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Woods Bagot was asked to create a flexible office space the staff that could also transform into an engaging event space for the various social functions hosted by the AAA throughout the year. Providing an overlay of hospitality to an office space environment, the design included movable furniture and fittings that do double- duty—a custom movable island adapts from a work surface to a bar and flexible window touchdown work space becomes a countertop for food and drinks. To create volume suitable for events, the ceiling was left exposed with strategic frame-outs around the steel beams. The clean, gallery- like ceiling also becomes a backdrop for the rotating Arts Fund program.

Australia based Sculptform provided a bent wood slat installation in the Welcome Area that evokes the undulating and layered Australian topography while creating a cocoon-like feeling of warmth. Organic and sinuous inlays within the flooring further evoke Australia’s landscape which is set against the contrasting and expansive views of midtown Manhattan via floor-to-ceiling windows.