McKinsey & Co. welcomed local leaders, partners, alumni and community members on Nov. 21 to unveil its new office space at Ironside Newark at 110 Edison Place in Newark. — All images courtesy: McKinsey
By Joshua Burd
McKinsey & Co. has opened the doors to its new office in Newark, where it will house some 700 employees after a high-profile move to the landmark Ironside Newark property.
The global consulting firm recently welcomed local leaders, partners, alumni and community members to celebrate the relocation and the significance of the space at 110 Edison Place. That includes bringing its New Jersey team under one roof, consolidating long-established offices in Summit and Jersey City, while allowing it to become part of Newark’s tight-knit business community and show its commitment to the state’s largest city.
The company occupies an undisclosed amount of space at the distinctive, industrial-style office and retail building owned by Edison Properties, which is also home to Mars Wrigley Confectionary’s North American headquarters and other well-known tenants.
“We are firm believers in the power of community, in collaborating with our neighbors, in helping make investments in the future,” said Jocelyn Grahame, McKinsey’s office managing partner of New Jersey, adding: “One of the things that brought us to Newark is we are inspired by folks who have that same philosophy, who have put down real roots, not only in this state, but in this city.”
SLIDESHOW: McKinsey at Ironside Newark
The Nov. 21 grand opening event featured remarks from Grahame and McKinsey Global Managing Partner Bob Sternfels, as well as a welcome video from U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, according to a news release. It also included a presentation by JP Julien, a McKinsey partner and leader of the firm’s Black Economic Mobility Institute, on the state of Black residents in Essex County and achieving equity in Newark.
Additionally, the company hosted a panel discussion with Aisha Glover, global head of urban innovation at Audible, as well as Newark Alliance CEO and President Evan Weiss, Julien and moderator Jeffrey Lewis, senior partner at McKinsey New Jersey, on driving greater economic growth and development in Newark. As McKinsey noted, panelists explored how companies can have an outsized impact on cities like Newark by investing in people and places, including local hiring and supporting small businesses and community infrastructure.
Lewis also spearheaded the design and buildout of the office, working alongside full-service design firm HLW and contractor JRM Construction Management. The space is meant to convey the history and culture of Newark, the Ironside Newark building and New Jersey, with elements including exposed brick and historical elements for the city and greenery, natural light and a terrace overlooking Mulberry Park to evoke the Garden State.
McKinsey’s Newark office also integrates rail and train elements throughout, from the reception area to the hallways to the booths designed in the form of community and quiet cars, all of it paying homage to Ironside Newark’s history as a warehouse for railroad freight that was connected to Newark’s elevated track network. Edison Properties restored and redeveloped the property, built in 1907, into a 456,000-square-foot office and retail building as part of a project completed roughly five years ago, seeking to capitalize on its location next to Newark Penn Station, the Prudential Center and other revitalized parts of the downtown.
The consulting giant, meantime, said the office showcases a vibrant collection of works by Newark and New Jersey artists. Pieces include:
- “The Spirit of Newark,” a mural by Simone Bailey Campbell depicting Newark’s spirit in bloom and transition from darkness to light
- Multicultural fabric art by Ghanian emigrant and Newark-native Kwesi Kwarteng
- New Jersey-inspired photography by PappasBland
- Artwork incorporating synthetic and raw materials by Newark-based Jaz Graf
- A collaborative mural by Gera Lozano and Jari Alvarez titled “The Unique Wonder of Newark,” which celebrates the city
“When moving our New Jersey office location to Newark, we wanted to ensure we brought the heart of the city into our office space,” Lewis said. “I’m thrilled we’ve been able to do so through the incorporation of unique design elements and collaborations with Newark Arts and incredible local artists.”
McKinsey plans move to Newark, eyeing new home for hundreds of New Jersey employees
