Interiors That Work

BR Design BR Design Interiors that work

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ISBN 13 : 978-0-9975489-3-8 ISBN 10 : 0-9975489-3-2

Copyright © 2017 by BR Design Associates. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed and bound in China. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data: Interiors That Work

Book Designer: Christina Chin Editor: Roger Yee Visual Profile books, New York Contents

Introduction 007 Assouline 009 Schwartz & Benjamin 017 Neoscape 025 Square Mile Capital 031 High Line Residence 037 Ion Media Networks 039 McCann Erickson 047 Cache‘ 051 BR Design Associates 057 Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer & Katcher 065 SumAll 073 Cooper Robertson 077 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia 085 Tai Ping Carpets 091 Greenwich Residence 097 Cake & Arrow 107 Winklevoss Capital 113 Elite Daily 121 Edward Fields 127 Digital Evolution 133 1440 Broadway 141 Galvanize 147 Ignition One 155 Schwartz & Benjamin 163 Archives 167 Credits 168 Introduction

A belief that man-made environments should We really meant it, remembering that we were us- perform well inspires the best architecture and inte- ing our clients’ time and money to support their cul- rior design. This belief infuses the work of BR Design tures, not indulge in monuments to ourselves.” Associates, an award-winning New York based inte- Along the way, BR Design developed a thriving rior design firm serving clients in fields as diverse as culture of cooperation and collaboration that con- finance, advertising, law and entertainment. tinues to serve its staff and clients well. Listening to BR Design was launched in 1985 to be a differ- the client may be essential for a successful design ent type of design firm; their goals were different practice, but melding the resources of individual from many other firms by listening very carefully to colleagues into decisive collective action is like- Michael Rait their clients’ desires and expectations. While some wise critical. Teamwork has also proved an excellent clients may complain that their “Designers don’t way for senior designers to mentor the more junior Principal listen,” BR Design has always practiced design as a designers and team members. As in any business, cooperative activity involving dialogue between de- design firms are impacted by the country’s eco- signer and client, and especially intensive collabora- nomic cycles, rising and falling as the economy and tion among the firm’s designers. real estate markets fluctuate. Throughout the firm’s Michael Rait, ASID, founder and principal of BR history, BR Design has been able to withstand the Design, resembles many fellow designers in em- cycles through the continued commissions from bracing aesthetics as a child. “I started going to art their loyal clients and referrals from a broad busi- school at 5 or 6 years old and throughout my child- ness and personal network, which look to BR Design hood,” he recalls, “and I always wanted to be an art- as a valued partner and resource. “I’m very proud ist, designer or architect.” He could count on artistic of not only my partners and our team members but ability, sheer determination and supportive parents also of the body of work we have created in the past to pursue his passion. His student days at Parsons 30 years. I have been able to design both small and School of Design may have influenced him as well. large projects here and abroad, have grown with our “I was fortunate to be part of a great class of ex- clients and am still excited at what the next design tremely creative students,” he recalls, “in a school challenge may be. I have witnessed the global shift with talented instructors who always challenged us in how we practice our craft and the evolution of the and promoted a teamwork approach to design.” office; from a lavish exclusive space to an open, in- After earning his degree in Environmental De- clusive and democratic environment.” sign, Rait developed his design skills with a few Developing and recruiting designers who are respected New York design firms eventually as- skilled, knowledgeable and good in teaming and oth- cending to Director of Design of a large New York er people skills has rewarded clients of BR Design with practice. Rait states that he always wanted to have outstanding projects. In addition, cultivating home- his own firm, a goal instilled in him by his father and grown talent gives the firm a promising future. Well other family members. Anticipating that building a aware that many design practices fail to outlive their successful design firm requires a unique set of skills founders, Rait feels confident that he can successfully much different than working for one, once the prac- pass the torch to one or more successors. tice started Rait recruited a strong team of associ- “My goal is to keep on practicing,” he concludes. ates to assist in growing the firm. “My firm survived “The people of BR Design will grow in skill, knowledge and prospered by doing the best possible job for and experience. One day they’ll run everything.” our clients. Designers always say they will do this.

