Firm： Ted Moudis Associates

Type： Commercial › Office

STATUS： Built

YEAR： 2013

SIZE： 10,000 sqft - 25,000 sqft

R.W. Pressprich had already selected the entire 12th floor and a portion of the 14th floor at 452 Fifth Avenue when they contracted Ted Moudis Associates to design their new office space. Our first task was to confirm their program and verify that the square footage they were contemplating would be sufficient. The program consisted of a “front office” component that included a reception area, an adjacent client meeting room and a guest office. This area would have a dual function as entertaining space. The balance of the space included a trading floor that could expand to up to 90 positions, management/research offices, a large multi-function meeting room, a café with a staff seating area, a data center and copy/supply area. There was also a requirement for two small office suites to house their asset management and accounting functions. The design brief included a focus on the trading environment; maximizing the natural daylight, ceiling heights and Bryant Park views.

During early discussions with RWP it became evident that they appreciated classic modern design. TMA’s design team also derived inspiration from the unique characteristics of the building itself. The resulting design combines the “saw-tooth” language of the façade of the building with materials and furnishings that are influenced by Mid-Century Modern design. As one steps off the elevators on the 12th floor, they are greeted by a minimalist lobby with a radiating pattern in the terrazzo floor designed to draw your eyes towards the main reception desk. A dark marble provides a dramatic, contrasting backdrop to the receptionist and the adjacent seating area offers the first glimpse of not only the views of Bryant Park but also a hint of the trading floor. On the opposite end of the elevator lobby, the dark marble is repeated and is etched with an oversized logo, creating a lasting impression as you leave the space.

The northwest corner of the floor became a natural location for the client entertainment area. Directly off of reception, this area is comprised of a meeting room, a guest office and a lounge area (complete with bar). The glass double sliding doors allow the meeting room to open up to the lounge creating the “Great Room” that the client desired.

Leaving reception, one steps onto the trading floor which is centered on the floor and exposed to the “saw-tooth” façade overlooking Bryant Park. The Head Traders (and some administrative staff) are in a raised ring surrounding the main trading floor. This change in elevation, combined with a ceiling design that mimics the saw-tooth language of the building architecture allowed the design team to maximize the ceiling height as well as, high-light the trading environment. The area along the north façade is furnished with lounge and meeting furniture arrangements that provide the traders with easily accessible teaming areas that could become future trading positions if required. The management offices are placed along the 5th Avenue side of the floor with full glass fronts allowing them full visual access to the traders. On the south side of the floor behind a wood feature wall that displays a world clock array, is the multipurpose staff meeting room. The café is also on the south side and is screened from the trading floor with a glass wall that displays a period photograph of “turn of the century” Wall Street which is where the company started.

The data center is housed directly above the trading floor on the 14th floor. This partial floor is also the location of the two small office suites for Asset Management and Accounting, as well as the Researcher’s offices. Again, the plan minimizes the amount of built rooms along the north side of the floor, locating open plan workstations and a satellite pantry along the saw-tooth façade.