1) THE LIBERATION OF THE CREATIVE CLASS

2) REMEDIES TO ABSOLUTE FREEDOM

BEFORE IDCNY

Before IDCNY, the creative class

was imprisoned by outmoded
work structures.
As technological restraints
loosened, some escaped the
cubicle only to be more lonely
working out of residential units.
Freelance nomads roamed in
futility from one coffee shop to
the next trying to find an
environment conducive to both
work production and good
social health. Designers were
organized into small rival
factions. Apart from occasional
assemblies in the form of
lectures or conferences, the
creative class remained safely
dispersed and controlled.
The Design Center was inevitable. Developments like it had been taking
shape at smaller scales in other parts of the world. 12 years ago, 3 firms
bought a building in Long Island City. In the years to follow they w
would
devise the
he perfect office environment uniting the design community in
harmony
ny and power.
THE LIBERATED DESIGNER
The Center has become a beacon of freedom and
collaboration inspiring similar developments
throughout the city. The IDCNY designer is no
longer fastened to a static restrictive
environment. The IDCNY designer can move
about, customize the accommodations, and
collaborate with anyone. Member firms pool
resources and operate with an independence
previously unheard of.

Behold they are one people, and they have all

one language, and this is only the beginning of
what they will do. Nothing that they propose to
do will now be impossible for them
The 900,000 square foot interior of the
Center has been renovated into a highly
versatile system with specialized facilities
dispersed throughout. Amenities include,
but are not limited to, fabrication shops,
physical fitness facilities, storage, a
restaurant/bistro, a hotel, a material library,
presentation and exhibition galleries,
refreshment pantries, two extensive roof
gardens, parking, and an adjacent park.
 VISITING THE CENTER
GROUND FLOOR
<shops
<coffee bar
<townhouses
<stairs and elevators
<assembly hall
<main gallery
<galleries 1-7
<meeting pods
<staging area
<classrooms
<garden follies
<shrubbery

MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES:
-fitness club access
-storage and shipping address
-access to fabrication shops
-voting rights at meetings
-Wi-Fi
-24/7 access to the building
-access to similar facilities
world wide
The Nomads are resettling. The exhibitions and coffee bar attract the thousands each year. When visitors get
a taste of the atmosphere and realize what the facilities and camaraderie can do for their career, they make the
move to membership. IDCNY membership costs the same as quality NYC gyms. Discount rates are available
for larger firms.
 ALWAYS BE IN CONTROL

NEVER BE A VICTIM OF THE BUILT FORM

The IDCNY pioneered the open bay system. With the many furniture and partition solutions
offered, almost any work environment can be arranged, modified, moved, expanded.... Controls
on columns let you adjust lighting, temperature, muzak, white noise, or pink noise. There is no reason to not
love the place where you work. You made it.
 ALL THE LATEST ACCOMMODATIONS

2009 IDCNY FURNITURE LINE

TYPICAL FLOOR PLATE

^elevators and stairs
^special facilities
^rest rooms
^office services
^open bay system
^dinosaurs

Each floor comes equipped with what every office needs, and more. You will find that this year’s furniture line
solves many of the issues members expressed last year. For those accustomed to working with our classic
system, we have the full array of earlier models in the basement.
 SPACE SERVED HOT + COOL

boundaries between hot & cool everything in it’s right place

cool space heating up hot space cooling down

At IDCNY, we try hard to anticipate the resources and solutions our members might need. For needs we
expect to occur often, permanent facilities are in place and running. For contingent spatial needs, the open
bay system is ready to adapt and accommodate almost anything. We call highly defined need-specific places
hot space and the low definition versatile space cool space. When the need that a hot space accommodated
isn’t as prevalent, it can cool down and become part of the versatile area. When furniture is arranged in
cool space to accommodate a sustained event, it can be said to have heated up.
WHAT MEMBERS ARE SAYING:
FAVORITE FAVORITE FAVORITE
FLOOR: FACILITY: FOLLY:
5th Laser 3-D shoppe Center desk
I work for 4 or 5 firms, going wherever I am needed. The variety of projects and
people I work with make for an extremely accelerated learning experience.
Sometimes I feel a little overwhelmed by this place, but that is better than past
internships where I was extremely underwhelmed.
-Jeffrey Park, Architectural Intern

FAVORITE FAVORITE FAVORITE

FLOOR: FACILITY: FOLLY:
3rd Office services Sun deck!?!
I moved my company here 4 years ago. IDCNY memberships for my people
are cheaper than what I was paying for rent. We are enjoying all the big firm
amenities; the big mock-up shop, the lunchtime seminars, the free food,
the storage and shipping. The friends I’ve made in other industries here
are like inhouse consultants. LOVE IT.
- Jane Holtzbaum, Founder of Party I. D.

