Set along Manhattan’s Far West Side, amidst the soaring blue-glass towers and sculptural landmarks of the Hudson Yards skyline, sits the sprawling corporate headquarters of BlackRock—a global investment firm that sought to unite its 4,000 New York employees from three offices into a single 970,000-square-foot space. Guided by the company’s core principle, “We Are One BlackRock,” a unifying maxim that prioritizes collaboration and eliminating silos, BlackRock assembled a skilled design and construction team that recognized the vital role of lighting and shading in creating a cohesive, comfortable, and adaptable environment. At the heart of this vision is Lutron’s Athena system, a cloud-connected control solution with wireless nodes, tunable white lighting, and automated shades designed to meet both current and future needs.
Maximizing natural light was a key objective of the design. “Daylight is really important,” says Barry Novick, Technology Strategy at BlackRock. “But bringing in daylight and allowing that daylight to penetrate all the way deep into the floors so that everyone has access to natural light was very important. We have no perimeter offices or rooms on the general work floor, so everyone gets to enjoy the light. We call it democratizing daylight.” Lutron’s shade automation and tunable white lighting ensures that all employees can benefit from natural light. By installing tunable lighting that shifts throughout the day to mimic sunlight patterns, and automated shades that adjust to minimize glare and solar heat gain, the workspace achieves a comfortable and balanced feel.
Floor-to-ceiling windows floods a a conference room with abundant natural light. Photography by Connie Zhou.
Lutron’s Athena system transforms how lighting integrates into a space. Each fixture functions as a “brain,” capable of being reprogrammed wirelessly to accommodate changing business needs. BlackRock has now seen this benefit firsthand. “We’ve already gone through changing business needs, and the lighting control component has been seamless,” Novick notes. “We just reprogrammed the wireless switch on the walls and the fixtures. We’ve done that and it’s really been wonderful. I think this project has actually changed the norm for what people expect from a lighting control.”
Another significant innovation is the use of Athena’s wireless nodes. By eliminating the need for control wires and conduits, the flexible system drastically reduces material usage. These ultra-compact luminaire-level lighting controls are installed directly into each fixture, allowing for easy reconfiguration as needs change over time. This wireless technology reduces installation costs and supports BlackRock’s sustainability goals, contributing to the project’s LEED Platinum certification.
Lutron’s lighting and shading solutions played an essential role in bringing BlackRock’s vision of a unified and forward-thinking workplace to life. Beyond achieving energy efficiency and adaptability, the design of the headquarters fosters collaboration and well-being, creating a vibrant environment that supports both present and future needs.
Overhead lighting enhances an open office space at BlackRock’s headquarters. Photography by Sean Airhart.
The adaptive space was designed to serve BlackRock’s present and future needs today. Photography by Connie Zhou.
The reception area welcomes visitors at BlackRock headquarters. Photography by Eric Laignel.