7 Assouline New York, New York

Paris-based, luxury book publishing house- and lifestyle designer Assouline was founded by Prosper and Martine Assouline in 1994 and suavely courts the professional and so- cialworlds of architecture, art, design, fashion, gastronomy, lifestyle, photography and travel it documents. They do this by linking its books and prints, home furnishings, gifts and accessories to sophisticated marketing, promotional and cultural events. The company commissioned BR Design to design its 10,000-square-foot New York office. It requested a work environment as clean, open and stylish as the art galleries, fashion salons, retail boutiques and four-star restaurants its readers frequent. Spare and handsome as DN UP UP DN the final result was, achieving the right look for a space comprising reception, open office, private offices, executive offices, conference room, studio, pantry and restrooms required close attention to detail. The exposed waffle slab became a major element in the design of the open area, creating a strong pattern in the ceiling. In addition, a furniture plan was devised to incorporate furniture, art and antiquities that Assouline would relocate. Open and enclosed offices were carefully aligned to balance skyline views with book displays and bookshelves. A color scheme featuring Assouline’s signature taupe provided the finishing touch to this one-of-a-kind environment.

9 11 13 15 Schwartz & Benjamin New York, New York

Schwartz & Benjamin is a family-owned footwear licensing company founded in 1923. Working with such leading brand- name fashion houses as Kate Spade, Rebec- ca Minkoff, Alice+Olivia, and Derek Lam, Schwartz & Benjamin serves retailers, dis- tributors and consumers in North America, Europe and Asia. The company’s recently completed, three-floor, 15,000-square foot New York office, housing 40 employees in sales showrooms and a product development studio, was designed by BR Design Associates to support its roles as a designer, manufacturer, importer and distributor. Schwartz & Benjamin represents multiple businesses with strong brand identities. The project’s chief design problem was to create a unified, cohesive gallery-like space where the different partners occupy sepa- rate galleries within the architectural enve- lope. The space includes showrooms, open offices, private and semi-private offices, conference rooms, open storage, print/copy areas, reception, lounges, pantries and elevator lobbies. The 9th floor houses the pro- duction team; on the 10th floor showrooms share space with reception, customer pantry and offices for brand management, and the 11th floor pairs showrooms with offices for executives and sales team members. Together they show how effectively color, lighting and furnishings can differentiate the perception of space.

17 19 21 23 Neoscape New York, New York

How do you instill excitement in the marketing of a product that is large, immobile and likely to outlast any customer? That the real estate business has come a long way in the digital age is demonstrated daily at Neoscape, a real estate marketing agency founded in 1995 with offices in New York and Boston. Clients visiting Neoscape’s new office in New York’s Garment District, designed by BR Design Associates, will im- mediately appreciate the impact that 3D il- lustrations, branding and design, Web and interactive communications, virtual reality and film can have on real estate. In a one- floor, 6,200-square foot facility for 30 employees--comprising an open plan office, semi-private offices, conference rooms, reception area, lounge, pantry and restrooms, Neoscape uses cutting-edge technologies and strategies to create branded experi- ences that clients never thought possible. The space features white walls and ceilings, such raw materials as reclaimed wood, black-painted steel, concrete floors and exposed ductwork, to enhance the loft style, craft based aesthetic desired by Neoscape. The space clearly supports employees working with monitors at their workstations. Yet there are also numerous appealing al- ternative venues where interaction and collaboration are encouraged. For staff and clientele alike, it’s a great place to watch the future of real estate marketing emerge.

25 27 29 Square Mile Capital New York, New York

Square Mile Capital Management is recognized as a leading investment manager serving institutional and private investors by successfully investing in commercial real estate at all points in the market cycle. They commissioned BR Design Associates to renovate its one-floor, 10,000-square-foot office in midtown Manhattan. Square Mile requested a new professional environment that would be si- multaneously modern and timeless. To satisfy the company, the design team created a contemporary workplace for the reception area, private offices, open office areas (featuring custom open desking workstations designed by BR Design), conference rooms, lounge, pantry, restrooms and elevator lobby. The design incorporates such timeless materials as wood, stone, carpet and glass. It also includes such modern flourishes as wood wall paneling accents that are characterized by slender, hor- izontal bands alternating with deep reveals, and floor-to-ceiling glass walls and doors for all enclosed spaces to enhance the sense of openness and to infuse corridors and interior spaces with daylight and views. Handsome classic mid-century modern furnishings, cool, minimal architectural lighting fixtures, and an eclectic sampling of contemporary art make the space effective and comfortable. Thus the 30 employees of Square Mile are able to focus their attention on real estate investments opportunities in major markets across the nation.

