JPMorgan Chase: Workplaces Designed for People & Performance

Striking, isn’t it? Among a sea of office buildings, JPMorgan Chase’s new HQ is a clear statement on the New York skyline. The Foster + Partners-designed skyscraper redraws modern workplaces with a focus on people: innovative air circulation technology, gardens and fitness facilities, and communal spaces built around collaboration.  

The company, ranked the largest bank in the world by market capitalisation, has previous form in New York real estate. Its former 23 Wall Street HQ, affectionately known as the ‘House of Morgan’ by employees, was opened in 1914 and widely praised for its approach to architecture and craftsmanship.

Though diminutive by today’s standards, the four-storey building was described by one New York real estate journal as ‘a rival to the Parthenon’. Like many buildings of its time, though, 23 Wall Street wasn’t conceived specifically for employee wellbeing.

Today, that has changed, with function leading form in the quest for the perfectly designed and curated workplace. Wellbeing is now a fundamental C-suite priority directly linked to an organisation’s performance, risk and talent strategy, with a growing body of evidence putting quality of work environment front and centre. 

Building for wellbeing

Research shows a well-designed workplace improves productivity, efficiency and employee engagement, helps lower absenteeism and staff turnover, and improves mental and physical health.

McKinsey’s ‘The Future of the Office’ argues the workplace must be re-designed for human connection rather than generic spaces, saying leaders should “rethink office space for networking, collaboration and connectivity, not rows of identical desks under fluorescent lights”, while EY research shows a tangible benefit between rethinking the workplace and higher productivity.

Building design can make a big difference, too. According to Deloitte’s ‘Smart and Sustainable Buildings’ study, “better air quality and reduced environmental noise help occupants improve productivity and decision making, and alleviate psychological distress.”

Get it right and businesses and their leaders can reap significant benefits – according to the McKinsey Health Institute and the World Economic Forum, better employee health and wellbeing could unlock up to U$11.7tn in global economic value.

Where employees thrive

Rising a quarter of a mile over New York, the JPMorgan Chase Tower at 270 Park Avenue brings wellbeing, sustainability and smart technology to the 10,000 employees that call it home. 

Speaking at its opening ceremony, Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon said: “For more than 225 years, JPMorganChase has been deeply rooted in New York City. The opening of our new global headquarters is not only a significant investment in New York but also a testament to our commitment to our clients and employees worldwide.

“By creating world-class environments where our employees can thrive, we are strengthening our ability to serve our clients and communities – locally and globally – for generations to come.”

By spreading trading across eight floors, the design team at Foster + Partners enable better team integration and functionality – a “city within a city” approach, crucial to effective collaboration in a busy trading environment.

The tower’s beating heart is the triple-height Exchange, a vast community hub featuring 16 venues and dedicated spaces for meetings, town halls and team gatherings.

The building also features a state-of-the-art health and wellness centre and a curated art programme – including works of art by Maya Lin, Leo Villareal, Gerhard Richter, Refik Anadol, and Norman Foster.

Its approach to wellbeing draws on data from Harvard Business Research into the effects of fresh air on cognitive function, providing an outdoor air ventilation rate of 40 cubic feet per minute per person – double the specified standard for similar buildings. 

Other features like circadian lighting, which mimics the natural progression of sunlight through the day and aligns with natural human rhythms, boosts alertness and cognitive performance, improves mood and minimises stress responses. 

Clever design extends impact outside the building’s bronze exterior. It is the largest all-electric tower in New York, with net zero emissions, LEED Platinum v4 and WELL Health-Safety ratings. 

It also uses intelligent technology to monitor and adapt the working environment, advanced water storage systems that reduce usage by more than 40%, and reused or upcycled demolition materials. 

According to Foster + Partners Founder and Executive Chairman, Lord Norman Foster: “The unparalleled range of venues and leisure activities, coupled to tall spaces with generous natural light and high levels of fresh filtered air set new standards of wellbeing. It is the workplace of the future designed for today.”