Humanscale’s new New York City headquarters is located in the historic Grace Building, an ecru-color LEED Silver-certified skyscraper that overlooks Bryant Park. Inside, wraparound windows offer guests and employees a sweeping view of the iconic park while glass-walled conference rooms and a minimalist color palette make the most of the natural light. Though its surrounded by a sea of office buildings, this workspace is a unique one: Like its other new locations, the brand's New York City headquarters has a double purpose, showcasing Humanscale’s products by blurring the line between office and showroom. As such, visitors can observe Humanscale employees using the company’s products while shopping for their own.

It's a strategy that is rooted in the company's central ethos, explains Humanscale Founder and CEO Robert King. "As experts in design for humans, we wanted our employees to be supported in the same ways our customers are," he tells AD PRO. "Because of this, we had a strong focus on creating environments and work spaces that are ergonomic, functional, simple, and sustainable.”

A view of midtown from the New York office.

Photo: Eric Laignel

Deborah Verderame, principal of Verderame | Cale, who designed the new New York space, says that “Humanscale wanted the showroom to bleed seamlessly into the work spaces and design studios, allowing employees and guests to move freely throughout the entire floor.” Verderame | Cale’s design is contemporary and comfortable, but understated enough to highlight the products and green features like a living wall and potted plants that fill it.

The green wall and the choice of a LEED Silver building are more than just nods to a sustainability trend. Since its founding in 1983, Humanscale has established itself as an industry leader in environmentally friendly manufacturing. At its main factory in New Jersey, the company has eliminated wastewater discharge and installed solar panels. It has also begun working with suppliers to ensure that its same standards are being met throughout the supply chain.

Humanscale's London location.

Photo: Marek Sikora

In 2014, looking to go beyond merely reducing waste, Humanscale set a goal for itself of being "net positive" for the environment. Put simply, it's "an understanding that we would try to assess and calculate the amount of impact we have that’s both positive and negative and work to make sure that the positive impact is larger than the negative impact," explains Jane Abernethy, a former Humanscale product designer and now the company’s chief sustainability officer. In addition to maintaining environmental standards within its facilities, Humanscale works with academics and not-for-profit organizations such as Harvard University’s SHINE center to conduct life cycle analysis on its products in order to come up with additional ways to minimize environmental impact.

The newly renovated Paris location.

Photo: Alexis Paoli

Abernethy points to products like the Smart Ocean Chair, which is made with recovered fishing nets, as the beginning of a larger project to rethink how people and businesses see what they make and use in relationship to the environment: “To me, it’s exciting because this is the start of seeing things differently. We’re operating in a different way, where it’s not just reducing the amount of bad that you’re doing but actually seeing that you can be a profitable business and at the same time doing positive things for the environment and people.”

Even after 35 years in business, King says, Humanscale is continuing to grow in markets around the world. In addition to the New York showroom, the company recently overhauled its spaces in London, Paris, and Hong Kong. Plans are underway for locations in Manchester, England, and Dubai. "As leaders in ergonomic and sustainable solutions for the workplace, we are committed to setting a strong example and communicating our values in everything we do," King said in a statement announcing these expansions. With the opening of its new showroom/offices, this messaging is taking grassroots effect.

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