Charter Communications is the second largest cable provider in the U.S. today. Its plans to continue its aggressive expansion required a newly reimagined corporate headquarters that would support a diverse, growing workforce with world-class design and workplace strategy.
In 2012, Charter Communications relocated its main offices to Stamford, CT from St. Louis, MO, and since then has become a leading corporate presence in the Stamford community. The new headquarters will be a 530,000 square foot, 15-story facility at the Gateway Harbor Point complex, and will accommodate around 1,500 employees.
“Committed to staying in Stamford, leadership at Charter Communications tapped HLW for the design, recognizing the firm’s expertise in large-scale workplace facilities throughout New York and Connecticut,” noted the project’s press announcement.
We spoke to Joseph Montalbano, principal of HLW, regarding the firm’s winning proposal, and were pleased to learn of the finer details of the proposal process.
HLW’s proposal is grounded by the concept of a vertical urban connected campus, and in creating unexpected moments of connection for employees. At the intersection of technology and entertainment, Charter occupies an elevated status in its market. Thus, the notion of having an executive presence, of having a reputation for taking technology to a new level, and to be on the cutting edge of innovation, was paramount.
“The entire proposal process was very design-driven, based around design ideas,” said Mr. Montalbano.“One of the big questions we wanted to address in our proposal was how to make a connector between the two buildings. At first, they kept referring to them as two separate buildings. During the proposal process, we wanted to shift away from thinking about these buildings as two different spaces. When you stop referring to them as independent buildings and instead say, ‘one space’, ‘one building’, you begin to envision one unified office.”

Ideas for a connector included an underground tube, a skybridge, or something at the plaza level between the two buildings. Charter settled on a plaza-level connector, and on the notion that the connector would be designed in the context of shaping a person’s first impression of the site and of the company itself.
The project’s investment in the community includes a Stamford first; the new headquarters is set to become the first commercial facility with direct access to the Stamford train station platform, allowing for an easy commute via commuter rail service.
“The plaza level connector will house many functions that will engage and/or be on display for the public,” said Mr.Montalbano. “What that means programmatically – we’re still defining.”
The building will feature flexible open floor plans with a robust balance of collaborative zones and conference rooms. Inside the towers, the design includes a series of open atria creating a large volume of open space connecting three-to-four floors.
Another piece of the HLW proposal that Charter leadership immediately connected with is the concept of a modern interior “billboard” located inside the multi-story atria.
“This idea of a ‘billboard’ creates an opportunity to be artistic in a subtle way,” said Mr. Montalbano. “And it was an opportunity to work with the Charter branding team.”
More than any one thing, Mr. Montalbano said that Charter was impressed with HLW’s confidence in moving in one specific direction.
“Within the proposal process, Charter requested many ideas that were more architectural-based. Charter’s identity is rooted in using a rational point of view, and a rational way of working through their options. And in our proposal, we wanted to tap into that, but having the conviction to pursue just one idea – the best idea – they recognized and really connected with our conviction.”
The new headquarters will offer an all-inclusive environment, with amenities including auditorium, full-service conference center, fitness center, and multiple amenity spaces centered around food – a café dining space, food settings in the atria, and a juice bar. HLW continued its urban oasis concept in developing opportunities for staff to enjoy the outdoors, in the form of multiple roof terraces.
“Charter’s commitment to Stamford itself is very unique,” noted Mr. Montalbano. “The building itself, set within the texted of their desire to engage the community of Stamford, speaks volumes about their organization.”