31 33 35 High Line Residence New York, New York

New York’s High Line is a 1.45-mile-long lin- ear park built on an abandoned New York Central Railroad elevated spur running along Manhattan’s West Side from the Meatpack- ing District north to the West Side Yard. It is a unique and mesmerizing public amenity born of urban archaeology and landscape architecture and has made its presence unmistakably known. While millions of visitors stroll among its meticulously cultivated plantings, the historic commercial neighborhood is witnessing a massive surge in real estate development. The 2,730-square-foot High Line Residence designed by BR Design Associates gives the client an appropriate contemporary space in this rapidly trans- forming community. It is ideal to entertain and showcase a modern art collection by providing a gallery, living/dining room, kitchen, master bedroom suite, guest bedroom and bathroom, den and balcony. The space is designed to be savored from afar and close up. Within a finely crafted architectural interior of wood, leather, metal and stone are open spaces with generous outdoor views framed by fine contemporary furnishings, including many bespoke pieces designed by BR Design and the Uhuru workshop. There is specialized lighting for the art collection and architectural details such as a handsome metal feature wall--a tantalizing vision of 21st-century urban living.

37 Ion Media Networks New York, New York

What kind of workplace befits a U.S. television broadcaster with 60-plus stations reaching 260 million viewers? A visit to the New York office of Ion Media Networks, a two-floor, 30,000-square-foot space designed by BR De- sign Associates, reveals that it is open, versa- tile and memorable. BR Design, designer of Ion’s previous New York facility, was retained to create an open environment for employee interaction and corporate branding. The new office, typified by low-paneled workstations and glass-enclosed private spaces, displays captivating focal points and original details. Along with such basic accommodations as the reception area, open and private offices, and conference rooms are such destinations as the staircase, breakout area and main conference room. The staircase, framed by a glass- and-stainless-steel guardrail, is crowned by a glowing soffit with a spectacular custom lighting fixture of metal mesh drapery, ideal for social encounters. The breakout area, adjacent to the staircase, is enclosed by a graceful, curving folding/stacking wall system, an outstanding way to accommodate special events. The main conference room can “disappear” at will thanks to switchable glass technology providing privacy when needed. Even the color scheme makes a statement, mixing a predominately white palette with white maple and Ion’s corporate blue to paint an ethereally beautiful landscape.

39 41 43 45 McCann Erickson Detroit, Michigan

Sometimes the best way to get a fresh per- spective on life is to move. That’s one of the benefits of McCann Erickson Detroit’s relo- cation from Troy, Michigan’s second largest city, with 80,980 residents (2010 Census) and the headquarters of numerous automotive and financial companies, to Birmingham, an affluent Detroit suburb with a population of 20,103 (2010 Census) where wealthy Detroit families have lived since its incorporation in 1864. The 350-person advertising agency is part of McCann-Erickson Worldwide, a global advertising agency with offices in 130-plus countries. They serve such major clients as General Motors and Chevrolet from a three-story, 90,000-square-foot office, designed by BR Design Associates, in a former department store. In its private offices, open-plan workstations, conference rooms, reception area, café and support facilities, McCann Erickson enjoys a lively, open, interactive environment. A central vertical circulation well, incorporating existing escalators and a new, bleacher-style stairway that doubles as a meeting area, also encourages collaboration. Appointed in terrazzo, flooring, glass walls, and classic modern furnishings, the one-time store now sells ideas as its merchandise. This allows the venerable advertising agency, founded in 1902, to work more effectively with GM, its top Motor City client, founded just six years after McCann Erickson.

47 49 Cache’ New York, New York

A high-end women’s clothing chain that helped popularize Armani fashions in the United States, Caché commissioned BR Design As- sociates to design its five-floor, 75,000-square- foot headquarters in New York’s Garment Dis- trict. It was designed to evoke the shopping experience in its flagship store on the city’s Upper East Side. Affluent women shoppers reveled in the effect that marble, gold sheer curtains, wood paneling and gold-painted ceilings had on the merchandise at the store. Subsequently, the design team included these materials in dressing a workplace where luxury, comfort and the overall feeling of softness could co-exist with the hustle and bustle of business management. This strategy produced a lively, front-of-house versus back-of- house contrast. Private offices, open workstations and conference rooms were utilitarian white spaces where glass walls, polished concrete floors, carpet and exposed ceilings en- hanced the work experience. A consistent pal- let of furnishings and architectural elements unifies the offices which are spread out over 5 floors. The neutral tones of the concrete floors and light painted walls allow fashion designers to create their designs in a gallery-like setting. By contrast, the company café was conceived as a multi-functional, public gathering place. A softly lit space with banquette seat- ing and stylish modern furnishings let Caché transform it into a chic venue for presentations and entertaining. The design represented yet another Cinderella story in an industry that loves retelling the tale again and again.

