H3 designed the new headquarters for the New York Academy of Sciences. The view-rich new offices on the 40th floor of 7 World Trade Center feature an 85-foot-long art exhibition gallery that bisects the floor into public and private areas. The project’s design challenge lies in conveying the academy’s distinguished heritage while establishing a contemporary and efficient environment for its forward-looking activities. The eastern portion is devoted to public areas: reception space, “break-out” areas, president’s office and three meeting rooms of varied sizes, accommodating 30 to 296 people. These flexible spaces are equipped with the latest audio-visual technology for scientific presentations, as well as furniture which can easily be re-arranged to meet a variety of needs.The western half of the floor consists of staff work and support areas. These include enclosed offices with full-height perimeter glass walls, conference rooms, utility spaces and open workstations. A circulation corridor at the west wall runs through office areas, ensuring every staff member has a spectacular view of the city.Photography by Mark LaRosa.