Glenmede Headquarters

Overview

Opportunity

Solution

Impact

Team

Glenmede’s Philadelphia headquarters transforms a legacy workplace into a dynamic destination rooted in heritage, connection, and forward-looking employee experiences.

Location

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Client

Glenmede

Expertise

Financial Services Brand Design [FPO] Interior Design Strategy

Opportunity

Glenmede needed a workplace that could honor its Philadelphia legacy while supporting hybrid work, stronger connections, and a more compelling client experience.

Glenmede’s previous office reflected a more formal era, with dark wood paneling, heavy drapery, and enclosed spaces that limited interaction. A rebrand created an opportunity to align the physical workplace with the firm’s principles of camaraderie, agility, and innovation. The firm also chose to remain in Center City, reinforcing its Philadelphia roots while competing for talent and adapting to hybrid work. Consolidating from four floors to three required the new headquarters to improve efficiency without sacrificing choice, collaboration, privacy, or a strong sense of identity.

Why This Matters

01
Legacy, Reimagined
Glenmede needed its workplace to express continuity and trust while signaling that a heritage financial services firm could confidently embrace new ways of working.
02
Hybrid, Made Human
Employees needed flexibility without losing connection, requiring varied work settings, shared destinations, focus spaces, and amenities that made the office worth returning to every day.
03
A Stronger Welcome
The headquarters had to elevate client and community experiences while giving employees a workplace that could host companywide moments and strengthen organizational culture.

We invested significant time and effort in the physical space, ensuring the amenities, technology, and layout supported different ways of working. This office is a destination for employees and clients, designed around hospitality and community.

Solution

A new circulation strategy turns the workplace inside out, using a reoriented stair and river-inspired gathering spaces to connect people, floors, and experiences.

Gensler repositioned the main stair parallel to the perimeter, opening views and creating a continuous three-story connection between floors. The new Calacatta Turquoise marble stair becomes a sculptural centerpiece and backdrop for an elevated atrium capable of hosting company town halls and community events. A custom metal rod wall echoes the Schuylkill River while integrating light and an A/V screen. Unassigned workstations, focus rooms, touchdown spaces, and varied desk configurations support hybrid work, while a barista bar, library, recording studio, and art collection enrich everyday and client experiences.

From brief to build: how the design team translated Glenmede’s rebrand and Philadelphia roots into a workplace shaped by movement, flexibility, and carefully curated connection.

The team began with the existing four-floor workplace and identified the stair as a key barrier to openness and interaction. Reorienting it established a clearer circulation spine and opened the floorplates. The river-inspired concept carried through the custom rod wall, marble stair, material palette, and gathering spaces. Workplace planning then layered in unassigned seating, focus rooms, touchdown spaces, acoustic strategies, and hospitality amenities to balance efficiency with choice, privacy, and connection.

Impact

Glenmede’s new headquarters turns its rebrand into a tangible workplace experience, strengthening connection, flexibility, and the firm’s Philadelphia identity for the future.

The redesigned workplace supports hybrid work, elevates client arrival, and creates a shared destination for employees, companywide events, and community gatherings across locations.

What Changed Because of This

01
Workplace Choice
Unassigned workstations, focus rooms, touchdown areas, and varied desk settings give employees greater control over where and how they work.
02
Shared Connection
A three-story stair and atrium create a central social spine, supporting collaboration, town halls, community events, and connections across Glenmede’s offices.
03
Brand Expression
River-inspired forms, signature green accents, exposed structure, art, and a curated library translate Glenmede’s heritage and rebrand into a distinctive physical identity.

Recognition

01

Philadelphia Business Journal

Glenmede’s new headquarters at One Liberty Place was spotlighted for Gensler’s workplace design, reimagined to support hybrid work.

Team

Project Leadership

[FPO] Linda Pileggi

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[FPO] Annie Portner

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FAQ

01

Where is Glenmede Headquarters located?

Glenmede Headquarters is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, within the iconic One Liberty Building in Center City.

02

Who designed Glenmede Headquarters?

Gensler designed the reimagined headquarters, partnering with Glenmede to create a modern workplace rooted in the firm’s heritage.

03

How large is the project?

The project encompasses approximately 65,000 square feet across three workplace floors.

04

How does the workplace support hybrid work?

The headquarters uses unassigned workstations, varied desk configurations, focus rooms, touchdown spaces, and shared amenities to give employees greater flexibility and choice.

05

What are some of the project’s signature design features?

Key features include a three-story Calacatta Turquoise marble stair, a custom metal rod wall, a multi-floor atrium, a barista bar, library, recording studio, and curated art collection.

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Related Expertise

Financial Services Brand Design Interior Design Strategy

Glenmede’s Philadelphia headquarters transforms a legacy workplace into a dynamic destination rooted in heritage, connection, and forward-looking employee experiences.

Glenmede needed a workplace that could honor its Philadelphia legacy while supporting hybrid work, stronger connections, and a more compelling client experience.

Why This Matters

A new circulation strategy turns the workplace inside out, using a reoriented stair and river-inspired gathering spaces to connect people, floors, and experiences.

From brief to build: how the design team translated Glenmede’s rebrand and Philadelphia roots into a workplace shaped by movement, flexibility, and carefully curated connection.

Glenmede’s new headquarters turns its rebrand into a tangible workplace experience, strengthening connection, flexibility, and the firm’s Philadelphia identity for the future.

What Changed Because of This