Montroy Andersen DeMarco Designs Modern Open Offices for the United Nations in NYC

A multi-purpose lounge provides a new space for UNOPS staff to work, relax and socialize in. Photo: by Ajit Menon
A multi-purpose lounge provides a new space for UNOPS staff to work, relax and socialize in. Photo: by Ajit Menon

The modern workforce we’re a part of is incredibly mobile, and some careers and industries are more inclined to this fluid work style.

UNOPS, an operational arm of the United Nations (UN), is an organization that takes the idea of a mobile workforce to the next level. Providing logistical, technical, and management knowledge and support for the UN, many of the UNOPS’ 7,000+ personnel are spread across 80 countries and are busy working on multiple projects around the world.

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Architect Montroy Andersen DeMarco has completed the $2.6 million, 15,000 square foot office and operations center of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Manhattan. Photo: by Ajit Menon

In its New York City offices, UNOPS leadership wanted a new space that would nurture the contemporary way its teams were now working. It also needed to solve a spatial challenge their teams’ irregular work schedules presented; the UNOPS personnel include landmine removal specialists and development experts who frequently leave on assignments with short notice.

NYC-based A&D firm Montroy Andersen DeMarco (MADGI) designed the UNOPS’s new $2.6 million, 15,000 square foot office and operations center – a significant departure from the UNOPS’ previous NYC workspace.

“They came to us with a request to change to open plan, and this was a very big cultural change for their organization and the way they work,” said Shauna Dack, interior designer at MADGI. “People can shy away from that big a change, and the one thing we tried to do from the very beginning was to communicate closely with the UN staff through each phase of the project.”

UNOPS’ 3,700 square foot open plan office area with 70 workstations features adjustable height desks and a LED lighting system that adjusts to the amounts of natural daylight harvested from multiple windows. Photo: by Sasha Maslov
UNOPS’ 3,700 square foot open plan office area with 70 workstations features adjustable height desks and a LED lighting system that adjusts to the amounts of natural daylight harvested from multiple windows. Photo: by Sasha Maslov

Influenced by the UNOPS headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, a new open layout would reflect a shift in conceptual thinking about what the NYC office could be – from offering each UN team member “ownership of individual space” to that of “ownership of entire space.” The bulk of the office is now dedicated to shared amenities.

The project team removed traditional private offices and cubicles, and introduced a 3,700 square foot open work area with 70 sit-to-stand Haworth workstations, six 2 to 3 person carrels, and a handful of soundproofed offices for conference calls, meeting spaces or individual office space on an as-needed basis.

A conference suite, divisible from one large boardroom for 50 into three separate smaller conference spaces, provides the staff with tailoring options; two additional enclosed meeting rooms for up to 6 people and numerous touchdown work and collaboration areas round out the design layout. Meeting spaces feature extensive audiovisual systems allowing for teleconferencing with coworkers and other partners around the world.

MADGI’s design concept provided soundproofed booths for small meetings, quiet work, and conference phone calls. Photo: by Ajit Menon
MADGI’s design concept provided soundproofed booths for small meetings, quiet work, and conference phone calls. Photo: by Ajit Menon

The new UNOPS workspace offers its staff many amenities that were not available in its old offices. Located on the 14th floor at 708 Third Avenue in Manhattan, the new full-floor offices offer employees 3 outdoor spaces to relax or hold meetings in – a big upgrade from the UN’s old digs at the Chrysler Building.

A large multi-purpose lounge area and pantry provide new spaces for employees to work, relax and socialize in. A 150 square foot wellness/meditation/parenting privacy room features dimmable lights and furniture you can melt into. The office is also equipped with a shower and lockers for employees heading to or returning from field assignments.

MADGI selected neutral finishes with accents of blue in recognition of the UNOPS’s place in the greater UN family of organizations. Light wood floors and glass divider walls inject a modern, transparent quality – something the UNOPS sought to maximize in its new domain.

Floor plan for the new UNOPS offices in NYC.
Floor plan for the new UNOPS offices in NYC.

During furniture showroom tours, UN leadership expressed a preference for solutions centered on practicality and flexibility. The space features Haworth office furniture, along with Arper and Design Within Reach lounge and residential style furniture.

“They wanted to be able to pull apart the furniture to suit their needs at the time, and eventually chose to work with the Haworth solutions,” noted Ms. Dack.

A large multi-purpose lounge area and pantry provides an additional space for informal social events, presentations and meetings as well as access to an outdoor terrace. Photo: by Sasha Maslov
A large multi-purpose lounge area and pantry provides an additional space for informal social events, presentations and meetings as well as access to an outdoor terrace. Photo: by Sasha Maslov

Additional selections include:

> Tagwall glass office front system

>Modernfold Acousti-seal system 932 paired panel modular wall with a white board finish on all modular surfaces

>Filzfelt acoustical panels in the privacy/meditation room

>Avant Contract carpet tile in the Glow style and Boulder color

>Forest Stewardship Council-certified European White Oak wide plank hardwood floor by USF Contract, Citadel collection, Bastion series, Chateau color, in the reception

>Schonox poured resilient flooring

>gypsum board ceilings in reception and main conference room

>Armstrong drop acoustical ceilings in offices and meeting rooms

The design team made many decisions with a focus on sustainability – a high priority for both MADGI and the UN. The new space is designed to meet LEED standards, should the UN pursue accreditation. MADGI situated the largest and most frequently occupied open office area nearest to windows to provide natural light for employees and reduce artificial lighting energy use. And, as part of an energy management system that harvests natural daylight, a linear LED lighting system includes lighting fixtures that dim when the daylighting is particularly bright in a space.

The new UNOPS office houses a conference suite that is divisible from one large boardroom for 50 people into three separate smaller conference spaces. Photo: by Ajit Menon
The new UNOPS office houses a conference suite that is divisible from one large boardroom for 50 people into three separate smaller conference spaces. Photo: by Ajit Menon

In addition to past projects, MADGI is currently designing two additional spaces for the United Nations in Manhattan – the UN Women office and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

“We spend a good amount of time working with nonprofits, said Ms. Dack. “And both types of clients are concerned with functionality on many levels, but nonprofits are especially tuned into this.”

UNOPS Project Manager Geoff Graves, who oversaw the design and construction efforts, was instrumental in bridging the work between MADGI design and UNOPS teams.

“This transition required an extensive collaboration with the staff and consultants, in order to ensure their needs were properly met from the early design phase onwards,” said Mr. Graves, in the project’s release announcement. “In addition, we had to ensure that the design achieved all of its functional and sustainability goals within the defined budget.”