51 53 55 BR Design Associates New York, New York

Trust an accomplished, award-winning interi- or design firm to know when and why its workplace no longer works and what to do about it. BR Design Associates recognized that it was time for a new home when its fragmented existing space seriously impeded the teamwork and internal communication that drive its activities. The new, 5,000-square-foot studio, located in the landmark Film Center Building, clearly promotes collaboration. Its studio places most employees in open office benching, with the private executive office employing a glass wall and door to preserve the open feeling. The composition incorporates polished concrete floors and an exposed slabs to add character to cool white walls, ceilings, furniture and finishes, black window treatments, carpet tile and pin-up boards, and white marble counters in the pantry and the library. The overall environment feels clean, crisp and invigorating. An artistic gesture does appear in the curving wall with a backlit BR Design logo that greets visitors. Yet it is also a cost-effective gesture that generates a natural flow into the office, one of many reassuring signs that good design supports a client’s culture rather than a designer’s ego.

57 59 61 63 Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer & Katcher New York, New York

Leading professional firms in such fields as law, accounting, advertising, public relations, investment banking and design know their clients well, and their workplaces show it. For Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher, an award-winning public relations firm spe- cializing in strategic financial communications and investor relations, the commission it awarded to BR Design Associates was for its one-floor, 27,000-square-foot New York office. It functions as a dignified, serene and well-tailored corporate setting where boards

of directors could deal with activist investors DN or senior executives could map out M&A PLOTTER strategy. That is exactly what awaits employees and clients. In what could easily be a Fortune 500 company’s headquarters, BR Design has conceived a contemporary environment. The space comprises a reception

area resembling a university club lounge, DN handsome perimeter offices and conference rooms enclosed in floor-to-ceiling glass, simple open workstations discreetly bordered by frosted-glass-topped partitions, and an informal pantry suited to lively give and take conversations, all encircled by stunning views of the New York skyline. As could be expected, every design detail has received close attention. The careful zoning of activities, the selection of quality materials and classic modern furnishings ensure the facility can perform as flawlessly as the firm itself.

65 67 69 71 SumAll New York, New York

Do you know what your data is saying about your business? If companies depended on just a handful of data streams, assessing the health of their business would be a relatively uncom- plicated task. However, comprehending an organization’s online wellbeing in today’s business climate requires monitoring and analyzing a broad spectrum of streams, such as Twitter, MailChimp, Google Ads, Fitbit and Zendesk. SumAll is a cross-platform marketing analytics firm built around a powerful data analytics tool that lets its customers view all their data in one simple, easy-to-use visualization, bringing together social media, email and traffic data. At present, some 350,000 businesses employ SumAll’s services. Keeping the focus on clients’ needs is clearly the point of SumAll’s new, one- floor, 12,700-square foot office, designed by BR Design Associates for over 75 employees, in Manhattan’s Financial District. The accommodations, including an open office, private offices, conference rooms, reception area, lounges, pantry and restrooms, are open, spacious and almost Zen-like in their rigorous austerity. Con- crete floors, high-quality furnishings, industrial style lighting, and a white color scheme using primary colors to introduce drama give employees the support they need for individual effort and group activity as they “unlock and democratize data for everyone.”

73 75 Cooper Robertson New York, New York

Founded in 1979 by Alexander Cooper, FAIA, and reorganized as a partnership with the ar- rival of Jacquelin Robertson, FAIA and FAICP in 1988, Cooper Robertson is an award-winning, New York-based architecture and urban design firm. They have completed many distinguished projects including the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, New York, the Duke Cancer Center at Duke Univer- sity Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, and the Long Range Development Plan for the University of California, Santa Cruz. Be- cause Cooper Robertson strives to wed prac- ticality and professional rigor with art and design in its work, it asked BR Design Associates to design its one-floor, 12,700-square-foot office in the Financial District. They commissioned an open, airy and contemporary space contrasting minimal, crisply detailed architectural forms and furnishings with an exposed ceiling. Of course, the appealing simplicity of an exposed ceiling typically requires consid- erable effort to achieve. The office’s top floor location contained a large amount of plumbing and equipment that was re-routed and coordinated with new infrastructure to create the desired look. The resulting facility for 60 employees, comprising an open office, private offices, conference rooms, lounge, pantry, reception area and restrooms, appropri- ately showcases both design and technology.

