When boutique creative agency The Vault moved a few blocks east in Manhattan to a 7,000-square-foot space on Third Avenue, the idea was to open things up.
“Our last office was a lot of walls and cubicles,” said Managing Partner Jon Paley, of his company’s new digs on the 21st floor of 747 Third Ave. The space offers dramatic views of the nearby Chrysler Building and it offers few doors, let alone walls.
“We wanted something that was minimalist, but still comfortable, open and bright,” Paley explained.
A variety of work areas are conducive for ideation, writing and editing. Employees also have a kitchen and eating area and, of course, a video editing bay. Scant paper is evident and the bright ivory walls are devoid of art, though Paley explained that’s more because of an increasing workload from clients such as BMW, ESPN, Puma and the NHL than a desire to be completely minimalist.
“By having one big space, we ended up with a lot of different spaces within,” he said.
Sounds like a minimalist, all right.
Photo gallery: The Vault
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Managing Partner Jon Paley
Photo: patrick e. mccarthy 
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Corner office, Manhattan view.
Photo: patrick e. mccarthy 
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Michigan 1997 championship helmet signed by entire team.
Photo: patrick e. mccarthy 
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Paley’s Michigan Early Career Achievement Award.
Photo: patrick e. mccarthy 
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From left: Director Lorenzo De Guia; Project Coordinator Tyler Fodiman; Managing Partner Jon Paley; Managing Director Josh Weissglass; and Producer Tommy Walker.
Photo: patrick e. mccarthy 
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Prop from an ESPN ad starring Jalen Rose promoting “The Wolverine.”
Photo: patrick e. mccarthy 
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Hat signed by golfer Dustin Johnson. Vault worked with him on a TaylorMade campaign.
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Football signed by Desmond Howard.
Photo: patrick e. mccarthy 
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Studio space
Photo: patrick e. mccarthy 
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Piece of the Superdome floor, signed by the Fab Five, from Michigan’s 1993 Final Four appearance.
Photo: patrick e. mccarthy 
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Cereal box prop from an ABC/ESPN NBA campaign with Justin Timberlake.
Photo: patrick e. mccarthy 
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Art Director Mike Mills and Managing Partner Jon Paley discuss the day’s agenda in one of the studio spaces.
Photo: patrick e. mccarthy 
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Contemporary kitchen space and lunch counter.
Photo: patrick e. mccarthy 
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Space adjacent to the elevator lobby can be used for impromptu meetings.
Photo: patrick e. mccarthy 
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Jon Paley, editor Ben White and producer Tom Carley edit video for client BMW.
Photo: patrick e. mccarthy 
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Natural light in the office illuminates a variety of industry awards for Vault’s work.
Photo: patrick e. mccarthy PREVIOUS
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