When LiveOnNY decided to relocate their operations, they selected TPG Architecture for the design of their Long Island City, NY offices.
LiveOnNY is a nonprofit organization that facilitates organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation within the Greater New York City community. In New York State, you can register to become an organ donor when you go to the DMV, register to vote, apply for an idNYC card, register for health insurance through the health benefits exchange. The organ procurement organization was first incorporated in 1978, and then in 2016, it rebranded, and the name changed to LiveOnNY. Over the years, LiveOnNY has helped facilitate the transplant of 27,000+ lifesaving organs and improved the lives of 594,000+ people through tissue donation. In addition to working with local hospitals and transplant centers to deliver the gift of life, LiveOnNY also educates and inspires the public on the power of organ donation through their robust volunteer programs. Another signature program is the aftercare for donor families, which provides compassionate support to organ donor family members through grief counseling, workshops, social events, and activities to honor their loved ones.
After evaluating their organizational needs, LiveOnNY decided to relocate their operations to one floor at the Factory Building (30-30 47th Avenue) in Long Island City, NY. This move allowed the organization to plan and design a thoughtful work environment that better supports their staff and operations, as well as their signature programs and initiatives. Subsequently, LiveOnNY selected TPG Architecture for the interior programming, architectural planning, and design services for the 57,000 SF project.
The new workplace honors the aesthetic and structure of the former warehouse while bringing LiveOnNY’s branding and mission to the forefront. The reception is very inviting, with plenty of greenery and a thoughtful palette of materials to create a soothing environment for guests. Throughout the office, the ceiling remains exposed, complemented by a finished concrete floor. The open workspace area includes modest height-adjustable workstations as well as transparent glass paneling on the private offices. To balance out this heads-down space, an open collaboration area with a mix of different settings and soft seating provides staff with more autonomy in their work environments. In addition, a lively café for staff to mingle and socialize is a nice new amenity for all to enjoy.
The office also includes a separate viewing zone and preservation suite for the organ donations, with a nearby freight elevator for convenience. TPG’s Healthcare Studio designed this area with care and attention to detail, emphasizing the sterile requirements of the space. Adjacent to this is also a donor call center with design elements that mirror the larger open work area. Additionally, the office includes a separate lounge and counseling area where care services and support are offered to the families of the donors who selflessly gave the gift of life. To further express gratitude and remember the donors, TPG’s Branding and Graphics Studio developed donor history walls and brand messaging graphics that highlight LiveOnNY’s proud heritage and accomplishments.
When was the project completed?
October 2021
How many SF per person?
648 RSF per person
How many employees work here?
88 headcount
Describe the work space type.
Open plan workspace with collaboration spaces interspersed. Private offices and meeting rooms around the interior.
What kind of meeting spaces are provided?
Small closed meeting rooms and boardrooms on the interior. Teams also have access to soft seating collaboration areas equipped with technology.
What other kinds of support or amenity spaces are provided?
The space includes a lively café for staff to mingle and socialize.
Additionally, there is a lounge and counseling area where care services and support are offered to the families of the donors who selflessly gave the gift of life.
What is the project’s location and proximity to public transportation and/or other amenities?
The project is located at 30-30 47th Avenue Long Island City, New York only a few blocks from the 33rd St/Rawson Street 7 MTA line.
How is the space changing/adapting as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?
The space was designed during COVID and therefore has been used accordingly. The planning module for the open plan is a 6×6 workstation to support the heads down work that needs to be performed with multiple collaboration spaces.
What kind of programming or visioning activities were used to create the space?
There were visioning sessions with imagery, descriptions and products that were then used to create the look & feel and function of the office.
Please describe any program requirements that were unique or required any special research or design requirements.
There were certain requirements for the Preservation Suite. This scope of work was handled by the TPG Healthcare Studio.
Was there any emphasis or requirements on programming for health and wellbeing initiatives for employees?
Compared to LiveOnNY’s previous offices, this space offers more natural lighting and views for staff to enjoy.
What products or service solutions are making the biggest impact in your space?
- Buzzispace Acoustic Lighting
- Garden on the Wall
- Spacestor Bookcases
- Tecno Office Fronts
- Arnold Reception Desk
What kind of branding elements were incorporated into the design?
TPG’s Branding and Graphics Studio developed moments that highlight LiveOnNY’s proud heritage and accomplishments. This includes an Honor Wall, New York Milestones Wall, and brand messaging.
What is the most unique feature of the space?
For LiveOnNY’s new office space, TPG’s Healthcare Studio incorporated a separate viewing and preservation suite for the organ donations, with a nearby freight elevator for convenience. The team designed this area with care and attention to detail, emphasizing the sterile requirements of the space.
Are there any furnishings or spaces specifically included to promote wellness/wellbeing?
At LiveOnNY, the design team incorporated a green wall in reception and a thoughtful palette of materials to create a soothing environment for guests.
Who else contributed significantly to this project?
- MEP: MGE
- GC: Benchmark
- Furniture: Benhar; Herman Miller
- Client Rep: VVA
