Wiley, founded in 1807, is a leading publisher of scientific and technical information. Headquartered at 111 River Street in Hoboken, NJ, the company had been operating for more than 15 years in a dull and segmented environment, dominated by extra-tall cubicles which served both to isolate employees and obstruct their view of Manhattan. TPG was engaged to execute a complete, multi-phased restack that would consolidate Wiley’s operations from nine floors to six within the building.

Wiley’s leadership considers their company to be a “provider of knowledge,” not just a publisher. They challenged us to create a digital-era space that would promote collaboration and transparency, as well as afford high-tech capabilities in support of their international workforce. We hosted a series of engagements with the client team to identify the challenges, goals, and opportunities of the project, which we then synthesized into an overarching design vision: create a progressive workplace that tells Wiley’s story.

The new space has brought the publisher into the present and made them ready for the future, fashioning the contemporary look of a company that has more unity, collaboration, flexibility, and panache. All cubicles were removed, and the only private office is for the chair of the board. Open work areas are placed near windows, allowing daylight and views to reach many more employees than before. The company’s legacy is important to their brand, so we designed a feature wall, furnished with items from Wiley’s own archive, to celebrate their history and publications.