For 18 years, the 54th floor of the Empire State Building has been home to a part of the New York team of national architectural firm Corgan. However, after almost two decades, even an office in such an iconic building required a comprehensive modernisation. During the year-long renovation work, Corgan's office space in the Empire State Building grew from 18,714 square feet to 26,035 square feet. During this period, the company's aviation, data centre, and corporate interiors teams were temporarily relocated.
Now, the almost 150 employees of the office in the landmark that defines the New York City skyline are back and enjoying an entire floor that Corgan designed itself. Brent Capron, Studio Design Director at Corgan, explained that for most of the past year, they had left the building to strip out the entire floor. The office now accommodates up to 162 people. A key component of the expansion was the ability to adapt and modernise the range of amenities for future requirements.
The office is inspired by the famous building, which opened in 1931 as the world's tallest skyscraper. The interiors integrate Art Deco themes from the 1920s and 1930s while also incorporating original elements of the space, such as refurbished original elevator doors, exposed and painted riveted steel columns, and original 1931 terrazzo flooring rediscovered during construction. Capron explained that the team developed a concept called “Echoes of Deco”, representing a modern interpretation of the patterns and themes of Art Deco architecture. This is evident in the repeating vertical patterns, colour schemes, and mixed metals. The aim was to create a modern office that captures the spirit of the building.
The office on the 54th floor features a variety of refrigerators, snack storage options, and other small communal areas. There is a coffee machine around almost every corner. Furthermore, the redesigned floor offers a large cafeteria area with comfortable banquette seating, a large communal table, and counter seats with city views, ideal for a lunch break. The modernised 54th floor of the Empire State Building also houses an area for 3D model printing and laser cutting, as well as a media room for employees and clients. This is complemented by several phone booths, a lactation room, and a wellness room.
Sustainability also played a significant role in Corgan's redesign. Varun Kohli, Principal Director of Sustainability at Corgan, emphasised the “people and planet” approach. Primarily, the design was for their own employees, so a major focus was placed on healthy materials and alignment with ESG criteria. Corgan's design and sustainability teams worked closely to select materials, avoid certain substances, and reduce the carbon footprint of the materials used. Kohli stressed that sustainability in this and other projects is not an add-on but an integral part of the design.