77 79 81 83 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia New York, New York

The one-story, 150,000-square-foot New York office for some 500 employees of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia doesn’t resemble the domestic settings that appear in the media company’s books, magazines, catalogues, television programs and product packaging. However, it has been planned, designed and constructed with the same meticulous care. BR Design, serving in the role of associate architect to the firm of Daniel Rowen Architect, has provided space planning, design development, construction documents and project management for this ambitious facility. Lo- cated within the Starrett Lehigh Building, an Art Deco-style industrial landmark structure, the award-winning space uses an “open architecture” approach to planning that preserves much of the powerful, original interior architecture. Yet the design provides maximum flexibility and deep penetration of natural light

and views to such facilities as photography DN UP studios, test kitchens, prop library, woodwork- ing shop, merchandising center, computer facilities, and open plan and private offices. The offices themselves are specially configured to maintain the overall feeling of openness. For example, a custom made workstation for open areas has been created from an industrial “kit of parts” to encourage communication and collaboration. As for private office spaces, they are located along the interior with full- height glass fronts to take advantage of the inward transfer of natural light. Quite impres- sive for a behind the scenes workspace that the company’s customers will never see.

85 87 89 Tai Ping Carpets New York, New York

In the course of five decades, Tai Ping has won a well-deserved reputation as a world- class, Hong Kong-based custom carpet and rug company. They offer products for luxuri- ous and prestigious interiors ranging from hotel and residences to yachts and private jets to customers in more than 100 countries To establish a higher profile in the lucrative U.S. market, the company opened a new flagship showroom in New York, designed by BR Design Associates, as associate architect and project manager, and Baird Design, as design architect. The one-floor, 12,000-square-foot facility, arranged in a front office-back office configuration comprises private offices, open- plan workstations, a design studio and a tea- room in addition to a showroom. The plan displays a modern sensibility, based on artistic innovation and state-of-the-art technology that also honors the company’s historic roots in Chinese culture, focusing on the tradition of handmade carpets. Inside the elegant, white interior, shaped by cast-iron columns, exposed brick vaulted ceilings, glass and drywall partitions, wood strip floors and class modern furnishings, the rich colors, textures and pat- terns of Tai Ping’s rugs and yarns resonate like works of art. Not coincidentally, that’s how Tai Ping hopes that architects, interior designers and consumers see its carpets and rugs.

91 93 95 Greenwich Residence Greenwich, CT

Who could resist the funky, tree house spirit of the three-story (plus loft), 1960s single- family house in Greenwich, Connecticut that a family retained BR Design Associates to up- date? The family’s objectives were straight- forward: modernize the plumbing, open up closed-off areas, create a second-floor master suite, and transform the first floor into an open space for entertaining. Fortunately, the house was sturdily constructed and well maintained, with a two-story entry and living room highlighting a bright, airy interior. BR Design’s challenge was to introduce contemporary technology, accommodations and amenities while preserving the wood structure’s original character. The completed renovation produced a remodeled kitchen, new guest bath, and new wine room for the first floor. On the second floor: new, cable- strung stair, elevated walkway and mezza- nine, and new master suite, comprising bedroom, bathroom and dressing room were created. A new guest bathroom for the third floor, and a new, second-floor dormer and paint for the exterior completed the project. The resulting space was fresh and timeless, artfully blending new construction in wood, stone, tile and glass, new furnishings and a sparkling array of new, custom lighting fixtures. The existing interiors and the family’s collections of modern art and Mid-Century furnishings completed a warm, stylish, year- round tree house for the young at heart.

97 99 101 103 105 Cake & Arrow New York, New York

A flourishing digital customer experience and e-commerce agency, Cake & Arrow (for- merly Alexander Interactive) handled the renovation of its one-floor, 15,000-square- foot office in New York’s Flatiron District like a typical assignment. They prepared a shopping list of goals and commissioned BR Design to design the renovation. In a direct response to the company’s specific requests--and its proud, quirky identity--the award-winning scheme distributes small meeting rooms and touchdown spaces throughout the floor to give the staff multiple workplace options. Additionally, it offers flexible furniture arrangements for future scenarios, re-imagines existing private offices and large conference rooms with glass walls, and exposes concrete floors and ceilings to encourage informality and creativity. It even introduces such elements of fun as a vintage pool table, media area featuring video games, “floating” counter anchored between columns for staff gatherings, and graphics celebrating “Mayor” Jack, the company’s beloved mascot French bulldog. It is a fresh, informal and vivacious workplace that combines efficiency, flexibility and humor. Here 50 employees can find appropriate accommodations among the private offices, open workstations, conference rooms, meeting rooms, touchdown spaces, pantry and a “stadium” area for company-wide meetings and presentations. Reports Alex Schmelkin, the company’s CEO, “We’re lov- ing the new space.”

