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Rethinking the Workplace

Richard Unterthiner, RA

October 16, 2025

Rethinking the Workplace

At EDG, we believe the modern workplace should do more than serve function; it should express identity, respond to context, and evolve with the people who use it. Our 36,000-square-foot trading office for GTS, located in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood, embodies that principle. The design reimagines an office in a post-pandemic world as a space that nurtures focus, connection, and well-being as part of daily life.

From the optimized layout to the layering of materials, light, and form, every design element stems from a simple, spatial motif: performance and presence must coexist.

Contemporary office hallway with wood archways, recessed lighting, light wood flooring, and a clean, minimalist design leading to open office spaces.

Modern office interior with a curved glass meeting room, marble reception desk, wood panel accents, and open workspaces visible through floor-to-ceiling glass walls.

Optimized Layout for Performance and Presence

At the core of the plan, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems are strategically centralized. This efficient clustering streamlines maintenance and shortens infrastructure runs, freeing up the perimeter for openness and height. The result is a workplace that feels taller, brighter, and more expansive. Here, efficiency supports experience.

We approached the plan as both a system and a story. By centralizing infrastructure, we freed the perimeter for light and openness — proving that efficiency doesn’t have to come at the expense of atmosphere.

Thao Quartuccio-Nguyen, Project Architect, EDG

Intuitive Circulation and Equitable Access

Movement through the office follows a straightforward, intuitive path. A central spine, organized along a cross-axial layout, divides the open office into four equal zones. This geometry isn’t just standardized spatial logic, but rather an expression of equity. Every employee enjoys the same access to daylight, collaboration zones and amenities, creating a democratic sense of belonging within the plan.

Strategic Anchors and a Layered Journey

Three primary anchors define the rhythm of the space: the executive conference suite, a welcoming entry lobby, and an employee lounge. Together, they create a seamless transition from formal to informal, and from arrival to retreat. The sequence encourages high-level collaboration and everyday connection, grounding the workplace experience through intentional and meaningfully articulated movement.

Modern glass-walled conference room with curved corners, wood panel accents, integrated lighting, and a large screen, set within an open-concept office space.

Open-plan modern office with neutral-toned workstations, ergonomic chairs, natural lighting from large windows, and glass-walled meeting rooms on both sides.

Designing for Daylight and Well-Being

By consolidating the building’s core, daylight is maximized along the perimeter where employees spend most of their time. Therefore, natural light here isn’t merely aesthetic; it supports circadian rhythm, mood, and general health. At once, the office becomes a balanced environment where light guides focus by day and restores calm by night.

A New Paradigm for Work

The pandemic redefined our relationship to work, blurring boundaries between professional and personal life. We’ve concluded that the elements of comfort, flexibility, and spatial intentionality are no longer luxuries; they are inherent necessities.

EDG sees this shift as an opportunity. Our clients want spaces that are as grounded as they are dynamic; they seek environments that foster belonging and balance. The GTS workplace reflects this approach through a careful interplay of openness and enclosure, creating a rhythm between energy and stillness. The design supports how people work today, and in the case of GTS, it does so with agility, emotion, and deep collaboration.

A democratic plan is a powerful design tool. When everyone has equal access to daylight, collaboration, and amenities, you build not just a functional office, but a culture of inclusion.

Richard Unterthiner, Principal | Design Director, EDG

Contemporary conference room with a wall-mounted screen, wood paneling, built-in marble shelving, glass walls, and a long meeting table with modern seating.

The Oculus: A Focal Point of Light and Calm

At the heart of the lobby, a pair of sculptural Oculi becomes both art and illumination. Crafted from GFRG and layers of stretched fabric, these fluid forms recall the classical arches of Chelsea’s architecture while adding a distinctly modern softness. Floating above the reception area like twin skylights, they define arrival with warmth and calm.

The Oculi introduces a language of curvature and flow that extends throughout the interior. By softening the rigidity of the traditional grid, these gestures evoke a sense of wonder, balance, and beauty. The result is a quiet counterpoint to the linear precision of the trading floor.

Modern office lobby with a marble reception desk, two people working, floor-to-ceiling windows, wood-paneled walls, neutral-toned furniture, and natural light.

Materiality that Supports Mood and Mode

The palette explores contrast as a guiding idea. Warm wood tones provide grounding and comfort, while vivid color accents bring movement and optimism. The result is a balanced environment that supports focus, connection, and calm.

Every material we select tells a story. I look for pieces that carry weight—not just in presence, but in feeling. I’m composing the emotional rhythm of a space.

Federica Olmedillo, FFE Specialist, EDG

Sleek office kitchenette with dark wood cabinetry, open shelving, a marble countertop island, modern pendant lighting, and an arched doorway leading to a white interior door.

Modern office interior featuring built-in wood shelving with integrated lighting, large wooden double doors, and an open workspace with ergonomic desks and chairs.

Comfort, Composition, and Connection

The workplace today is as emotional as it is functional. For GTS, we designed an environment that combines the comfort of home with the vitality of a professional setting. Soft and indirect lighting, textured finishes, and organic materials come together to create an atmosphere that invites people to linger, to connect, pause, and reset.

Furniture composition is central to this idea. Each piece, from communal tables to quiet lounge settings, is arranged to shape both movement and mood. The same footprint can support multiple functions such as conversation, concentration, or contemplation, allowing the space to remain visually and sensorially dynamic throughout the day.

This philosophy is reflected in the Social Hub. While the Employee Lounge buzzes with collective energy, the Hub offers intimacy and calm. It morphs into a place for smaller exchanges and slower rhythms. Bar-height counters, layered lighting, and curated shelving turn the space into both a retreat and a showcase of personality. Here, the design encourages connection through comfort, reinforcing that community thrives in the spaces between work.

Modern open-plan office with glass-walled conference rooms, wood shelving with decorative objects and books, built-in lighting, and rows of minimalist workstations.

The Curated Shelf: A Living Archive of Stories

Across the workplace, curated shelving has become a storytelling medium, recording the collective knowledge and shared experiences of the team. Volumes on finance, design, and culture mingle with personal artifacts and art, creating a living collage that reflects who GTS is and the worlds its people engage with.

These shelves serve more than an aesthetic purpose; they embody the evolving culture of the firm. Over time, they will gather new objects and stories, reflecting growth and curiosity. The result is a workplace that feels deeply human, attuned to a shared GTS intellect, and energized by the memories, ideas, and identities that drive their global innovation.

Woman reaching for a book on a modern wooden office bookshelf with integrated lighting, styled with artful ceramics, decor pieces, and a curated book collection.

Modern office lounge or breakout area with round marble-top tables, black chairs, built-in wood bookshelves, a wall-mounted screen, and contemporary ceiling lighting.

A Place to Dwell, A Place to Work

We must celebrate this. The GTS project redefines the workplace as more than an engine of productivity; it is truly a vibrant ecosystem of people, ideas, and experiences. Through thoughtful organization, strategic anchoring, generous daylight, and a sensitivity to context, EDG has crafted an environment attuned to a transforming world.

As we design for the future, our belief remains simple: workplaces should invite presence and become their own spatial narratives. They should balance energy with calm, efficiency with empathy, and, most importantly, work with life to allow everyone’s personal and professional stories to flourish.