Bold graphics and a tall media wall are among the features in the TPG Architecture-designed home office for North America’s National Hockey League, which spans five floors in a new skyscraper.
The project is located in One Manhattan West, a glazed, 67-storey tower designed by SOM. The building is part of an emerging mixed-use development atop railroad tracks in the city’s Far West Side district.
The NHL occupies floors 23 through 27, encompassing a total of 160,000 square feet (14,864 square metres). About 600 employees work in the office.
Local firm TPG Architecture – which has designed several NHL projects since the 1990s – aimed to create a flexible and high-functioning work environment that captures the spirit of the professional ice hockey league.
“We set out to develop a connected, tech-enabled workplace that showcases the NHL’s commitment to its players, fans and employees,” the architecture studio said.
“The result is an inspiring office that features memorable moments throughout, immersing both staff members and their guests into the League’s culture.”
The league was started in 1917 and consists of 32 member clubs – 25 in the US and seven in Canada. The organisation was formerly based in a tower on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan.
The new headquarters encompasses a range of spaces, including private offices, open workspaces, meeting rooms, media suites, social areas and a cafeteria that doubles as a “town hall”. The main entry and executive suite are on the 27th level.
To unify the different areas, the team used a black-and-white scheme with pops of colour – a move inspired by the NHL’s logo, which consists of a monochromatic shield.
Interior finishes include concrete flooring, beige carpeting and warm-toned wood.
Floors are connected by a feature staircase lined with an 18-foot-tall (5.5-metre) media wall. Games, graphics, social media feeds and staff announcements are showcased on the wall.
NHL memorabilia is found throughout the headquarters, including a wall with pucks signed by players, a partition made of hockey sticks, and a corridor lined with uniforms from the league’s member clubs.
One area features a freestanding glass pane with an etching of the Stanley Cup trophy.
“This area is great for visiting players to come in and take part in media interviews and other content-capturing activities,” the team said.
The work zones offer plenty of opportunities for group activities, which was somewhat lacking in the league’s former headquarters.
“We interspersed more collaborative environments to boost productivity,” the team said.
“Huddle booths, whiteboards with tabletop seating, and informal lounge areas are found throughout the office.”
Other spaces in the headquarters include a Player Safety Area, where games are monitored in real-time and video clips are created for disciplinary review. The office also has a newsroom, broadcasting studio and editing suites.
TPG Architecture was founded in 1979 and is based in New York City. Its extensive portfolio of office projects includes the conversion of a former tobacco factory in North Carolina into an advertising agency.
The photography is by Eric Laignel.