When NYC hedge fund firm Magnitude Capital came to New York-based A&D firm Spector Group with plans for a new corporate office, they requested that the new space focus on one inspiration: they wanted it to be effortless.
Effortless, like the word simple, is much easier talked about than accomplished, as designers of any discipline will acknowledge.

And, effortlessness can take many forms. The way Roger Federer plays tennis is effortless, and the way Michael Jackson recorded albums and performed on stage was effortless too – with obvious differences but both with the same remarkable grace. So too, with space. A nautical hospitality-inspired space can be effortless, though not quite the same effortless as a smooth, minimal Japanese-inspired space would be, and vice versa.
Coming off of a recent brand refresh, Magnitude Capital wanted its new offices to be open, inviting, elegant and unique – all underscored by this effortlessness, noted Marc Spector, principal, Spector Group.
“Effortlessness has a lot of verticals – layout, lighting, materials,” said Mr. Spector. “We needed to translate that concept to simplicity of materials, simplicity of lighting. Every piece has to flow together seamlessly.”
When the Spector Group design team first entered the new space, set atop 200 Park Avenue, spectacular views to the North, South and East immediately caught their attention; the Chrysler Building, in particular, commands attention.
“It almost feels like you could reach out the window and touch it – you can even see the detail of the metal,” said Mr. Spector. “It really became a piece of art within the Magnitude space.”
From that point forward, the Chrysler Building views informed the design thinking on all levels, from layout to materials and finishes, through to furniture.
“We thought, ‘Wow – how can we picture frame this view to work perfectly within this space?”
The 20,000 square foot office is anchored by a curvilinear core wall, which the design time used to create a fluid movement of circulation from entryway to wayfinding around the core and into the full office. Lining this core at the heart of the space are vertical walnut fins – millwork that guides users through to the office’s collaborative spaces, open workstation neighborhoods, meeting rooms, and communal kitchen area.
Spector Group designed the new offices to maximize collaboration, with just five private offices and several workstation “neighborhoods.”
“We lessened the footprint per person, and at the same time activated the floor plate for more people.”

The neighborhoods are reinforced by suspended ceiling “clouds” custom cut into shapes, referencing a city block atmosphere. In addition to anchoring each area within the large open plan space, the suspended ceilings also help ground the office in other ways.
“We didn’t want to compromise the height of the ceilings so that users could still enjoy them,” said Mr. Spector. “The suspended clouds allowed us to hide things we couldn’t otherwise, and also gave us the acoustical quality we needed.”
Spector designed all of the new workstations, which existed in an ‘L’ shape design in the previous office, using Steelcase height-adjustable benching workstations with simple under-desk storage. The open plan workstation neighborhoods are accompanied by conference rooms, phone booths, huddle rooms, and nursing rooms.
“We wanted them to define the circulation path,” noted Mr. Spector.
Spector expanded it use of glass to include floor-to-ceiling glass-fronted conference rooms and phone booth spaces, allowing sightlines to extend across main thoroughfares and through to windows.

Dining together is an essential part of Magnitude Capital’s culture, and the company provides lunch two times each week for its team members. To support that tradition, Spector group designed a food zone with two parallel serveries and space for 100 people to dine, lounge, and circulate through comfortably.
“We designed the food zone to allow four to five people to feel comfortable hanging out there, or 100 people to fit there comfortably as well, without losing the architecture of the space,” said Mr. Spector. “It allows people to linger and socialize, and that’s very critical to their culture.”
Just as the layout of the new offices underscores the views of the Chrysler Building, so too do the aesthetics and furniture. The space refrains from loud excess, because it doesn’t need it. Simple materials of stone and wood and a palette of neutrals and muted metals offer a softer, welcoming refinement. As requested by Magnitude, Spector fitted the space with classic furniture pieces, opting out of trendy, super contemporary choices.

Magnitude Capital is a superb example of letting a space breathe. The Spector Group design team listened to broad-scale requests from the client that could have resulted in a ream of missteps. Instead, the new offices are just what Magnitude asked for: inviting, refined, open and effortless.