107 109 111 Winklevoss Capital New York, New York

Where start-up enterprises begin their pre- carious infancy is no mystery to the venture capitalists financing them to find the Next Big Thing. So when Winklevoss Capital Man- agement, founded by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, retain BR Design to help create a one-floor, 5,000-square-foot office for 30- plus people in New York’s Flatiron District, they decisively addressed the issue. As Tyler Winklevoss told The New York Times, “We recognize in New York there’s difficulty in bridging that gap between working in Star- bucks or your living room and actually having the money to get your own space.” The new, contemporary facility, comprising an open office with bench-style workstations, large conference room, small conference (“huddle”) rooms, pantry/meeting area and DJ booth/ bar as well as private offices for the Winkle- vosses, functions as an “incubator.” Here, start-ups in the company portfolio can grow before investing in their own offices. Featur- ing exposed ceilings and building systems, open workstations, glass partitions, industrial lighting, carpet tile and wood floors the high- tech space deliberately resists being all work and no play. Playful touches include a refined, white-and-gray color palette spiked with pink, an array of classic modern furnishings, iPad- driven environmental controls, and the DJ booth/bar, which brings after-hours events to life for staff and visitors.

113 115 117 119 Elite Daily New York, New York

Determined to create nothing less than an online news publication to disrupt traditional media and speak authentically to Millennials, David Arabov, Jonathon Francis and Gerard Adams founded Elite Daily in 2012 with a team of six employees. Today, Elite Daily has a staff of 150 reaching an audience of over 74 million from a new, one-floor, 20,000-square- foot office, designed by BR Design Associ- ates, in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. Despite its swift ascent--Elite Daily was ac- quired by Daily Mail in 2015 and now operates as a subsidiary of DMG Media Invest- ments Limited. The news portal develops its various videos, articles, documentaries and other information about such topics as news, life, dating, women, money, sports, humor, envision, entertainment, politics, food and culture within a surprisingly understated environment. The facility balances an open main workspace with enclosed conference rooms for meetings and social gatherings. Lounge areas and a beer garden, reception area and pantry fulfill the organization’s other needs. Characterizing the nano-second pace of today’s digital commerce, BR Design handled the design as a phased project to cope with a fast-approaching move-in date. Thus the main workspace was designed, installed and opened for business before the remainder of the office was completed.

121 123 125 Edward Fields Carpet Makers New York, New York

Renowned custom carpet maker Edward Fields (1913-1979) liked to declare that there was “no limit to carpet design.” Fortunately, luxury carpets and rugs like those Edward Fields Carpet Makers created for Hollywood stars such as Princess Grace of Monaco and Mary Tyler Moore as well as U.S. Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon and Johnson will continue to dazzle architects, designers and their clients. The company’s new, one-floor, 5,000-square-foot Manhattan office, design studio and showroom, designed by BR De- sign, helps ensure this. The facility’s opening comes at an important moment for the company, which was purchased in 2005 by Tai Ping Carpets, a Hong Kong-based custom carpet manufacturer. A new branding campaign cel- ebrates the steady commitment to Field’s cre- do of every product being bespoke, tailored to the exact aesthetic vision and practical re- quirement of the customer. BR Design’s solu- tion shrewdly underplays the physical environment, which is characterized by a neutral color scheme, wood millwork, concrete floors, Mid- Century modern furnishings and track lighting. This serves to showcase the carpets and rugs--thousands of samples are stored here-- in all their splendor. The new setting prompt- ed a company official to comment, “Due to the new branding and identity of the showroom, sales have increased dramatically.”

