Project Spotlight: JP Morgan Chase - 270 Park Avenue (Hidden Louvers)
When someone wants the best in louver technology, they turn to Bob Cangemi of Aire Renaissance by OSA, and this has become evident in one of our recent projects in the heart of New York City—the new JP Morgan Chase headquarters.
To help you get a better understanding of the size of this project, let’s take a closer look at what went into it and what part hidden louvers played in the building design.
The First of its Kind - Making History in Manhattan
JP Morgan Chase is one of the largest banks in America, with an estimated 3.5 trillion in assets as of March 24th, 2024. So, it's no surprise that they wanted their new headquarters in Manhattan to be something special.
JP Morgan Chase requested that their 1,388 feet tall, 60-story skyscraper headquarters be run entirely on renewable energy. As a result, it’s a building that produces net zero operational emissions—and will help set a new standard for the modern metropolitan workplace and 21st century infrastructure.
Replacing the old headquarters, which was designed in the 1950’s, the new J.P Morgan building more than quadruples its occupancy from 3,500 employees to over 14,000.
Additional Building Features
The building also features 2.5 times more outdoor space than the old building, with wider sidewalks and a large public plaza on Madison Avenue. It also has more green space and other amenities for the visitors, employees, and residents of the neighborhood who regularly frequent the area.
Not to mention, all 2.5 million square feet of its workspace within the building will be designed with flexible and collaborative spaces aimed at effortlessly adapting the future of office work.
Hidden Louvers’s Role
Bob was contacted by world-renowned construction companies Foster + Partners and Tishman Speyer to custom design louvers for this new headquarters building.
The general request was that the louvers be hidden behind glass slots in the facade, yet still function enough to play a role in managing the natural airflow throughout the building.
Because Bob is one of the very few consultants who not only specializes in hidden louvers but also custom-designs projects for its clients, he was able to create a design that was exactly what the client was looking for in less than a year.
Next-Level Louvers for a Historic Manhattan Skyscraper
Hidden louvers not only played its part in helping craft a historic new headquarters building for JP Morgan Chase but have also helped revolutionize the way office buildings are designed with energy efficiency in mind.
Hidden louvers collaborate perfectly with the overall facade of the building, and the drainable gutters redirected the water away from the exterior of the building to prevent cascading waterfalls—all while maintaining a nearly invisible appearance.
When it came to altering the iconic Manhattan skyline, it’s clear that JP Morgan Chase couldn’t have chosen a better partner to build its custom-designed hidden glass louvers—and Bob is delighted to have been a part of it.