by Brianna Crandall — June 6, 2014—Spector Group, a metropolitan New York-based architecture and interior design firm with projects around the world, recently announced that it has designed a new corporate headquarters in Manhattan for Return Path, an e-mail intelligence company with locations worldwide. Serving as prime interior architect, Spector worked with Return Path to design the approximately 24,000-square-foot offices on the 41st floor of 3 Park Avenue. The company was previously located at 304 Park Avenue South.
“It was a pleasure to team with Return Path on the move, including coordinating the design and implementation of the project,” says Scott Spector, AIA, a principal at Spector Group. “The new headquarters gives a fresh face to the company and takes it from a more enclosed cubicle layout to an open plan with a perimeter benching system and plenty of communal spaces to foster creativity. Overall, it is a more collaborative environment and one that will serve the company well now and in the future.”
The new headquarters boasts many design highlights, including 360-degree views as a result of the building’s atypical positioning, and a “pixel-themed interior concept” brought to life through the use of carpet patterns, colors and ceiling materials. The facility also features conferences rooms located inboard to create a sense of privacy; smaller private and semi-private meeting and phone rooms in the office’s central core; and lively community areas, including a buzz lounge, library, café and game room and a “secret Zen room” to add a playful element to the space. This represents Return Path’s philosophy of being a “people first” culture.
“Return Path is routinely named a best place to work, and we want our offices to reflect the qualities that win those awards,” said CEO Matt Blumberg. “Creating a bright, open and collaborative space, particularly for our NYC headquarters, was essential to us. We knew we needed an architect that would understand what we were trying to achieve and find creative ways to make this a place people want to come to. Spector Group definitely understood our goals, and they designed a space that our employees really love. From the airy, sunlit café and lounge to the private phone booths, they have helped us to create a space that meets all of our employees’ needs throughout the day.”
An award-winning international architecture, master planning and interior design firm, Spector Group was founded 49 years ago by Michael Harris Spector FAIA, one of the industry’s most respected figures. Scott E. Spector AIA and Marc B. Spector AIA, NCARB, his sons, today lead the company, which has offices in New York City; Woodbury, New York; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and Mumbai, India. Ranked number six in 2013 by Crain’s New York Business, the firm has affiliate locations in New Jersey, Miami, San Francisco, London and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Featured in numerous journals, the firm has to-date received over 100 awards from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and has completed over 1,500 projects in 12 states, five foreign countries, and four continents.
