No matter the driver, a move is a deeply layered affair, intertwining financial, operational, human, and brand considerations. But out of this urgency lies an incredible opportunity. A move is a once-in-a-great-while moment to remake an organization’s physical presence, reshape its environs to match evolved work styles, and refresh its brand message to stakeholders.
For Knoll, a New York office move presented a particularly unique moment. As a company that has been at the forefront of space planning and workplace design for more than 75 years, a chance to implement its own experience and expertise was a defining opportunity.
New York City, where Knoll was founded, is home to an office housing the executive and design teams, the regional sales force, the marketing and communications group, and the company’s flagship showroom.
In 2004, Knoll moved into its Ninth Avenue office at the crossroads of Chelsea and the now-trendy Meatpacking District. “The under-developed neighborhood was an inexpensive, edgy location with vast floor space,” says Knoll CEO Andrew Cogan.
After nearly ten years and the expiration of a non-renewing lease, Knoll packed up its loft-style Ninth Avenue office and relocated to a glass-and-steel mid-century modern office tower in the heart of Midtown Manhattan’s bustling Sixth Avenue, also known as the Avenue of the Americas.
When preparing for an office relocation, a number of key considerations come into focus. Examining (1) financial and organizational priorities, (2) shifting work styles, and (3) rapidly changing technology are critical to successfully crafting a high-performing workplace:
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