Office Spotlight: 55 Water St

Last year, VM Studio designed West Elms‘s new office along the East River in New York. We got the chance to speak with the designers and learn more about this impressive office.

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What’s the first thing someone would notice in this office?

VM Studio

A large double-height atrium framed in blacked steel and glass.  A community hub for the west elm team where they can gather for all hands meetings. It’s more than just a lobby. It’s a great place to greet guests. The atrium was achieved by cutting away heavy timber to create a soaring lobby and an employee cafe over two floors.

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What does this office say about the company you designed it for?

VM Studio

The West Elm brand ethos of ” Choice, Community and Consciousness” is at the core of VM Studio’s design for the company’s new office.  VM Studio worked with West Elm to create a timeless and sophisticated space – more like an art gallery than a trendy office environment. VM Studio wanted to develop an environment that celebrates and showcases the brand’s design aesthetic, one that incorporates custom artistic elements created by West Elm’s world design partners and local Brooklyn artists.

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Describe the layout of this office. How does this office design encourage creativity, productivity, and team happiness?

VM Studio

The layout is zoned into 6 areas. Each zone features one of the West Elm’s 6 new workspace furniture lines.  VM Studio assisted not only in the design of the space, but actually designed three of these initial furniture lines.  The finishes and architecture of each zone vary slightly to align with the furniture aesthetic. This creates a layered yet cohesive environment.  The sense of discovery as one moves from zone to zone and pride of place as each team has their own typology to work within.

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What does the space do best?

VM Studio

Creating a gallery feel in the dark warehouse was a challenge. The exterior walls are almost two foot thick masonry and there are very few windows in portions of the building.  The use of light shelves, reflective flooring and view corridors ensured that each window’s impact on the space was maximized and ensured the inherently dark warehouse was turned into a bright and airy space suitable for design teams and creatives.  It also enhanced the mesmerizing views of the East River and Manhattan skyline framed between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.    

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What went into choosing the colors and materials for the office’s decor?

VM Studio

It was important to ensure that the design capitalized on the mesmerizing views of the East River and Manhattan skyline framed between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.  Carefully selected elemental metals, blackened steel, copper and antique brass, concrete floors, and walnut paneling are woven into the historic space, reflecting materials featured in West Elm’s collections.  

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What is your favorite part of this office?

VM Studio

Like a large family with lot’s of kids…we have no favorites!  Well, we do, but there are just so many…The “Bridge” an internal breakout space where employees gather on couches with their laptops to stare at the mesmerizing water front views, the workrooms, where West Elm teams are creating their brand magic in highly customized and functional workspaces, the Spiral stair which takes the design team and drops them directly into the Mock Store below their desks. The grand stair and lobby which serve as Reception, Meeting Place, Presentation Space, and the heart of the company.  

Photographer: Garrett Rowland

Designer: VM Studio