Renowned advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy has developed a global reputation for innovative work datingback to their early Nike campaigns in the 1980s. Theagency’s Portland headquarters designed by AlliedWorks cemented Wieden+Kennedy’s position as apatron of architecture and continues to infl uence thedesign of their offi ces around the world. WORKac’sdesign for the agency’s 50,000 sq ft New York offi ceembraces urban density as its motto: a minimalcompression of individual work spaces that opens uproom for a gradient of diverse collective spaces.
The design for Wieden+Kennedy New York movesaway from the offi ce-as-playground to put work back atthe heart of creative work. After a foray into the history ofthe workplace, research revealed that while advertisingagencies have always been at the forefront of cuttingedgeoffi ce design, no single workplace trend hasreplaced those that came before. Rather, the ways thatpeople work have continued to evolve, layer and multiply.Because work at Wieden+Kennedy is highlycollaborative, WORKac designed the widest possiblerange of discussion spaces to accommodate meetingsand gatherings of varying size, privacy levels, andduration. Teams can choose to hold quick reviewsstanding up at 10 foot long “Over-The-Counter”blackened steel tables; have informal discussions inlounges with comfortable furniture and natural woodfl oors, raised to different levels to create a sense ofprivacy; or gather in the kitchens for working lunches.More traditional meetings can be held in conferencerooms that range in scale from smaller, intimate“Phonebooths,” to “Picnic-Table” meeting rooms thataccommodate up to 10 people to larger, formal “Widen-Long” conference rooms. Glass walls create a senseof lightness and transparency to the space. Clusters ofthese different meeting spaces are organized aroundgroups of 20-25 people in open offi ces, featuringpolished concrete fl oors.
A series of larger collective ‘moments’ are distributedvertically to serve as the connective tissue for theagency. These spaces open up views across the offi cethrough circular oculi that create the largest possibleopenings in the fl oor slab while minimizing structuralimpact. Connecting the 6 th & 7 th Floors, a circularshaped,walnut-clad “Coin Stair” features bleacherseating that can accommodate offi ce-wide meetings orinformal discussions below a spider-shaped structurethat transfers load from a removed column. On the 7thFloor, a white-tiled bar provides an opportunity for endof-day offi ce celebrations. Connecting the 7th and the8th fl oors, a perforated metal spiral staircase leads to agenerous bamboo-clad, library “den” on the 8th fl oor.To bring the outside in, a double-height space on the6th and 7th fl oors is combined with the removal of theexisting windows and a new interior storefront to createan outdoor park surrounded by blueberry bushes andvisible from the street. Completely wired for power, musicand wi-fi , employees can use the outdoor space to meet,eat lunch or even take a bi-weekly yoga class. On the7th Floor, inside the offi ce, a large, multi-purpose gymoffers additional space for interaction and recreation.The space doubles as a ‘black box’ to accommodate thewhole offi ce for lectures or fi lm screenings.
