The asset management giant BlackRock has released images of the interior design for its 120,000-sf Innovation Hub in Atlanta, which BlackRock moved into two years ago. That design, a collaboration with Perkins&Will’s studios in Atlanta and New York, is the first project in North America to follow BlackRock’s global design guidelines, which the design firm authored. P&W’s Branded Environments team also provided BlackRock’s Global Signage and Brand guidelines for environmental applications.
The office is located in midtown’s 725 Ponce development along the Atlanta BeltLine and across from the Ponce City Market. Brent Capron, interior design director at P&W’s New York office, calls this space “a testament to [BlackRock’s] long-term commitment in the city and its workforce.” BlackRock revealed its plans to expand into Atlanta with a new Innovation Hub in October 2018. At the time, it had 15 employees in the state, and its plans called for hiring up to 1,000 workers by 2024, according to various news reports at the time. The Wall Street Journal reported then that BlackRock would use $25 million in public tax breaks in support of its Southern expansion.
DESIGN ENCOURAGES COLLABORATION
The two-floor Atlanta iHub will eventually expand to four floors to accommodate BlackRock’s intended recruitment. Three core themes—the porch, the festival, and the crossroads—drive iHub’s design concept:
• The end of each floor has its own dedicated “porch,” with individualized murals and design expressions. The porch is meant to be where employees from both floors can congregate, as well as host clients and guests;
![iHub is designed for idea generation, in groups or individually.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/BlackRockAtl_1168.jpg)
• P&W has positioned iHub as a place that fosters idea exchanges. These “crossroads” also are meant to reflect (or at least suggest) Atlanta’s role as a transportation nexus that includes America’s busiest airport;
• Spaces that encourage impromptu meetings and collaborations also capture the “festival” design theme that echoes Atlanta’s culture and past. These areas are distinguished by flexible spaces, furniture, and lighting.
ART EXPRESSES A LOCAL POV
![iHub's reception area includes rugs with unique designs](/sites/default/files/inline-images/BlackRockAtl_0179.jpg)
Perkins&Will and BlackRock’s art curator Susan Frei Nathan engaged local organizations and artists to introduce an urban perspective into iHub. Artwork, in particular murals, tell unique stories about the city’s history and culture. Local artist Peter Ferrari created a frame and outline with employees invited to paint a small section each, further reinforcing a sense of communal ownership over the new office.
![One of the employee gathering areas within iHub](/sites/default/files/inline-images/BlackRockAtl_0877.jpg)
Rugs with their own origin stories specific to Atlanta adorn the office’s reception areas. The design team explored ways to celebrate the city’s long history of quilters, engaging local guild, the Brown Sugar Stitchers, whose chosen quilt design was used as the pattern generation and manufactured locally for the throw rugs in reception. “It was crucial that outreach to local creators and artists be not only proactive but extremely thoughtful and representative of Atlanta's identity,” says Jeanette Kim, senior project designer at Perkins&Will’s New York studio.
iHub is targeting LEED Gold certification.
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Oct 5, 2015
Zaha Hadid designs cylindrical office building with world’s tallest atrium
The 200-meter-high open space will cut the building in two.
Office Buildings | Sep 28, 2015
Simplicity and angularity define Renzo Piano’s design for Kum & Go’s headquarters
The new building is part of a downtown Des Moines, Iowa, redevelopment project, and is intended to echo the shapes of a nearby sculpture park.
High-rise Construction | Sep 3, 2015
Rafael Viñoly's 'Walkie-Talkie' tower named U.K.'s worst new building
The curved, glass tower at 20 Fenchurch Street in London has been known to reflect intense heat onto the streets below (in one instance damaging a car) and cause severe wind gusts.
Retail Centers | Aug 27, 2015
Vallco Shopping Mall renovation plans include 'largest green roof in the world'
The new owners of the mall in Cupertino, Calif., intend to transform the outdated shopping mall into a multi-purpose complex, topped by a 30-acre park.
Mixed-Use | Aug 26, 2015
Innovation districts + tech clusters: How the ‘open innovation’ era is revitalizing urban cores
In the race for highly coveted tech companies and startups, cities, institutions, and developers are teaming to form innovation hot pockets.
Office Buildings | Aug 25, 2015
JLL report: Tenant improvement key to attracting Millennials
Millennials have been the driving force behind the growth in renovation construction projects since 2013, according to JLL.
Office Buildings | Aug 24, 2015
British company OpenDesk offers open-sourced office furniture
Offices can “download” their furniture to be made locally, anywhere.
Office Buildings | Aug 24, 2015
North America’s real estate market is close to stabilization in cap rate pricing
The latest CBRE survey, covering the first half of the year, finds retail and hotel sectors experiencing the greatest compression.
Office Buildings | Aug 19, 2015
Good design can combat open-office issues
Three tricks to maintain privacy and worker production in a cube-less world, according to GS&P's Jack E. Weber
High-rise Construction | Aug 12, 2015
Construction begins for Kengo Kuma-designed twisted Rolex tower in Dallas
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma designs tower with gradually rotating floor plates for Rolex's new office in Dallas.