etc.), in addition to current ones. By thinking and designing in this manner, we look to reduce long-term costs for our clients while increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the workplace in general.

MarketAxess Hudson Yards New York, NY

Repeat client MarketAxess engaged us to provide a workplace strategy report and subsequent design as the fintech firm relocated to a larger HQ in Hudson Yards. The 83,000 sf space expresses a major rebranding effort focusing on transparency and a high-performance office designed as a launching pad for product development. The client requested areas for open communication, collaborative interaction, and executive summits, as well as an environment that could attract new hires and allow for future growth.

The floors are organized with executive areas, the boardroom, and conference rooms on floor 15, sales on 16, and IT and software development on 17. Only 10% of the workplaces are private offices. Glass walls are utilized throughout for transparency and the penetration of natural light. Informal breakout areas, shared pantries, and a large café/ lounge all serve as gathering spots.

The overall palette of the design is clean, modern, and neutral with pops of color along the core walls and in the furniture. The main receiving floor, 15, has a sophisticated look with whitewashed, ash walls, marble flooring, and grey porcelain tile. As guests venture up, the décor begins to include more color to inspire creativity. The top floor features custom murals painted by world-renown graffiti artist, Crash.

A signature feature is the thematic, three-story, angular wood wall sculpture along the floating staircase that connects each floor at reception. This self-supporting marble stair is wrapped with glass balustrades and guardrails, impressing visitors with views up and down, providing a sense of the workplace’s ample volume, and creating a central focus that unifies employees.

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

MarketAxess New York, NY

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

Zero Irving Technology Hub New York, NY

Zero Irving Place is a new 240,000 sf, 22-story technology hub located on 14th Street in New York City’s burgeoning ‘Silicon Alley’ tech artery. The project was born out of the City’s initiative to focus on helping support established industries that are proving to be the drivers of economic growth as well as solutions to support successful earlystage startup organizations as they expand. The new Tech Training Center will create a new 21st century institution and economic development center with the goal of supporting emerging industries in a dynamic environment. The building will house a Food Hall at the ground level, welcoming community & residents; Civic Hall, providing a central location for social entrepreneurs, change-makers, academics, and others to share knowledge; and Step-Up Office Space as well as Traditional Office Space. Spread over six floors, Civic Hall will be comprised of an Event Space that will be available to community organizations in addition to building tenants, a Digital Skills Training Center providing job training and pathways to quality jobs for underserved populations of New York, and a Community Center. Civic Hall is intending to provide a collaborative community for technologists, community organizers, government, and the nonprofit sector to come together to solve society’s most pressing problems. When fully realized, Zero Irving Place will establish an entire new model for community and economic impact while produce economic development resources that extend value to all five NYC boroughs. The tech hub will provide neighborhood amenities that support the vibrant neighborhoods of Gramercy, Flatiron, Greenwich Village and Chelsea, as well as industries that support local institutions such as NYU, The New School, NY Film Academy, and Cooper Union.

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

Zero Irving New York, NY

Boies Schiller Flexner (BSF) Hudson Yards New York, NY

We were engaged by the law firm Boies Schiller Flexner (BSF) as executive architect on the build-out of their new headquarters in the Hudson Yards development in New York City. Our team worked closely with design architect Schiller Projects on the execution of the four-story space, floors 18-21, covering 110,730 sf. The goal of this project was to challenge the traditional hierarchical design of law offices and provide more spaces that foster collaboration, communication, and innovation.

To achieve this switch in culture, the design flips the script on the long-established layouts of legal offices. The majority of partner offices are now located along the core, as opposed to the corner. They feature floor to ceiling glass enclosures, recessed lighting, and custom curvilinear concrete walls. Each work station is equipped with custom sit-to-stand white oak desks and has sight lines out to panoramic views of the Hudson River. Associates and paralegals share semiopen workspaces at the perimeter in groups of four. Within 25 feet of every attorney’s desk are breakout spaces with adjustable height desks and full digital services for up to 5 people, designed to support impromptu meetings. A large, 4,000 sf, multi-use cafeteria with an on-site barista is located on the 19th floor. An operable partition allows the space to transform from an all staff assembly area into smaller, more intimate rooms for trainings or meetings.

