Scope of services: Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design

Size: 22,500 SF / 2,090 m²

In Association with: Hillier Architecture

This new headquarters for the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) is located on a recently “cleaned” infill lot in Newark NJ as part of a revitalization of the surrounding neighborhood. The iconic building fits within the context while setting it apart as an identifiable structure for the ILA. The building mass is elongated along Elizabeth Avenue to help activate the street and surrounding community Programmatically the building is set up with public and private zones with meeting rooms and banquette facilities at the lower level and first floor, while the corporate offices reside on the second floor. These corporate offices are housed in an iconic box that resembles the ILA's main business of loading and unload container boxes at ports throughout the world. The first floor opens the street level with a large glazed banquette hall used for union meeting as well as offered for community functions. Parking and services are kept hidden behind the building at the rear of the lot and a small pocket park is to one side for Union members use for socialization during good weather.