127 129 131 Digital Evolution New York, New York

Consumers now expect advertising campaigns for print and motion to arrive rich in content and flawless in execution, giving firms such as Digital Evolution a vital, behind-the-scenes role in advertising. Digital Evolution is a digital pro- duction firm serving direct brands, advertising agencies and photographers with retouching, computer-generated imagery (CGI), animating, color grading and visual effects (VFX) services. While the public may be unaware of Digital Evo- lution, the firm’s clientele includes such well- known brands as Michael Kors, Mini Cooper, La Mer, Bose, Sprite, David Yurman and Tom- my Hilfiger. Its recently completed, one-floor, 12,700-square foot office in New York’s Finan- cial District, designed by BR Design Associates, lets 60 employees concentrate on their monitors in an open office with benching furniture. In an environment of concrete floors, reclaimed wood, glass office fronts, exposed ducts, accent lighting and contemporary furnishings in black and gray hues with punches of red, the staff has ample opportunities for both focused, individual work and group activity. The setting gives the private and semi-private offices, conference rooms, reception area, lounge, pantry and elevator lobby an open, dynamic, forward- looking image. Clients even sample the excitement of Digital Evolution every time they enter the elevator lobby’s color-changing lighting.

133 135 137 139 1440 Broadway New York, New York

Manhattan’s vibrant commercial real estate market has witnessed countless renovations of existing structures to new occupants and purposes, during four centuries of color- ful history, including 1440 Broadway. This 25-floor, 756,000-square-foot office building, originally designed by Starrett & Van Vleck, completed in 1925 and recently updated by Moed de Armas & Shannon, stands in the heart of the Times Square neighborhood. To interest a variety of clients in the renovated property, the building management retained BR Design Associates to plan and design a one-floor, 22,000-square foot pre-built office that would help companies visualize how they might occupy the space. The designers employed spacious proportions, contemporary detailing, playful lighting, striking visual graphics, and an eclectic palette of materials. Utilizing exposed concrete, subway tile, reclaimed wood, stainless steel, plastic lami- nate and carpet tile, BR Design produced an environment that was both highly functional and aesthetically pleasing. Among the accommodations provided in the scheme were an open office, private offices, conference rooms, reception area, pantry and elevator lobby. Special emphasis was given to lighting, featuring lively, repeating red pendants, black accent pendants, and over- sized brushed stainless steel domes. Careful attention to form and detail was rewarded with the prompt signing of a lease.

141 143 145 Galvanize New York, New York Currently under construction The digital economy’s rapid evolution is de- manding new forms of knowledge and skill, making such organizations as Galvanize, Inc. vital as educational resources. Founded in 2012, Denver-based Galvanize operates a network of urban campuses. Here, students, entrepreneurs and established companies can access needed skills, workspace and networks to reach their goals in Web development, data science and data engineering. Its New York campus designed by BR Design Associates is a two-floor, 50,000-square-foot facility scheduled for completion in 2017. A former candy factory is converted into a lively environment where the two principal areas, dedicated to school- ing and co-working, form one unified space. Like other technology-oriented offices, Gal- vanize prizes flexibility, using a folding wall, community spaces, open workstations and scattered meeting areas to provide a variety of environments. But the space is anything but generic. Besides an LED-illuminated “tunnel” the designers created to connect the two main areas, there are such gestures to New York City as a staircase inspired by cast iron sidewalks, learning booths made of colored glass replicating subway logos, a hidden original vaulted ceiling now left exposed, and a loading dock converted into a coffee shop to proudly celebrate the Big Apple’s role in the digital economy.

147 149 151 153 Ignition One New York, New York

One of the major challenges facing online businesses is how to turn curious visitors to their sites into paying customers. Ignition One, a marketing cloud technology firm, helps clients to effectively convert visitors and improve return on advertising spending and online rev- enue. By leveraging its proprietary engage- ment scoring engine and data management services, Ignition One measures historical and real-time behavior, identifying what products and services are most relevant to consumers UP UP #4 #3 STAIR STAIR DN and when they’re most likely to buy. The com- DN pany currently scores over 300 million users monthly in 55 countries through the efforts of 450-plus employees in 17 offices across 10 countries. For its one-floor, 20,000-square- UP foot office in Midtown Manhattan’s MetLife DN building, BR Design Associates designed a contemporary environment that combines a solid, corporate image with cutting-edge, Mil- lennial flair. This distinctive style is consistently DN DN #1 #2 STAIR STAIR articulated in such varied spaces as open of- UP UP fice areas, semi-private and private offices, conference rooms, reception area, break-out spaces, bar, pantry and game area. Minimally detailed furnishings, including classic Modern pieces, a neutral color scheme with bright accents, such basic materials as concrete floors, glass, stone, wood, carpet and upholstery, and cool architectural lighting provide finishing touches that inspire employees as much as they intrigue visitors.

