Morgan Stanley

West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Morgan Stanley an international investment firm, selected Space Design Incorporated to create an elegant and sophisticated contemporary design for their 120,000 square foot offices to reflect their forward-thinking image and to provide a state-of-the-art facility for the company's highly-computerized environment.

The equipment and cabling requirements for the project included a 2000 square foot computer complex with primary and back-up 24-hour air-conditioning systems, serving in-house computer systems as well as information services, a fixed-income and equity investment trading room, multiple-terminal offices and workstations for each employee. The installation totals more than 80,000 feet of computer cabling, or more than 15 miles. The plan of the multi-floor facility revolves around both the central interconnecting stair, which provides easy access between work groups, and the centrally-located trading room which is the hub of business activity. Each work group contains free-floating file alcoves and a free-floating "equipment pod" which discreetly houses and conceals copiers, printers, fax machines and supplies. Ambient lighting for open areas is concealed at the top of each equipment pod and file alcove, and for private offices within the tops of built-in bookcases.

The design is unified by horizontal elements which were derived from the dimensions of the horizontal banding in the workstation systems furniture. Horizontal reveals in wood wall panels, sandblasted glass sidelights, fabric panels, as well as door heights, freestanding architectural elements and soffit heights, all conform to these design dimensions.

Finishes were selected to achieve a light, natural and contemporary look, with natural ash wood doors, frames and sidelights and built-in cabinetry, white walls and white-lacquered wall panels, and a "sand" color carpet. This neutral palette creates a gallery-like atmosphere to serve as a backdrop for modern classic furniture pieces, in black leather and red fabric, and Miller Anderson & Sherrerd's fine art collection, which was extensively expanded to complete the design composition.