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

Each floor holds interactive touch screens that map out all offices and conference rooms. This high-tech wayfinding tool allows employees to see in real time which rooms are available. Formal meeting rooms throughout are connected to smaller huddle spaces and to what the client refers to as the “library” – no books, but the atmosphere of a quiet car. A centralized, open staircase connects floors 19-21 and promotes employee activity and interaction. Hanging within is an impressive sculpture of overlapping, metalbeaded cables that visually connects the main reception to the floors above. A grand gesture, it stands out among the monolithic, curved concrete walls and black terrazzo flooring throughout.

Boies Schiller Flexner (BSF) New York, NY

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

EarthCam Headquarters Upper Saddle River, NJ

We designed a new entrance, connecting atrium, and 11,000 sf of office interiors for webcam technology leaders EarthCam. The project included recladding the existing 26,000 sf cement block building which also holds their technology and manufacturing divisions. The client requested a modern and clear point of entry to reflect their technological expertise. Our solution was a dramatic metal clad entrance with a sharp angular roof that extends above the building. This frame holds a glass structure with a self-shading system to which LED panels are attached. The angle of this feature was calculated for optimal viewing of video content.

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

Upon entering the atrium, visitors view a gallery wall that showcases the owner’s extensive pop art collection. Conference rooms are to the left, restrooms to the right. Special attention was paid to the lighting of this area to show off and protect the impressive works. Past the atrium, the 11,000 sf employee work area is being renovated to improve circulation and collaboration. Elements include a new reception area, open plan workstations, private offices, meeting rooms, exercise room, and employee lounge. For the facade, we chose innovative foamed aluminum panels. These sustainable, porous coverings are back lit to illuminate the building with a warm glow, adding texture and cohesiveness. The design implements floor to ceiling windows and skylights to provide natural light throughout.

EarthCam Headquarters Upper Saddle River, NJ

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

Embassy of South Africa Washington, DC

The rehabilitation of the Embassy of South Africa involved the adaptive reuse of two historically significant adjoining structures located on Embassy Row: the Ambassador’s Residence (1936) and the Chancery (1963). We were initially commissioned to conduct a feasibility study evaluating the efficiency of the complex and determine if it could be modified to meet current and future programmatic needs of the Embassy. Following the acceptance of the study’s recommendations, we developed a design that respected the original buildings while expressing the “transparency, equality and modernity” to which the new South African government aspired. The primary objective of the project focused on the creation of a new, welcoming environment for embassy staff and visitors alike. The original embassy buildings, designed in a Dutch Baroque style, lacked public spaces to open the chancery in support of the Embassy’s outreach mission. The project sought to expand the Embassy’s public areas, improve its circulation and security, and create a new image for the complex that symbolized the “New South Africa.” With some chancery functions operating out of the Embassy’s separate Van Ness location roughly two miles away, the Embassy created additional office spaces, consolidating key embassy personnel into one central complex. The design solution captured the exterior space between the two existing structures, creating a two-story lobby atrium as a central event space and point of entry for staff and visitors, and increasing the overall size of the embassy including an expansion of the Ambassador’s Residence. Newly vacated space in the residence, as well as the more efficient interior planning which results from the renovation effort, provides significant additional office space.

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

Embassy of South Africa Washington, DC

New US Embassy Mexico City, Mexico

Designed in a joint venture between Davis Brody Bond, Spacesmith, and Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, the new US Embassy Campus in Mexico City will be among the largest embassy complexes in the world. The 1,000,000 sf multi-building complex is being constructed on an 8.5-acre site in the New Polano District of Mexico City, providing a secure, modern, and environmentally sustainable platform for US diplomacy. The Embassy is sunken several stories into the ground, and designed around a large covered open air courtyard, responding to the scale of the neighborhood and climate of the region. Several additional smaller courtyards permeate the dense office block, providing sunlight, air, and natural scenery deep within embassy operations. The exterior façade is protected by a large, bronze brise-soleil that minimizes heat gain without diminishing views out of Mexico City.

