In The Media June 6, 2019

Crain’s 2019 Coolest Offices in New York

Viacom named Finalist in Coolest Retrofit Category

Our work at Viacom’s 1515 Broadway headquarters is a finalist in this year’s Crain’s New York Business’ Coolest Offices in New York.

 

Viacom’s mission is to “…create entertainment experiences that drive conversation and culture.” And they took this principle and applied it to their employee’s workspaces with creative collaboration at the core. Perkins&Will’s workplace design team jumped right in drawing influences from iconic NYC loft spaces and worked with Viacom’s design standards to create a space that celebrated their brands as well as embraced the exterior views offered at 1515 Broadway.

Exposed high ceilings connected to varied black and white wall illustrations add to the loft quality of the space utilizing the architectural offerings of the building. The illustrations represent major cities around the world and are related to distraction banding that can be found throughout the space. What makes it even cooler is the walled illustrations on the core are writable surfaces inviting people to interact and brainstorm – especially on Floors 23 and 24 which is home to Global Marketing.

Openwork areas and clear glass office fronts give ample access to the nearly 360-degree views of the city and large amounts of daylight throughout the day.

The first two floors drew inspiration from a SOHO-style loft when structures built at the turn of the century supporting manufacturing were converted into living and working spaces. The third floor references a Flatiron district style loft where Gilded Age skyscrapers have been converted to modern-day co-working and media workspaces. Open work stations with low partitions connect colleagues and provide a sense of privacy and place.

Lounge-inspired break-out areas continue the residential loft feel. The spaces provide seating options to support multiple types of collaboration giving variety and choice to the community within. Neon wayfinding adds an entertaining pop of color supporting Viacom’s branding and welcomes guests and employees to an elegant pantry designed to encourage creative collisions throughout the day. The design evokes a lifestyle of creativity which allows the layering-on of multiple brand expressions for the diverse groups that support various Viacom brands.

https://www.crainsnewyork.com/html-page/694731

In 2018, Nixon Peabody’s new Manhattan office was tapped as Crain’s 5 Coolest Office in New York.