Wolf-Gordon Returns To Manhattan | New Office by Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis
After spending nearly 30 years across the East River in Long Island City, Queens, Wolf-Gordon has returned its corporate headquarters to Manhattan. The new office, designed by Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis (LTL Architects), is located at 333 Seventh Avenue in Chelsea.
Working within the spatial constraints of Manhattan real estate and the directive to create a 21st century office for today’s work styles, LTL Architects conceived of a unique sliding panel display system that would create a “town square” at the center of the office. The custom, blackened steel armature provides employees with a gallery-like setting that facilitates interaction with the design public, while maintaining functioning work conditions.
The system suspends a series of panels, which display over 40 Wolf-Gordon wallcovering and upholstery products and are easily updated with new product introductions. Its flexible design enables a more open, interactive setting or a “closed” version that separates the town square from surrounding work environments. The configuration can be customized for parties and receptions, casual work interactions and impromptu meetings, or training sessions, all based on how one arranges the sliding panels and furniture.
The materials and aesthetic established in this central space are repeated throughout the office and in its unique design library. The library, which is filled with a custom shelving system in the same blackened steel, houses Wolf-Gordon’s many catalogs, current and archival. Wolf-Gordon’s Bildenwood wood veneer in Silver Birch is used extensively on custom millwork for the reception desk, board room, library and wayfinding, as well as for a central corridor wall.
Wolf-Gordon products are present throughout the space. Highlights include:
- Each executive office, conference room and communal space features a wallcovering applied to a single wall, treating it as a singular plane and visual focal point. Wallcoverings were selected from the company’s renowned design collections by Laurinda Spear, Karim Rashid, Petra Blaisse, Boym Partners, Kevin Walz, Tsao & McKown and Tjep.
- Upholstery fabrics by Mae Engelgeer were used for the lounge and reception furniture, and Grethe Sørensen’s Millions of Colors was specified for the board room and executive office chairs.
- The seven panels of Wolf-Gordon’s 2013 Exquisite Wink project showcase original works on the theme of landscape by beloved architects and artists, including Michael Graves, Ali Tayar, Ben Katchor and Myles Karr, among others, and are showcased in various locations around the office.
- Wolf-Gordon collaborator and creative agency, karlssonwilker, inc. provided several contributions including a custom digital wallcovering for the reception area that is over-laid with Wolf-Gordon’s signature blue. Custom infographics offer way-finding and add an extra nod of design caché to the space.
- Acoustical drapery lines the inside of glass office and conference room walls. The company’s acoustical fabrics have also been applied to acoustical panel substrates and stretch the length of the open office benching system, providing additional sound mitigation beneath open ceiling ductwork.
By including these elements, along with Scuffmaster ScrubTough and Smooth Metal paints, and Wink clear dry erase coating, Wolf-Gordon and LTL Architects emphasize the company’s diverse and design-driven offering of commercial interior surfacing products.
Project Credits
Design Architect: LTL Architects: Paul Lewis, Marc Tsurumaki, David J. Lewis;Jessie Peksa and Antonia Wai, Project Managers; Sonia Flamberg, Project DesignerArchitect of Record: A/R Environetics Architects P.C.Client Project and Design Management: Rick Wolf, CEO; Marybeth Shaw, VP, Design & Marketing; Adam Sawczuk, IT ManagerContractor: 333 Seventh LLCCustom Millwork: New MotorCustom Display Fabrication: VeykoEnvironmental Graphics and Signage: karlssonwilker inc.Photography: Michael Moran
Materials
All Textiles and Wallcoverings: Wolf-GordonPaint: Scuffmaster ScrubTough and Solid Metal from Wolf-GordonWink clear dry erase coating: Wolf-GordonFurniture: Haworth, Vitra, BernhardtPorcelain Tile: PorcelanosaCarpet Tile: InterfaceAppliances: GE
Art
Panels from Exquisite Wink (2013) project drawn by: Snarkitecture, Ali Tayar, karlssonwilker, Boym Partners, Michael Graves, Myles Karr, Ben Katchor.
Wolf-Gordon is an American design company offering designers a wide range of interior surfacing products united by the common qualities of excellent design and dependable performance. Founded in 1967 as a comprehensive source for wallcoverings, its product line has since added upholstery and drapery textiles, paints, and Wink clear, dry-erase coating. Through its collaborations with leading national and international designers and in its Design Studio, Wolf- Gordon continues to develop new work that is provocative, inspiring, and of our time. Wolf- Gordon’s growing portfolio of licensed collections includes designs by Laurinda Spear, Karim Rashid, Petra Blaisse, Grethe Sørensen, Kevin Walz, the Boym Partners, and Frank Tjepkema. Wolf-Gordon sales representatives are based in all major markets in the United States.
