District Council 37 Offices – New York City
The Switzer Group’s District Council 37 offices in New York City masterfully transforms the historic 1920s World Telegram building into a vibrant workspace that honors the legacy of public service and community engagement.
The architectural and interior design for the new home of DC37 reimagines the original 1920s World Telegram building as a dynamic, forward-thinking space that honors the rich legacy of New York City’s largest public employee union. Embracing the layered history of both the building and the union, the project balances a celebration of the architectural bones while integrating flexible, contemporary workspaces and member engagement areas.
Central to the design is a deep reverence for the building’s original structure. Exposed terracotta, concrete columns, and open ceilings are highlighted to reflect the industrial character of the early 20th-century print halls. Large windows and a new terracotta facade pay homage to the building’s first skin as well as the materiality of a New York Brownstone. Interiors have transparency to natural light, and exterior views. Materiality of the architectural interiors celebrate strength and simplicity. Featuring steel, concrete and oak wood.
Public and member-focused spaces—including a ground-floor union hall, Member resource center, and rooftop event space with garden feature branding installations chronicling DC37’s decades-long fight for workers’ rights, civil service, and social justice. Throughout, motifs of solidarity, labor, and progress are embedded in the design language through materials, graphics, and historical imagery from the union archives. This adaptive reuse transforms 125 Barclay into a dynamic center for community, advocacy, and the next generation of union organizing.
Design: The Switzer Group
Project Managment: Avison Young
Contractor: Hunter Roberts
Photography: Colin Miller
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