The new facility incorporates rigorous sustainability and energy-saving goals, aiming to reduce environmental impact, optimize building performance, and enhance the selfsufficiency of the campus. The campus will use reclaimed water from the city for cooling and sewage conveyance to reduce the impact on the local water infrastructure. Further innovation includes use of magnetic bearing chillers with hybrid cooling towers to further reduce electrical and water demand. Registered with the U.S. Green Building Council, the Embassy is projected to earn a LEED Silver certification. The interior design takes comfort, efficiency, collaboration, flexibility, social interaction, day-lighting and adaptability into account. The interior environment will express highperformance ideals consistent with Department of State goals that prioritize a sense of community within the

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workplace creating a space that is conducive to both individual and team work. Office interiors have been designed to allow for future flexibility and re-organization of work spaces by providing additional programmed space for future desk positions, use of demountable partitions, and the ability to increase occupancy through workstation “tight-sizing.” The workstation module consists of a fixed spine with moveable components allowing densification and addition of new workstations along the spine should tight-sizing be necessary. Workstations panels and overheads are designed to allow for vision above 42,” which complies with the sustainability requirement for increased daylighting and views.

US Embassy Mexico City, Mexico

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

Abrams Books Headquarters New York, NY

Abrams Books retained us for the site selection and design of their new 40,000 sf headquarters. With our design team’s research and programming/ location analysis to guide them, Abrams chose the 9th floor at 195 Broadway for their new home. The design concept was driven by the required collaboration that takes place at Abrams, as well as their product. The space is primarily an open work environment with several private working rooms for small groups. The new office hosts a full library, reading nooks, and over 600 linear feet of shelving and book displays.

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

The lobby is completely open with glass office fronts and a visual line directly into the library which holds bookcases of blackened steel with raw oak shelves. On the opposite end is the flexible break out space sprinkled with lounging furniture curated by Spacesmith. This area has a movable wall which can divide the space, accommodating very large meetings or smaller, informal gatherings. Spacesmith highlighted an industrial-style palette of materials by maintaining the existing terra cotta ceiling and leaving exposed wide-flange beams. Pops of color, including Abrams’ signature red, were utilized in the built-in seating upholstery, carpeting, and signage.

Abrams Books New York, NY

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

TradingScreen New York, NY

We were engaged by this privately-owned software company to design their new 20,000 sf headquarters. TradingScreen requested that our concept reflect the aesthetics and values of their new branding efforts, which focuses on inclusivity. Our design team provided a new office that offers a spacious, state-of-the-art workplace, café, and flexible meeting areas in order to present a new face to current and future clients, and to help attract and retain employees. High on the 49th floor, the build-out is 90% open plan and offers beautiful views and natural light to all staff. The floor is divided into two zones: a public zone with reception and boardroom, and the workplace zone which provides bench desking, private offices, open and enclosed meeting rooms, telephone rooms, and a café which seats 20. In between these two zones are a series of meeting rooms and a “boulevard” of casual meeting and seating along the perimeter of the space. All offices and meeting rooms are glass to reflect their open door, flat hierarchical values, and to allow for light penetration throughout the space. “Since moving into our new workplace, we have seen a huge increase in employee engagement and morale.” — Kevin Held, CFO, Trading Screen

Talbot & Arding Hudson, NY

Spacesmith was retained by the highly regarded purveyors of gourmet food, Mona Talbott and Kate Arding, to transform an existing 7,500 sf warehouse into a new food production facility and retail space. Talbott & Arding prepare nearly everything they sell with ingredients sourced from local suppliers. The goal was to create a transparent space with the kitchen as the focal point to allow patrons to watch the team in action. Our team sought to imbue the design with the same characteristics and values as the food: high-quality, simple, and wholesome – unpretentious and beautiful. Another goal for this adaptive reuse project was to use as much recycled material as possible.

Our team repurposed the oversized, glass garage door on one side of the warehouse for the main entry. To the right, patrons enter the retail shop, to the left, a delivery pickup area. The link between the two is the fully equipped commercial kitchen at the back, specifically designed from equipment to flow to meet Talbott & Arding’s operational needs. Visually open to the public, it connects customers to the preparation process on one side, and employees to the well-considered, back-of-house distribution space on the other. The main retail area holds self-service cases for quick picks and frozen items. Deli cases with prepared foods and a full view into the pastry making area line the kitchen wall. Dried goods and specialty items are housed in custom-made wood shelving units by the checkout. A mezzanine level holds administrative offices and an event space.

