Bjarke Ingels Group Invites AD PRO Inside Its Brooklyn Office

Catherine Hong
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See the video.

Three years ago, on the heels of winning the commission for Two World Trade Center, Danish architect Bjarke Ingels did what many young creatives had done before him: He moved house, to Brooklyn. Specifically, the Dumbo neighborhood, where he purchased a waterfront penthouse. Clearly, the area has not lost its appeal; last year, Ingels moved his 250-person New York office from the Financial District to a building in Dumbo. Formerly occupied by West Elm, the 50,000 square-foot space at Two Trees Management's 45 Main Street marks the firm’s third New York location since the Danish architect established his first office in the city in 2011. Now, BIG is inviting AD PRO inside its space in an exclusive video tour with Kai-Uwe Bergmann, one of the firm’s New York–based partners.

“Dumbo is an obvious choice for BIG in New York City,” Ingels said in a statement. “The visual excitement and physical proximity to downtown Manhattan combined with Dumbo’s artistic spirit and access to public space feels like our native Copenhagen.” According to Bergmann, the new location, which is more than double the size of the previous office, provides the staff with much-needed “room to think.”

"We simply grew out of our old space,” says Bergmann. “We were finding ourselves increasingly cramped, and we didn’t have the room to make and display our architectural models.” The new location also represents a significant improvement to their staffers’ quality of life. “It’s not only Bjarke who lives here,” he says. “Eighty or ninety percent of our New York employees already live in Brooklyn.”

Spearheaded by BIG’s Amir Mikhaeil, Maki Matsubayashi, Florencia Kratsman, and Francesca Portesine, the project encompassed a complete renovation of the space over six months. Interior walls were removed to accommodate the open-plan design, which includes ample room for an architectural model workshop, an exhibition hallway, meeting rooms, a canteen, a library, a Ping-Pong table, and walkways wide enough to accommodate the occasional skateboard and Hoverboard. And, in line with what Bergmann calls the firm’s “holistic” approach to design, much of the furniture and lighting was designed by BIG for KiBiSi (a Danish collaborative design group made up of Kilo Design, BIG, and Skibsted Ideation). Bergmann gave AD PRO an exclusive first look at the new offices.

Tour BIG’s Headquarters

The reception desk features a clock by Stockholm-based art studio, Humans of 1982. The Brick sofa, a KiBiSi design, can also be found in the BIG offices in Copenhagen and London.
The reception desk features a clock by Stockholm-based art studio, Humans of 1982. The Brick sofa, a KiBiSi design, can also be found in the BIG offices in Copenhagen and London.
Photo: Max Touhey
Each conference room is furnished with Scoop chairs designed by BIG for Halle. “The color of the chairs designates the room,” says Bergmann. The red conference room is the largest and features lighting by Mooi.
Each conference room is furnished with Scoop chairs designed by BIG for Halle. “The color of the chairs designates the room,” says Bergmann. The red conference room is the largest and features lighting by Mooi.
Photo: Max Touhey
The exhibition hallway features deep plywood shelving built to house BIG’s extensive library of process models. “Before, we had to store many of these models in a facility in New Jersey,” says Bergmann. “But our designers use them for reference, and clients often ask to see them too.”
BIG took down all the internal walls to create an open-plan office. The seating is primarily organized by project; each team has its own section. The ceiling lights are from BIG’s Alphabet of Light series, a collaboration with Artemide.
BIG took down all the internal walls to create an open-plan office. The seating is primarily organized by project; each team has its own section. The ceiling lights are from BIG’s Alphabet of Light series, a collaboration with Artemide.
Photo: Max Touhey
”Model-making is a very important part of how we work,” says Bergmann. Located on the south side of the building, the new model workshop is nearly four times the size of the previous one and includes two large assembly areas, a woodworking room, and a digital fabrication lab with 3D printers.
The partitions of the bathroom stalls go all the way to the floor, offering maximum privacy. “We wanted all our spaces to feel generous,” says Bergmann. The faucets were designed by BIG for Kallista; the tile is original to the building.
The partitions of the bathroom stalls go all the way to the floor, offering maximum privacy. “We wanted all our spaces to feel generous,” says Bergmann. The faucets were designed by BIG for Kallista; the tile is original to the building.
Photo: Max Touhey
“Communal meals are an important part of BIG’s culture,” says Bergmann. “It’s very Danish.” Catered lunches are brought in for the staff four days a week. The Bulb Fiction light-sensitive pendant lights are by KiBiSi.
“Communal meals are an important part of BIG’s culture,” says Bergmann. “It’s very Danish.” Catered lunches are brought in for the staff four days a week. The Bulb Fiction light-sensitive pendant lights are by KiBiSi.
Photo: Max Touhey
Built in 1912, the building has a interesting place in New York manufacturing history. “It’s the home of the cardboard box,” says Bergmann. Scottish-born inventor Robert Gair made his fortune mass-producing cardboard boxes here in the late 1800s.
Built in 1912, the building has a interesting place in New York manufacturing history. “It’s the home of the cardboard box,” says Bergmann. Scottish-born inventor Robert Gair made his fortune mass-producing cardboard boxes here in the late 1800s.
Photo: Max Touhey
Communal outdoor space has been a signature of BIG’s designs from the beginning. “We consider the rooftop terrace as an extension of our office,” says Bergmann. “Our staff come up here to eat, to hold meetings, or just to think.” The 9,500-square-foot roof deck offers spectacular views of the Manhattan Bridge and lower Manhattan.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest

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