FAVORITE FAVORITE FAVORITE

FLOOR: FACILITY: FOLLY:

? 6th Galleries Mine

Whenever I’m in New York I love to stay in the sign. If I can’t sleep I just put on
a light show. This place is fantastic for giving presentations and lectures.
The exhibition spaces can be adapted to give any effect I want.
- Anonymous Starchitect
 REMEDIES TO ABSOLUTE FREEDOM

Even with the open bay system and special facilities in place, the Center still needs more. It is difficult for
members to express what is missing, since all physical needs are met. Members are encouraged
to propose permanent and semi-permanent installations to address this common concern. Proposals come
from a wide range of theories and ideas. All are considered, but few gain the necessary support to be manifested.
INITIAL ATTEMPTS
The first installations came 7 years
ago. Screens streaming conversation
starters were installed in 9 of the
18 elevators. Color screens linked
to the big sign video feed were set
up around the building. Designers
began to put together flash slide
shows of their latest influences to
play on the scattered screens.
The IDCNY decided to put in
a seventh staircase. A proposal
for fiberglass dinosaur stairs
was presented, passed, and
fabricated on site.
 SUBURBAN BLISS

On the 6th floor 3 houses stand in a row piercing the ceiling into the 7th floor. Fences and astroturf complete
the arrangement. The designer who did the installation declined to comment for this publication. He gave
a presentation entitled ‘Territorialism Inoculation’ last fall to accompany the opening of the houses.
We have seen members hold meetings in the living rooms, make models in the kitchen, sleep in the
dining room, pump CAD in the attic, and even throw an old fashioned house party.
 CENTER DESK

A certain member was granted space to build his proposal of a centrally located assembly space
with alcoves and more permanent desks. When IDCNY deemed the finishes to be too expensive, he financed
the project with his own firm. Feeling justified by his spending, he tried to privatize the space
soon after completion. This broke the IDCNY contract and he opted to leave the center. Now his desk is
open to be used by whomever gets there first in the morning.
 READ ON THE TRAIN

A pair of gradually sloped stairs separated by double sided bookshelves link the 4th and 5th floors.
The paths are bounded by seating boxes and clad with brushed aluminum. The design came after an
outside consultant determined that IDCNY members did not read enough and should be more sociable.
The library was made as an effigy to the familiar symbol of both social anonymity and print media; the train.
Behind our jumbo-tron sign is a fully equipped
office suite hotel. Guests enjoy spectacular
views of the skyline through the slats of LEDs.
An interface is provided to allow guests to take
turns manipulating the video feed.
SUN DECK OPEN BAR

Latest in the works is a proposal for multi-level balconies on the south facade. The decks
will act as sun shades, house water filtration equipment, and maybe have a PV cell or two.
The proposal is especially popular among members who smoke.
One of our more popular installations is the open bar. Depending on which entrance you
choose, you could be the tender or the tenderized.
 SCREENING ROOMS

On the fifth and sixth floors we have a room with a big screen. Smaller multi-media equipped
rooms hang off the sides. Members prefer any of the various big screen configurations over
the conventional crowd-around-the-laptop scheme.
 LASER 3-D SHOPPE

One of our more practical firms took on this one. The problem came with a set of physical requirements;
hvac, machines, display cases, etc. According to the designers: “The first priority was the practical function
of the space. Only after we finished did we realize that putting the entrance in the display case made a poetic
statement equating the product designer with the designed product. Also, after everything was done, we
were amazed that a form generated purely from functional concerns could turn out so damn sexy.”
 VOID OF THE UNBORN PROJECT

At the south end of our high roof

garden is an exact replica of some
old Greek temple in Turkey. Inside
we have dedicated a void in the
floor in the name of the ideas that
we haven’t had yet.