4A — February 2023 — Environmental/Green Buildings — Owners, Developers & Managers — M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal
www.marej.com
E nvironmental /G reen B uildings
The project team includes Benchmark Builders as general contractor MADGI designs HQ for a global financial group at LEED Gold Cert. 280 Park Ave. in Manhattan
N EW YORK, NY — Interior design firm Montroy Anders- en DeMarco (MADGI) has completed a new corporate workplace at 280 Park Ave. in Manhattan for one of the world’s foremost global in- surance and banking groups. The MADGI-designed space is a smart, modern office that fosters collaborative engage- ment, while also reflecting the sophistication and history of a market-leading organization. The 14,000 s/f, full-floor space – on an upper floor of the LEED Gold Certified building’s 29-story East Tower – is the
many of the design’s stand-out features,” said Ajay Wagh- mare , project manager at MADGI. “We designed the entire work area with an airy, spacious feel that takes ad- vantage of expansive views of Midtown Manhattan. The office features very large, open spaces with high ceilings, flooded by natural light through full- height windows,” he adds. “The clearly outlined client expectations helped ensure the interior design hit the right note,” said Eleanor Boehm , designer at MAGDI. “We were bringing together tradition and energetic, innovative cul- ture, so our design challenge was to ensure it was both up- scale and contemporary. We did not want the tech loft kind of setting, or an industrial look. We wanted functional as well as refined, a respected brand with a modern, understated identity,” she added. The open plan was an effec- tive delivery mechanism for those goals, with the design eschewing the typical corpo- rate corner offices or C-suite citadel in favor of an ex- pansive, collaborative setup, shared Waghmare. “With 25 people on the floor, there is a lot of room for every- one and they will still have the ability to work effectively as a team,” he said. “The design has extra space for entertain- ment and meeting facilities, a multi-function pantry, and flexible workstations. It has as expansive, energetic feel.” The open floor plan also al - lowed MAGDI to maximize natural light, but required additional measures to create spaces with privacy. According to Boehm, “With floor-to-ceiling windows, we endeavored to of- fer as much access to daylight for employees and visitors as possible throughout the entire floor by incorporating full-length glazing. To ensure privacy for meetings in an open office plan, we also introduced premium acoustical treatments for the four meeting rooms and a boardroom, with double- glazed, high-grade sound insu- lation from Tagwall.” The project team also in- cluded Benchmark Builders as general contractor; Robert Derector Associates as MEP engineer; Spectra Audio De- sign as audio-visual consul- tant; and Vornado Realty Trust as owner of 280 Park Avenue. MAREJ
Steven Andersen , partner at MADGI. “We had clear goals to represent a brand steeped in legacy and tradition, but also to showcase its outlook as a leading-edge, vibrant and innovative company. We chose to break from the classic wood- paneled walls of a traditional banking institution and created a dramatic and invigorating interior. We also broke up the hierarchal partitioned office layout to embrace an open, flexible configuration that em - powers teamwork, cooperation, and creativity.” “The open-office concept was a critical theme that guided
Montroy Andersen DeMarco designed the entire work area with an airy, spacious feel that takes advantage of expansive views of Midtown Manhattan. Photo by Tom Sibley/Wilk Marketing Communications.
new U.S. headquarters for the London-based firm, right in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. “The client articulated its
desire for the design to evoke the dual identity of a storied past and dynamic, forward- looking vision for the firm,” said
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