Concrete floors, painted wood counter fronts, slate and marble counters (taken from the back yard of their first store), and natural wood shelving give the store a clean, industrial/ agricultural palette intended as a backdrop to Talbott & Arding’s culinary talent and Hudson’s local bounty. The space is a hive of activity with so much interest and support from the community, it was difficult to keep the shelves and cases fully stocked after opening – a welcome challenge.

Global Brands Group New York, NY

This project consolidated all of the Global Brands Group’s women’s apparel divisions onto a single 100,000 sf floor in the Empire State Building. The program included over 25 showrooms, multiple designer work areas, a fabric library, model fitting rooms, offices, lounges, a large multi-function media room, and a state-of-the-art telepresence room. The client requested an industrial, loft aesthetic to reflect the day-to-day activities of garment production, so the design is both durable and refined. The concrete floors were handtroweled, custom millwork retains its natural wood finish, and hanging Edison bulbs help illuminate the space. Pipes, ducts, and brickwork were left exposed to enhance the high ceilings and loft-like atmosphere. A neutral color palette creates a tranquil setting for employees and allows the clothing and products to stand out.

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

The project adheres to both LEED and the Empire State Building’s stringent sustainability standards. In order to create the best indoor environment, efficient mechanical and temperature control systems were integrated, and low VOC finishes, paints, and adhesives were used. Low flow plumbing fixtures and Energy Star rated appliances were specified throughout. Day lighting sensors automatically adjust light levels to complement the amount of natural light entering the space from large windows. This project is LEED-CI Gold certified.

US Embassy Pristina, Kosovo

We recently completed the design of a new United States Embassy in Pristina, Kosovo. By creating a welcoming and technologically advanced design, the Embassy reflects the initiatives set forth in the U.S. Department of State’s Excellence initiative. The campus style configuration consolidates structures around an outdoor plaza. The Embassy, which accommodates 450 staff, is made up of several major elements: a five-story office tower, a conference center/pavilion, and a Marine residence. A warehouse and workshop component is integrated into the building. The plaza serves as the focal point of the campus and is used for gatherings and special events. Parking for staff and visitors is also integrated into the landscape on terraced levels.

The site surrounding the compound is currently a mixeduse area with commercial, light industrial, retail, residential, office, and government uses. The siting of the Embassy and its landscaped perimeter will help to establish the standards for future redevelopment of the adjacent parcels. The Embassy is situated to maximize the distant mountain views to the south, and eastern views of the center of Pristina; at the same time, it creates an urban edge tight to the developed north.

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

In addition to a geothermal system, other sustainability measures designed include an external sunshade system that is optimized to the building’s solar orientation and green roofs over the Marine residence and the warehouse. The campus is expected to be a “Net Zero Water” campus, balancing campus water demands with the supply generated on-site throughout a typical year thanks to recycling and roof and site rain water, efficient plumbing fixtures and usage within the building, efficient irrigation, and on-site treatment. These and other features are helping the project target a LEED gold rating.

US Embassy Pristina, Kosovo

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

Procter & Gamble Gillette Planta Milenio Irapuato, Mexico

Planta Milenio is Procter & Gamble Gillette’s 1.13 million sf facility devoted to manufacturing, packaging and shipping blades and razors to distributors worldwide. The plant, located on a 100+ acre site, accommodates 3,000 people in three shifts. Planta Milenio is P&G’s first fully sustainable manufacturing facility in Latin America. Davis Brody Bond and Arup, the global engineering firm, worked together on a fast track program completing the project within two years. The design process began with a programming exercise to define the process adjacencies. The technical aspects were challenging as the manufacturing process starts with raw materials, steel coils for the blade production and molten plastic to form the body of the razors. Raw materials are formed and assembled in the basic operations area.

Once completed, blades and razors are moved into the pack center and packaged into plastic cases and processed for shipping. The integration of a flexible infrastructure enables the facility and the manufacturing process to adjust to newer technologies and production strategies. The central location of a spine through the basic operations area and the pack center allows for direct communication between production, facility management and testing labs

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

It was important to develop a friendly user experience without compromising functional capabilities; thus benefiting the staff and the seamless flow of products from raw material to packaging. As part of P&G’s commitment to the well-being of its staff, a cafeteria, common areas, a gymnasium with showers, a running path, and a soccer field are located in or near the main entrance building. These common areas are easily connected to the manufacturing and packaging area through the central administrative office spines.

