Ports America

Ports America currently of Iselin New Jersey, chose AG5 and Bo-Tikken to fit out their new headquarters with Danish workplace design standards. Ports America has relocated to Newport Towers on the banks of the the Hudson River in Jersey City, New Jersey. They are the largest terminal operator in the United States, operating in more than 80 locations at 42 ports.  The new office on the 18th floor of affords views over Manhattan and Jersey City.

The new office layout offers an open office environment where materials, quality, design, light, and space are combined with functionality to create a holistic solution. Bo-Tikken and AG5 worked in collaboration to establish new flexibility within an existing framework that will help serve Port America’s future office needs.

Danish building regulations require that all workstations must have natural light, and a view to the outside. This is also the case with Port America’s new office. It is achieved by strategically placing workstations so as to maximize the use of natural light, while at the same time limiting glare and reflection on computer screens. The introduction of natural light also facilitates the reduction of general electric lighting. Secondary lighting in the form of wall washers provide a pleasant accent and contribute to achieve an overall optimal lux levels for an office workplace. Glass is used as internal partition walls to emphasize transparency, and enable natural light to penetrate deeper into the floor plan.

Desks, chairs and cabinets in the project have the Nordic Swan eco-label. The Swan eco-label is one of 2 official Scandinavian labels that guarantee a product is among the least environmentally damaging in its category. It also ensures that the products are of high quality, and take into account their users health, with regards to choice of materials and finishes. 

All workplace desks are equipped with adjustable height worktops. Each employee can individually adjust the height of his/her worktop with a touch of a button, allowing them to vary their working position, thus reducing ergonomic related workplace ailments.

Attention to acoustics were also in focus. Careful selection of materials and surfaces contribute to a good acoustic atmosphere. Quality materials and furniture create a visually attractive space, as well as contribute to a healthy work environment.