HLW completed a sleek and modern space for the Charter Communications headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.

HLW has a longstanding relationship with Spectrum Networks, with the Charter Communications office serving as just the latest of the firm’s projects in broadcast media. Completed in Summer of 2022, the firm led the design and architecture of Charter Communications’ new headquarters at 400 Washington Blvd. in Stamford, Connecticut, including the project’s 829,562-square-foot campus as well as the overall site and landscape design. Additionally, HLW was responsible for the full interior scope of the project, with lighting design services provided by the firm’s Spark division.

Charter had operated out of Stamford, Connecticut since moving its headquarters from St. Louis, Missouri in 2012, with 79 employees in the downtown area. Amid the surge in growth becoming the second largest cable provider in the United States, Charter needed a space that would meet the needs of its increased headcount, while anticipating its goals for the future. Charter Communications leadership, from the C-Suite to the project management team, identified the new office as an important opportunity to reflect on their commitment to Stamford and to their employees. With this in mind, Charter established an agreement with BLT Development to take prime tenancy at a new tower located immediately adjacent to the Stamford MetroNorth and Amtrak Station––facilitating the ease of mobility to and from the office.

As part of the agreement, HLW was enlisted to design a connecting structure that bridges two towers, 14 and nine stories respectively, to house over 3000 employees. The connector now serves as a welcoming point for every employee and visitor, encouraging the synergy between each distinct tower to flow seamlessly and come together as one. Further, the connector added a weight of presence to the new headquarters building, gaining the support of the City of Stamford Zoning Board, as well as the local community, as a suitable element for the southern “gateway” into the city along the I-95 and Northeast Corridor approach, welcoming visitors and residents alike to Stamford.

The project’s interior planning concepts were driven by Charter Communications’ robust program. HLW studied a variety of approaches to each floor taking program types, key adjacencies, end-users, and overall experience into consideration before landing on a final plan––establishing modularity and flexibility as a key part of the planning process. A neutral architectural palette consisting of light woods, natural stones, and warm accents create an open, airy, and enjoyable atmosphere for all. A standout experience of the campus is a large media wall greeting visitors upon entering the building. This media wall showcases Spectrum’s wide-reaching service footprint as well as employees both in the field and in their headquarters.

The first tower, which became occupied in May of 2021, features an executive suite on the top floor, along with a full-service cafe and grab-and-go food option and outdoor terraces for employees to enjoy fresh air during the work day. The second tower, opened in April of 2022, features a striking 94,000-square-feet of amenity space, including a two-level fitness center and juice bar to promote the wellbeing of employees. Overall, the program includes five food service points, a 250 seat broadcast-ready auditorium, a one-acre landscaped plaza, an amphitheater, and over 10,000-square-feet of landscaped roof terraces.

Design: HLW

Photography: Chris Cooper

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