What does biophilic workplace design look like when it’s integrated into the architecture of an entire building?
Located along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, this global headquarters demonstrates how interior landscaping and outdoor gardens can work together to create a workplace that supports employee well-being, collaboration, and a meaningful connection to nature.
Blondie’s Treehouse was engaged to design, install, and maintain both the interior plantings and rooftop landscapes throughout the property, transforming the building into a layered workplace environment where nature is present at every level.
Integrating Nature Into the Workplace Experience
The project spans nine floors of office space connected by a striking brass stairwell that serves as both an architectural focal point and an organizing element for the interior landscape.
Rather than treating plants as decorative accessories, the design integrates greenery directly into the built environment. Large-scale planting beds frame the stairwell, creating naturalistic compositions that soften the architecture and introduce texture, movement, and seasonal interest throughout the space.
Floor-level planters are inset into the architecture, giving the impression that the planting emerges organically from the building itself. Ledge plantings and cascading foliage extend greenery beneath large windows, helping to visually connect occupants to the living environment around them.
The result is an interior landscape that feels intentional and immersive, supporting a workplace experience that is both visually engaging and restorative.
Interior Landscaping Across Nine Floors
A project of this scale requires more than thoughtful design. Long-term plant health and performance are equally important.
Blondie’s horticultural team selected plant species for their adaptability to interior conditions, considering available light, scale, texture, and overall composition. Each planting contributes to a cohesive visual language while supporting the practical realities of maintaining a thriving indoor landscape in a commercial office environment.
Professional horticultural care ensures that the planting continues to perform as intended, preserving both the health of the plants and the integrity of the design.
Extending the Workplace Outdoors
Beyond the interior, the project includes more than 25,000 square feet of rooftop gardens spanning three distinct terrace levels.
Together, these outdoor environments feature more than 7,000 plants and provide employees with opportunities to work, gather, dine, and recharge outdoors. Multiple work lounges, flexible seating areas, and an edible garden support a range of uses throughout the day.
The landscape design utilizes a tiered container garden system that creates visual layering and a sense of enclosure within the urban setting. A diverse palette of deciduous, evergreen, and perennial plantings delivers year-round interest while contributing ecological value and seasonal change.
Rather than functioning as separate amenities, the terraces serve as natural extensions of the workplace itself.
A Holistic Approach to Biophilic Workplace Design
One of the defining characteristics of this project is the continuity between interior and exterior environments.
The interior plantings, rooftop gardens, architectural materials, and circulation pathways work together to create a cohesive experience that strengthens the relationship between people and place. Employees encounter nature throughout the building—from collaborative workspaces and circulation zones to outdoor terraces designed for gathering and reflection.
By integrating interior landscaping, rooftop gardens, and ongoing horticultural care, Blondie’s Treehouse helped create a workplace that demonstrates how biophilic workplace design can support both human experience and the evolving needs of modern organizations.