Valeo Projects Worldwide

Davis Brody Bond has a 20-year relationship with Valeo, an independent automotive components manufacturer and a partner to major car and truck manufacturers worldwide. In 1994 Valeo began a major expansion program that has included research and development, manufacturing, sales and marketing facilities in United States, Mexico and South America. Davis Brody Bond has been the design architect for eight of these facilities, as well as for projects in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Valeo Thermal Systems Auburn Hills, Michigan This facility for a major automotive systems manufacturer brings five corporate divisions together under one roof and encourages team-oriented work. Extensive transparency throughout the building showcases Valeo’s technical and research capacities and promotes interdepartmental awareness and access. The building is divided into conference facilities, engineering teams, and testing laboratories. The latter two interlock in plan to encourage collaboration. Double height spaces with open stairs connect the two building levels. Throughout, light is treated as a shared resource. The glassy exterior opens up the building to the landscape, while an oversailing canopy of sunshades protects against glare and solar heat gain. The most public façade displays a high-bay testing area containing custom manufactured equipment. DBB resolved security concerns while maintaining overall transparency. Public and staff enter through a single point, and visitor conference rooms are located outside the secure employee zone. Where needed for acoustical privacy, glass partitions are double layered. Valeo’s custom, high-tech look was achieved with careful use of stock glazing systems and off-the-shelf construction components. This design strategy both addressed the project budget and allowed for a streamlined construction period. Selected Awards • 1999 AIA NY State Excellence in Design Award • 2000 Business Week/Architectural Record “Good Design Is Good Business” Award • 2002 AIA Honor Award

Valeo Security Systems Guarulhos, São Paulo, Brazil This project accommodates 700 staff in 180,000 sf of laboratory/research, manufacturing and administrative spaces. The challenge here was to build a signature largescale industrial building on a steeply sloped site next to the São Paulo-Rio highway. Starting with an optimal structural grid, the building is divided into four longitudinal bands that begin to curve away from each other. The continuous galvanized metal surfaces this creates provide excellent drainage in tropical storms. Slicing the building into attenuated, sinuous volumes also generates an expressive profile that harmonizes with the surrounding hills. The varied heights of the volumes allow for natural light and ventilation, both reducing energy consumption and improving the working environment. Through careful positioning of programmatic areas and clever use of existing topography, cut and fill were equalized requiring no offsite trucking of soil. The internal layout is kept utterly straightforward to promote collaboration between research, fabrication, and administration staff, and to adapt to advances in technology and the industrial process. Selected Awards • 2007 AIA New York State Design Awards Citation Valeo Electrical Systems San Luis Potosi, Mexico This 171,000 sf building houses laboratories, an administration and conference center, exhibition space, and a cafeteria. The high-tech structural expression reflects Valeo’s leading-edge corporate image and research achievements. The facility meets three goals: ease of expansion, maximum flexibility, and communication among departments. A cablesupported frame and modular MEP system create long spans uninterrupted by structure that can easily be reconfigured. The building features flexible areas for fabrication and storage, laboratories and administration. The fabrication area uses a long span, tension rod structural system, allowing for many variations in production lines. Selected Awards • 2002 Business Week/ Architectural Record “Good Design Is Good Business” Award • 2000 Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award • 1997 AIA NY Distinguished Architecture Award • 1996 AIA NY Excellence in Design Award

Valeo Thermal Systems Auburn Hills, Michigan

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

Valeo Worldwide details & vignettes

RED Distribution SONY Music New York, NY

RED, a leader in independent music distribution and artist development, wanted their new 20,000 sf headquarters to be a vibrant, collaborative workspace. Spacesmith designed an office that is flexible and dynamic with a strong visual identity. The reception area sets the tone by providing a colorful gathering place. It also functions as a performance space for musicians that RED represents, with a display of guitars signed by RED’s artists as an inspiring backdrop. Graffiti painted corrugated steel gates energize reception and lead into a large conference room. These doors can be rolled up allowing the two rooms to be transformed into one impressive space.

