BIG EAST Settles into New York City Office Space
Sept. 29, 2014
NEW YORK – The BIG EAST is officially moved into its new headquarters at 655 Third Avenue in midtown Manhattan, Conference Commissioner Val Ackerman announced today.
The office, located on the southeastern corner of Third Avenue and 42nd Street, will serve as the principal location for BIG EAST conference staff and be available to administrators from BIG EAST member institutions traveling to the New York metropolitan area.
“During last year’s reconfiguration, our presidents made the strategic decision to situate the conference headquarters in New York City, and we are very excited to be finally settled into our new home,” said Commissioner Ackerman. “The conference has long enjoyed a close connection to New York City, and our now permanent placement in midtown Manhattan will allow us to build on the many commercial, media and sports industry connections we have in this area.”
The seventh floor space encompasses 13,742 square feet and features customized designs that honor the history of the conference while showcasing the unique identity of its 10 current member schools. In the welcome area, 10 large jersey banners – one for each institution – are arranged side-by-side to greet visitors. In an adjacent lounge area, a history wall with stunning black-and-white pictures chronicles many of the conference’s most historic moments to date and pays homage to 1979, the year the BIG EAST was founded.
BIG EAST Founder Dave Gavitt is recognized prominently with one of his quotes (“And the March of the BIG EAST Goes On”), which is embossed on the glass wall of a large conference room.
Deeper within the space, two specially-designed acrylic panels support colorful photos of the venues, campuses, bands, crowds, sports and mascots that help to shape the conference identity. The dining area, coined “Big Eats,” features one wall printed in red with the names of the many dining halls at each of the 10 schools. Corridor columns along the space’s west wall are wrapped with colored panels containing expressions used in many of the conference’s sports, including well-known basketball phrases.
The conference’s signature colors – blue, white, and red – complement the overall office color scheme. Additional photography and graphic designs will be installed in the coming months.
Conference officials worked closely with Gensler, a leading design and architecture firm, on the interior décor and design plan. Gardiner & Theobald served as the conference’s project manager.
In April 2014, the Conference signed a 10-year lease with The Durst Organization for the space. Beginning in July 2013, the conference occupied temporary space in the Times Square office of its outside law firm, Proskauer LLP. Before its move to New York, the BIG EAST was headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island.
About the BIG EAST
Headquartered in New York City, the BIG EAST is Butler University, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University, and Xavier University.
The BIG EAST institutions are located in seven of the nation's top 35 largest media markets, including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Cincinnati.