Architecture Wonders Of 2008(Bloomberg Headquarters)

Bloomberg Headquarters, New York
STUDIOS Architecture, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, Pentagram Design
Bloomberg's new global headquarters almost looks more like a boutique hotel than a financial information office, with funky lighting and site-specific artwork. Beneath the glitz, however, is an ambitious idea about the relationships between design, information, and the Bloomberg brand. "We don't spend on advertising," explains Judith Czelusniak, head of public relations for Bloomberg. "We spend on our buildings and our environments, where we invite customers in to experience our product and our space."

Customers in New York will see 3,600 employees working in open offices arranged around a bustling atrium called the "Link," which reflects the breadth of the company's activities. One wall is dominated by a large media screen programmed by Pentagram Design to display numbers from Bloomberg's constant news feeds -- the information at the heart of the company's brand. Stairways, escalators, and lots of "breakout spaces" encourage interaction among employees and allow everything to happen in full view of visitors, who are almost always customers.