When Associated Press (AP) decided to relocate from its outdated headquarters on the West Side of Manhattan to a sleek, new space downtown, they charged TPG Architecture with bringing the company’s vision to life. Associated Press envisioned a space that would proactively complement its employees’ changing work styles while readily supporting AP’s range of programmatic needs, seeking a design that recalled the agency’s impressive heritage. TPG’s design solution married the integral foundation of the brand and innovative accommodations for the future of the industry.

The new, 172,300-square-foot open plan workspace is spread across three stories and a separate newsroom floor. Each space reflects Associated Press’ prestigious history while incorporating the technology needed to support the future of the media. The firm’s Strategy & Innovation team worked with AP through the change management process to better conceptualize a more open, team-centric workplace. Working collaboratively, the design team reduced both the quantity and size of offices, creating an open plan to better promote communication and improve the overall flow of information throughout the workplace, which is vital for a news organization. As a result, AP was able to reduce its office footprint by 40 percent.

An octagonal rotunda on the fifth floor serves as the hub-designed newsroom, which supports the flow of information to the editorial team at the center. Nothing short of symbolic, the central staircase acts as the focal point of the office, heightening the sense of connectivity and promoting cross-collaboration. The TPG design team drew inspiration from the transmission of data, and in doing so, decorated the staircase with thousands of hanging tiles mimicking the numerous news stories produced by the agency.

The office’s contemporary design makes effective use of natural light and transparency. TPG achieved this by maximizing exposure of the open office space to the perimeter windows, glass partitions, and coffered ceilings. A mix of formal and informal collaboration rooms, executive offices, and boardrooms are incorporated throughout while a café serves as a multipurpose space for large functions, such as tracking presidential elections and other breaking news updates. The office features many unique specialty spaces, including a 24/7 broadcast studio, a suite of green rooms and support spaces, and a data center. A nod to the Associated Press’ 170-year history and Pulitzer Prize-winning achievements is shown through gallery wall displays and a special area to house the organization’s extensive archive collection.

Material Used :

1. Paint: Benjamin Moore

2. Floor Material: Casalgrande Padana, Interface

3. Ceiling Material: Armstrong, USG

4. Furniture: Vitra, Emeco, Davis Furniture, West Coast Industries, Haworth, Nucraft, Arper

5. Bernhardt, Allermuir, HBF, Coalesse, Tuohy

6. Workstations: Herman Miller

7. Desk Chair: Knoll

8. Office Furniture (Executive Offices): Geiger

9. Textiles: Maharam, Stinson

10. Wallcovering: Carnegie

11. Memorial Wall: Amuneal

12. Lighting: Backlight