Cool Spaces: Warner Music Group HQ

WORDS Cheri Morris IMAGES Christopher Payne

Warner Music Group‘s (WMG’s) new headquarters in New York City, designed by interdisciplinary architecture and design firm Rockwell Group, are a bold celebration of the record giant’s decorated history, the making of music and the power of performance.

Bright, bold, playful and serious, this contemporary workspace is an eclectic contrast of old and new, hard and soft, warm and cool. It’s a dynamic and progressive space that spans a five-story main building and an adjoining double-volume annex, housing 800 employees.

The ground floor is a Model T showroom that boasts a Centre Stage, a two-tier, 250-seat flexible live performance space with bleacher-style seating clad in natural wood and pops of colour. This is where the performance magic happens, a true showcase for Warner Music’s impressive roster of recording artists.

Living Room is a co-working space that offers lounge seating, communal tables and bar-height seating along the windows, allowing employees to choose where they want to work based on their needs. Bleached-white oak millwork and earthy fabrics with blue and purple accents make for a homely contrast to the poured concrete flooring, while graphic black lighting emboldens the overall design.

The Commissary is a 110-seat dining area dressed in layers of white, blue and black materials. Here, various food vendors and a coffee bar are set amidst a visually arresting mural. In the offices, WMG’s seven groups are split to occupy spaces that are reflective and celebratory of their individual cultures, creating mini-communities within the building. On the roof, a park-reminiscent outdoor oasis beckons employees to enjoy the fresh air, meandering pathways and covered terraces for private meetings.

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