Archinect - News

Eero Saarinen's CBS 'Black Rock' Manhattan tower gets a gentle overhaul by Vocon and MdeAS

2023-08-08T11:21:00-04:00

A $36 million restoration of Eero Saarinen’s 1964 corporate headquarters for CBS in Manhattan has been announced by New York-based Harbor Group International, LLC (HGI) ahead of the project’s expected completion early this fall.

The architect’s lone skyscraper design, an ominous 38-story masterpiece of sable granite and polished concrete, is now renamed 51W52 in reflection of its Midtown location and features a pair of newly-renovated lobbies, restored bronze fin wall exterior, elevator bays, and lounge areas “curated” with Saarinen's own furniture designs for the Knoll company that were originally manufactured between 1948 and the late-1950s.

Image courtesy Harbor Group International, LLC

The building, which offers proximity to Grand Central Station, the 53rd Street corridor, MoMA, and Rockefeller Center, received a landmark designation from the city in 1997 and was renovated along similar lines in 1992 in an effort Paul Goldberger then criticized as “an attempt to convert one of th...

Pensole Lewis College and PepsiCo launch partnership for design diversity with innovative student lounge project

2023-04-05T08:56:00-04:00

PepsiCo and Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design, the first and only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) dedicated to design, are marking the first step in their three-year partnership to develop Black designers and increase representation in the design industry with a program tasking students to create a new student lounge on campus.

Previously on Archinect: A formerly closed HBCU in Detroit is reopening as a design school thanks to an industry leader

Together, PepsiCo and Pensole Lewis aim to address the diversity gap in the design industry by providing students with access to mentorship, apprenticeships, and job opportunities.

Designers from the PepsiCo Design & Innovation team and MillerKnoll mentored Pensole Lewis students through the design process. The winning concept will be brought to life this summer. In addition, NBA star Russell Westbrook, who shares the partnership’s mission, will work to further amplify the effort and unveil the completed lounge whe...

Herman Miller completes acquisition of Knoll, announcing new name MillerKnoll

2021-07-21T18:41:00-04:00

Herman Miller has announced that it has completed its $1.8 billion acquisition of Knoll.

The combined company, known as MillerKnoll, now comprises 19 leading brands, a presence across more than 100 countries, a global dealer network, 64 showrooms, more than 50 physical retail locations, and global multichannel eCommerce capabilities. All individual brands under Herman Miller and Knoll will continue to operate as distinct entities.

MillerKnoll will be led by Herman Miller President and CEO Andi Owen, with support from a management team made up of executives from both Herman Miller and Knoll.

“We are excited to introduce MillerKnoll, a collective of dynamic brands coming together to design the world we live in,” said Owen. “Our industry—and the world in general—is changing rapidly. Design is the way we imagine and shape a better future. In coming together, we will define and lead this transformation, like we have other transformations in our histories.”

Previously on Archinect: Her...

Herman Miller to take over Knoll in $1.8 billion merger

2021-04-19T15:13:00-04:00

Modern furniture design giant Herman Miller, Inc. announced its $1.8 billion acquisition plans of rival Knoll Inc. today.

"This transaction brings together two pioneering icons of design with strong businesses, attractive portfolios and long histories of innovation," commented Andi Owen, President and CEO of Herman Miller as well as the future combined company. "As distributed working models become the new normal for companies, businesses are reimagining the office to foster collaboration, culture and focused work, while supporting a growing remote employee base. At the same time, consumers are making significant investments in their homes. With a broad portfolio, global footprint and advanced digital capabilities, we will be poised to meet our customers everywhere they live and work."

Bloomberg reports that the merger would help the companies "feed into the transformation of home and office as work continues to be split between the two."

The combination is expected to close by the...

Clerkenwell Design Week 2016 - Top Picks

2016-05-24T10:43:00-04:00

It’s that time of year when London's design district opens its doors to the public for Clerkenwell Design Week and shows the rest of London and the design industry what it has to offer. An impressive showcase of distinct and accomplished talent the three-day event spans; furniture and product design, interior design as well as architecture. This year’s event includes over 120 spaces and directly engages 100 local businesses.

For its seventh year the team have employed the help of local architects OMMX to create a new masterplan that navigates visitors and links eight temporary exhibitions as well as commissioned installations.

With so much creativity on show we thought we would make a few suggestions. Here are Archinect's top recommendations:

Open Showrooms - open throughout the festival

Domus
50 Great Sutton Street
EC1V 0DF

Frövi
Broad Yard
Turnmill Street
EC1M 5RR

Herman Miller
102-108 Clerkenwell Road
EC1M 5SA

Knoll
91 Goswell Road
EC1V 7EX

Morgan
1 Dallington Street
EC1V 0BH

Exhibitions...