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New York City — Oct. 19, 2015 — Global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will has announced the opening of a new 140,000-square-foot headquarters facility for Allied World Assurance Company in New York City.
In delivering services for the renovation and expansion project, Perkins+Will provided a universal planning strategy that incorporates diverse work settings and ensured that palette selections and branding elements reflect the nuanced culture of the office location.
“At the onset of the engagement, our team worked closely with the client to define a clear vision for the work: a modern design with timeless materials and an overall aesthetic that is crisp and fiscally prudent,” said John Sadlon, principal with Perkins+Will.
The bespoke design of the headquarters includes a refined palette of warm hues, classic furnishings, and specialized lighting that highlights the richness of the natural materials.
“With floor-to-ceiling glass partitions at all meeting rooms and offices, a high degree of transparency was incorporated throughout the space, enhanced by finishes that blend traditional with contemporary sensibilities. Refined wood paneling and slab stone, for example, contrast the overscaled fabrics and the diverging gloss and matte lacquer finishes of the cylindrical reception desk,” said Arjav Shah, interior designer.
Other highlights include full-height porcelain wall panels and complex, elliptical gypsum plaster ceiling assemblies.
“Occupying four floors with East River and downtown Manhattan views, the workplace includes provisions for Allied World’s executive team, with a significant requirement for client-facing meeting areas and associated amenities,” Sadlon said.
Integrating traditional office planning with contemporary approaches, the location of cellular offices alternate at the perimeter and at the interior for each level. Perimeter offices provide privacy and views for executives, while open-plan workstations allow daylight and long skyline views to be brought into the building’s deep floorplates.
Amenities throughout the workplace include an expandable dining room with catering kitchen, a training facility, an employee café, and lounge, as well as technology-rich conferencing areas to accommodate diverse meeting needs.
To facilitate the movement of employees between the four occupied floors, the project team created a new crossover elevator lobby to serve both the mid- and high-rise elevator banks within the building.
Sadlon, who has deep expertise in managing complex interior build-outs for the insurance, financial, and legal sectors, led the project’s phased construction within the occupied space over an 18-month period, with minimal disruption to the business units. The team also coordinated all building technology and support systems needed, including those for servicing the catering kitchen.
For global organizations, maintaining a unified brand identity while embracing local characteristics is a growing trend, fostering a culture of engagement and connection. Following the design of the New York headquarters, Perkins+Will was also engaged to design Allied World’s offices in Dallas and London.
For more information, visit www.perkinswill.com.