155 157 159 161 Schwartz & Benjamin New York, New York

Schwartz & Benjamin is a family-owned footwear licensing company founded in Brooklyn as a shoe factory in 1923. Their latest New York office, a three-floor, 24,000-square-foot space combines executive offices, showrooms and product development studio. Previously, they maintained a two-floor, 10,000-square-foot facility comprising showrooms, design studio and product archive, that is shown here. Both installations are the work of BR Design Associates. The earlier workplace, a renovation of two floors that once housed art galleries, made use of its column-free, high-ceiling space to receive visitors in a memorable way by treating the company’s products as works of art. In setting the shoes against all-white, minimally detailed and gallery-like interiors, the design presented them as jewel-like objects that defined and anchored the spaces they shared with display fixtures and choice ex- amples of classic Modern furniture. The high- profile imagery continued with the bold, sculptural steel stairway that rose from a rock garden to lead visitors up to the corporate and design offices. Every showroom detail mattered, therefore, BR Design took care to have the interiors meticulously finished. The gray-and-white surfaces of concrete, stone, lacquer and wood form appropriate three- dimensional packaging for shoes by Kate Spade, Anne Klein and Michael Kors.

163 165 HC Technologies BR Design New York, NY New York, NY 10,000 SF 10,000 SF 2016 2000

T.Gluck Barnes & Noble New York, NY New York, NY 5,000 SF 100,000 SF 2014 2000

Deer Stags Data Broadcasting New York, NY New York, NY 15,000 SF 30,000 SF 2012 2000

Benhar Merill Lynch New York, NY Chicago, IL 7,500 SF 100,000 SF 2006 1995

Gruntal & Co. Draft Worldwide New York, NY New York, NY 300,000 SF 60,000 SF 2005 1995

Somerset Sullivan & Liapakis New York, NY New York, NY 5,000 SF 5,500 SF 2005 1993

167 CREDITS

1440 Broadway Edward Fields Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Photographer: Tom Sibley Photographer: Eric Laignel GC: Americon Construction GC: Alex Wolf & Sons GC: Lehr Construction MEP: Ampbrosino, DePinto & Schmieder MEP: AKF Group MEP: Consentini Associates Consulting Engineers

Alexander Interactive Elite Daily Schwartz & Benjamin Photographer: Tom Sibley Photographer: Tom Sibley Photographer: Rebecca McAlpin GC: AJS Construction GC: Stepping Stone Construction Management GC: Icon Interiors MEP: Guth DeConzo Consulting Engineers MEP:Jack Green Associates MEP: MG Engineering

Assouline Galvanize Schwartz & Benjamin Photographer: Tom Sibley Rendering: Gene Pahlmann Photographer: Mark Ross GC: Cohen Brothers GC: Stepping Stone Construction Management GC: MBI Group MEP: Jack Green Associates MEP: MG Engineering MEP: Cosentini Associates

BR Design Highline Residence Square Mile Capital Photographer: Tom Sibley Rendering: Gene Pahlmann Photographer: Tom Sibley GC: Stepping Stone Construction GC: Icon Interiors Management Ignition One MEP: Cosentini Associates Photographer: Tom Sibley Cache GC: JRM Sumall Photographer: Tom Sibley MEP: MG Engineering Photographer: Tom Sibley GC: Envirochrome GC: Stepping Stone MEP: Jack Green Associates Ion Media Networks MEP: CFS Engineering Photographer: Tom Sibley Cooper Robertson GC: J.T. Magen & Company Inc. Tai Ping Photographer: Tom Sibley MEP: Cosentini Associates Photographer: Eric Laignel GC: Stepping Stone Construction GC: Alcon Construction Management Joele Frank MEP: Ampbrosino, DePinto & Schmieder MEP: CFS Engineering Photographer: Tom Sibley Consulting Engineers GC: Cohen Brothers Country Residence MEP: Cosentini Associates Winklevoss Capital Photographer: Tom Sibley Photographer: Tom Sibley GC: Justino Contracting McCann Erickson GC: JT Magen & Company Inc. Millwork: Bilotta Kitchen GC: Turner Construction

Digital Evolution Neoscape Photographer: Tom Sibley Photographer: Tom Sibley GC: Stepping Stone Construction GC: Stepping Stone Construction Management Management MEP: CFS Engineering MEP: Jack Green Associates