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

At the far end of reception, the open pantry encourages impromptu exchanges between staff, guests, and musicians. RED utilizes this cafe area for weekly firm-wide breakfast meetings. A tapered corridor extends from this pantry into the main office. High ceilings and exposed ductwork create an industrial loft-like atmosphere with private offices that bookend the main work area. Work stations are at the heart of the space, using orange color panels as privacy screens. Framing the open space, break out rooms modeled after sound booths are lined with ribbed steel and paneled internally with acoustic foam.

Bacardi-Martini New York, NY

The Bacardi-Martini pied-à-terre is a colorful, vibrant space used by executives and their visitors. Casual or formal meetings can be hosted in open or enclosed areas that offer flexible seating and technology. Two terraces with stunning views of the New York Public Library and Bryant Park are also utilized for gatherings and working outdoors when weather permits. Our design concept was a simple yet substantial dichotomy: maintain the brand aesthetic and borrow from the classic library archetype. An important consideration was how to showcase the client’s impressive collection of art. Our team had to strike a balance between function, branding, and beauty. The 4,000 sf, L-shaped floor holds public and private zones along the periphery, leaving MEP and data systems at the elevator core. Upon entering, visitors step into a small, intimate lounge separated from the receptionist by a custom-made, freestanding storage and art display unit. Directly to the right, a large, telepresence conference room leads out to the east terrace. To the left are three, glass fronted executive offices and an additional office for guests. The “library” follows; an additional conference room which displays the brand’s signature bottles on floating, oak veneer shelves that frame a large piece of Cuban artwork. It is through this library that guests can retreat to the west terrace. The two outdoor terraces, prized real estate in NYC, were designed in collaboration with Studio Rhodeside Harwell Landscape Architecture. To buffer noise from mechanical systems, perforated metal panels were utilized, not only offering acoustic benefits, but adding to the modern aesthetic of the design. Lined with large steel planters, seasonal herbs, such as mint and agave, are cultivated and used by Bacardi. “Above and beyond achieving excellent design solutions, it’s the attention to details, the follow-up, the project management, and the seamless collaboration with the client and other consultants that differentiate Spacesmith.” — Louise Mathews, Global VP, Real Estate, Bacardi-Martini

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

Outdoor Terrace Bacardi-Martini, New York, NY

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

The Women’s Building New York, NY

As part of an international design competition, Davis Brody Bond and Spacesmith in collaboration with ARExA was one of four finalists in a design for The Women’s Building. Sponsored by the NoVo Foundation in collaboration with the Goren Group, the project sought “imaginative, inspiring, and practical decisions” that would transform an abandoned women’s prison in West Chelsea into a new global hub for the girls’ and women’s rights movement. As the nexus for the collective efforts of hundreds of activists and entrepreneurs, the Women’s Building has a crucial mandate to connect and catalyze. To enable this, the design team started by choreographing the circulation of users, optimizing for interactions between people and programs. Next, we transformed former dead-ends into new connection points — fostering relationships and trust among disparate groups by maximizing transparency and flow.

Finally, we ensured plenty of shared space to meet and exchange ideas, flush with daylight, and connected by supportive, collective services. Reborn as a hub of activism and engagement, The Women’s Building will offer social justice leaders the resources and support they need to drive critical change. It’s not just a workspace but a vertical neighborhood, designed to spark serendipitous interactions, build partnerships, create networks, and grow sustainable solutions. Our project proposed large horizontal floor plates with shared common areas, destinations for community and discovery. A terraced atrium brings light into the communal core with vertical inter-connectivity, turning the stack of workplace floors into a buzzing, thriving neighborhood. At the base of this neighborhood, resources serve body, mind, and spirit: from business services to health and wellness, from childcare to contemplation.

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

At ground level, the base of the building is transformed into a permeable, light-filled arcade. In this alcove, the visitor finds a cascading pocket park; this new urban amenity a sibling of the nearby High Line. Ascending to the top of this park, a plaza at the base of our atrium hosts the exchanges between building occupants, social justice leaders, and the public. A theater, event spaces, restaurant, retail spaces, and galleries converge at the atrium plaza. It is from this elevated and integrated ground plane that the exuberance and power of change is broadcast to the larger community, our city, and the world.

