DDB Contracting has completed a 22,000 square foot corporate headquarters fit out for Whatman, a UK based paper manufacturer with a 300 year history, delivered for client Advance Realty in Florham Park, NJ.
Whatman set out to turn a company built on centuries of tradition into a modern, high tech environment that could welcome clients and showcase their products. The scope included a reception area, conference center, and a dedicated product demonstration space, all designed to tell Whatman’s story from past to present.
Custom glass walls run between the reception area and the conference and demonstration rooms, displaying enlarged historic photos from the late nineteenth century that capture Whatman’s original paper making process. Directly across from that history wall sits a contrasting future wall, featuring vinyl transfers of Whatman’s current products, giving visitors a clear view of where the company has been and where it’s headed.
Integrated LED lighting throughout the reception area adds another layer to the space, phasing through a full spectrum of colors over a twelve hour cycle and adjusting seasonally, creating a dynamic backdrop that reflects Whatman’s modern brand identity.
“We’re proud to have delivered a headquarters that honors 300 years of history while giving Whatman a space built for the future,” said Edward Albanese, Founder of DDB Contracting. “Projects like this are a reminder that great design can hold onto a company’s past while still pushing its brand forward.”
As DDB Contracting continues to take on corporate headquarters and fit out projects, the Whatman headquarters stands as an example of the kind of work the company takes pride in: building spaces that tell a client’s story as clearly as they serve their day to day operations.
Visit DDB Contracting’s Projects Page to explore more of the company’s work across the region.