Public Affairs Firm Manhattan, New York office interior design, NYC commercial architecture photos

Public Affairs Firm in Manhattan

December 12, 2025

Interior Design: Endlessly Lush

Location: Manhattan, NY, USA

Photos: Daniel Wang

Public Affairs Firm, NYC Office Interior Design

Creating a workspace for a growing firm often risks tipping into extremes: the sterile neutrality of corporate workplaces or the over-stylized casualness of co-working hubs. The design for the headquarters of Public Affairs Firm, Manhattan, seeks to establish a counterpoint by offering a balanced backdrop for dialogue, where the rigor of a thoughtfully planned office meets the familiarity of a residence, providing a space that supports focus as much as it invites ease.

Occupying a third of the floor plate on the ninth floor of Midtown South Manhattan, just a brief walk from NOMAD’s design district, the office marks a pivotal shift for the client, transitioning from shared environments into a dedicated home. The raw shell offered the freedom to craft an environment that embodies identity, purpose, and ambition. The design follows a monochromatic palette punctuated by pops of the brand’s signature color, reflecting the client’s identity. Carefully considered details inspired by residential design introduce warmth, ensuring that moving through the space feels like engaging in a layered conversation.

Instead of a formulaic reception desk, the entrance unfolds as a curated lounge with neutral walls and a tastefully integrated logo, flowing into a corridor of framed, monochromatic portraits of trailblazers in America’s political history, who also shaped the founder’s journey. This sequence transforms the threshold into an exhibit, introducing visitors to the people and moments that define the firm.

To the left, a conference room extends this language of expression. The backdrop is layered with portraits of mentors, collaborators and influential political figures, focused by track lighting that renders the walls as if in a gallery. Beyond the usual corporate approach, the lighting is carefully curated to highlight walls as elements that convey meaning and significance.

According to Maxim Butrimov, a lighting expert representing the Turkish professional track lighting manufacturer ULIGHT, track systems are among the most effective tools for creating dynamic, multi-layered lighting environments. Their strength lies not only in precise aiming but in the ability to establish controlled contrast, shaping depth, hierarchy and architectural expression within a space.

Felt paneling provides both visual tactility and acoustic control. A restrained gray palette is punctuated with a black table and camel leather chairs, introducing a playful counterpoint to formality while referencing the brand’s colors. Curtains soften light, while earthen pots and handmade dried florals bring in a homely warmth. A Vesta Board adds a playful, customizable element—its changing messages lending character and surprise to the space. The result is a room capable of hosting intimate dialogues or high-profile gatherings, carrying the gravitas of formality while remaining disarmingly personal.

The collective workspace unfolds as an office designed to reconcile two competing needs, openness and focus. Instead of rigid rows, the layout fosters visibility and ease of interaction. Where many offices stumble by becoming either too exposed or too isolating, this configuration strikes a balance that allows collaboration and concentration to coexist with comfort.

Encircling the shared floor are three private offices. Glass partitions maintain transparency, while blinds offer discretion and comfort. Rather than isolated enclosures, these rooms are used flexibly across the week, providing leadership with privacy while maintaining connection with the team. In the CEO’s office, framed personal notes by family dissolve the sterility of the executive suite, adding warmth and authenticity. Amidst the polished formality of a corner office, these informal moments humanize authority and weave personal expression into the design language.

Beyond workstations, the office acknowledges the importance of social exchange. The commons serve as an active hub, anchored by a sleek black pool table with an ochre felt top that echoes the brand’s identity. Custom cushions and a television, which doubles as a display when not in use, complete a setting designed for casual lunches, impromptu meetings, or lively gatherings that bring the workplace to life.

Across the office, detail operates as the medium of character. While most furniture was standardized and locally sourced for cost-efficiency, selections were guided by ergonomics, durability, and spatial harmony. Each workstation is height-adjustable, underscoring flexibility and comfort.

Locally sourced artisanal planters and potted plants enrich the environment with natural warmth, while exposed ceilings contribute to height and openness. The lighting recalls a residential sensibility, tempering with scale and atmosphere to blur the boundary between office and living space.

The project is an exercise in calibration rather than spectacle. It addresses the shortcomings of typical workplaces, including sterility, anonymity, and inflexibility, by proposing an environment that is at once open and private, formal and personal, precise and warm. Its refinement lies in balance: the ability to hold multiple roles in harmony, functioning as an office for public affairs while remaining deeply grounded in human connection.

Public Affairs Firm office interior in Manhattan, NYC – Building information:

Design: Endlessly Lush

Location: Manhattan, New York
Team: Claudia González or Endlessly Lush
Area: 2,150 square feet
Start Date: 11/20/23
Completion Date: 06/01/24

Photography: Daniel Wang – https://dwangphoto.com/

Public Affairs Firm, Manhattan, USA images / information received 111225

Location: New York City, USA

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