JIMLAR SHOE CORPORATION New York, NY

THE CHILDREN’S PLACE / CORPORATE HQ Secaucus, NJ

We were enlisted by Li & Fung Ltd. as the Executive Architect for the build-out of 100,000 sf in the Empire State Building to house their footwear division, Jimlar Corporation. Key elements included work areas for various brand designers, showrooms, a fitting studio, design library, marketing space, private executive offices, open plan workstations, video and teleconference rooms, storage, and pantries. The project is on two floors; the lower dedicated to designers and the upper to administrators, with showrooms on both floors. The shape of the floor plate allowed for perimeter offices with centralized workstations, granting access to daylight and views. The overall design palette is a sleek mix of contemporary and classic. Flooring is mostly polished concrete with soft carpet tile in open office areas. Walnut is used to accent the predominately white and grey space. Original structural columns and core spaces remain.

We teamed with workplace strategy specialists DEGW to conceptualize and build a new headquarters for The Children’s Place. The rapidly expanding retailer was eager to explore innovative workspaces to promote collaboration among their design, production, and merchandising staff.

The Empire State Building has undergone a major sustainability retrofit to become a leading example of economic and environmental revitalization. The project had to adhere to new energy standards, therefore energy savings items were incorporated into the design: efficient mechanical and temperature control systems, low VOC finishes, low flow plumbing fixtures, and Energy Star rated appliances are specified throughout. This project is LEED Platinum Certified.

To begin, we conducted user interviews, workshops, and an employee survey that identified a strong attachment to cohesive, informal work environments and foregrounded the importance of communication in managing the constant cycle of merchandising seasons. Based on this data, we designed a modular workstation spine that could be customized with screens, storage units, and furniture for users ranging from self-directed accounting personnel to team-oriented merchandising clusters. To transform the existing warehouse, we inserted an upper level and cut out windows, skylights, and open stairs. The office layout is a matrix that lets the core design teams interact closely with their production and sales counterparts. A large central commons accommodates dining, fashion shows and stockholder meetings. The project received several honors, including the Business Week / Architectural Record “Good Design Is Good Business” Award for its innovative design of light, open work spaces that foster creativity and collaboration.

BLACKROCK / US OFFICES Philadelphia, PA + Wilmington, DE

HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA New York, NY

As part of an on-call contract, we renovated several of the financial giant’s offices in the United States and abroad. In order for daily operations to continue uninterrupted, both projects were phased. Established BlackRock workplace, finish, IT, security, and AV standards were incorporated into both designs.

When Human Rights in China commissioned us to totally renovate a suite in the Empire State Building, They gave us a program that called for significantly more space than the 3,500 sf available. We responded with a flexible system that easily transforms into the set of spaces needed at any given moment. The system is based on compact archival shelving and combines off-the-shelf components from several manufacturers. The basic unit is a thick upright on floor tracks that can be a wall, storage, workstation, or any combination thereof. These units are strategically placed throughout the suite so they can slide into new configurations, transitioning from “office scene” into “conference scene” into “exhibit scene” into “reception scene.” This flexibility has proven very successful in practice. At the detail level, each unit is color coded according to its primary use. “Inactive” panels are turned into low-cost light boxes with a simple assembly of fluorescent tubes and polyacrylic sheet. The ceiling structure is left exposed wherever possible; a planar soffit conceals duct runs.

Philadelphia offices: The existing space covered 9,200 sf and was expanded by 6,600 sf into adjacent tenant space. To address BlackRock’s needs for a more synergetic and collaborative work environment, the number of private offices was reduced and high partitioned cubicles removed. An open bench seating system improves communication and allows employees to enjoy natural light and spectacular panoramic views. Wilmington offices: After being occupied for almost 15 years, the 25,000 sf floor no longer functioned appropriately for BlackRock’s needs. The spatial arrangement and systems furniture had become outdated and unsuitable for a modernday workplace. The bulk of our design focused on the open plan work areas on the periphery of the floor. High walled, bulky cubicles were replaced with low-height, partitioned furniture modules to foster collaboration and allow access to daylight and views. These new streamlined workstations easily allow for an increase in seats.

DAVIS BRODY BOND / SPACESMITH WORKPLACES 2022

The process was an exemplar of public/private sector collaboration between design professionals and not-forprofit groups. The design and build-out required a high degree of creativity to address the client’s constraints and ambitions. Davis Brody Bond produced a unique project that, with its openness, flexibility, and translucent surfaces, is a spatial representation of the freedoms championed by Human Rights in China. 61

Selected Clients CORPORATE 212 Ventures Abrams Publishing Abington Properties AdMedia Partners Aegis Communications AIG Alkit Pro Digital Alusuisse Lonza America Inc. ARBED America’s Inc. Arendt & Medernach, Luxembourg & New York AT&T Wireless Inc. Avalon Publishing Axiom Capital Management Bacardi-Martini Rossi Banco1 Bankers Trust Banque & Caisse d’Epargne de l’Etat Banque International à Luxembourg BBDO Worldwide BlackRock Bookspan Boosey & Hawkes Boston Properties Bowne & Company Brooklyn Brewery Business Interactive Butzel Long Capital Thinking Carmichael Lynch Chamberlain Communications Chase Manhattan Bank Christofferson Robb & Company Citibank CMG Worldwide Crédit Communal de Belgique Crossborder Solutions Software Emerging Markets Trades Assoc. Ericsson Inc. Estée Lauder Exxon Mobil Corporation Farley Capital Garrigues LLP George Weiss & Associates Gillette / Procter & Gamble Gotham Gray Healthcare Grubb & Ellis Offices Hallmark Harry N. Abrams Publishing Haymarket Media

Hearst Corporation Heraeus Inc. IBM Interpublic Group - GlobalHue ISbank Jack Resnick & Sons Jupiter Communications Kane Kessler (in collaboration with Charles Patten) Knoll Capital Management Lancit Media LinkShare Lipsitz, Green Fahringer, Roll Lowe & Partners MacFadden Publishing MarketAxess / Trading Edge Marschallin & Sachs Martin Geller & Company Matériaux SA Methodfive Mobile Logic Model Management Momentum Morgan Stanley Dean Witter MTV Networks NEC Corporation Nokia L’Oréal Philip Morris Quantum Management RED Distribution / Sony Music Reis Inc. Renaissance Capital RichFX Rockefeller Properties Salisbury & Cambria Spin Sun Studios Thompson Knight, LLP TIAA-CREFF Towers Perrin Urban Box Office Valeo Worldwide Verio Verreries Pochet et Du Courval Visa Wilkinson O’Grady

FASHION / RETAIL Avon Bonpoint Calvin Klein Shoes & Bags Cartier Christofle Silver Club Monaco Cort Furniture Cremieux CWF USA David Meister Donna Karan Company Dualstar Edelman Leather Edun Ellen Tracy Global Brands Group Hermès of Paris Kellwood Ladurée Laundry Li & Fung Liz Claiborne Marchon Eyewear MCS Business Machines Mulberry Nine West Company Ralph Lauren Ritz Furs Room & Board Track & Field XOXO

CIVIC / CULTURAL American Museum of Natural History Brooklyn Botanical Gardens Brooklyn Bridge Park Brooklyn Navy Yard Developmt. Corp. Bronx Zoo Federal Hall National Monument The Frick Collection Lower Manhattan Development Corp. National Parks Service National September 11 Museum NYC Dept. of Design + Construction NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission NY Metro. Transportation Council NY Police Department NYS Banking NYS Dept. of Child & Family Services NYS Dept. of Health NYS Dept. of Housing & Renewal NYS Dept. of Public Services NYS Dept. of Transportation NYS Division of Budget NYS Office of General Services New York Public Library Permanent UN Mission of Luxembourg Port Authority of NY & NJ Smithsonian Institution United Nations US Department of State, OBO

RESIDENTIAL Durst Organization Kipps Bay The Victoria

NOT-FOR-PROFIT ADL Foundation AFS USA Inc. Alfred P. Sloan Foundation American Community Indian House Brooklyn Community Services Common Ground Daytop Village French American Chamber of Commerce Hearst Foundation Human Rights in China International Rescue Committee Operation Hope Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute POTS (Part of the Solution) Robin Hood Foundation Staten Island Family Justice Center United American Healthcare Corp.

EDUCATION Chapin School Columbia University Cooper Union Harvard University Hewitt School, Library & Media Center Massachusetts Institute of Technology NYC School Construction Authority New York University Princeton University The School of American Ballet The School of Visual Arts Speyer School St. John’s University Sarah Lawrence College University of Connecticut University of Maryland University of Pennsylvania University of Virginia University of Wisconsin Vanderbilt University Yale University

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