When Orion Resource Partners — a global alternative investment management company in the realm of precious metals and mining — relocated its New York headquarters to the 25th floor of the city’s 7 Bryant Park tower in 2019, it was looking for more than a prestigious address in the steel and glass trophy building designed by architect Henry N. Cobb.

It also wanted to foster a strong brand identity that encapsulated its values and unique position within its industry. Enter the local office of M Moser Associates, the award-winning international architecture, design and consultancy firm known for its human-centric approach. “They take immense pride in who they are and what sets them apart,” says senior designer Arianne Biton, who, along with her team, worked closely with Orion’s CEO and COO to articulate its ethos in order to reflect it in the design.

For the lobby of Orion Resource Partners headquarters in New York, M Moser Associates chose two Chemetal surfaces — platinum-like Gotham Aluminum (608) and copper-esque Weathered Aluminum (600) — to reference the products that the client trades in.

Conceptualizing a visual journey that begins once the elevator opens onto the lobby, a “consistent and cohesive” identity is woven throughout the 1,393-square-metre space with a thoughtful palette of materials and finishes referencing the base and precious metals that Orion mines and trades in, from copper and zinc to platinum and gold.

Open meeting and breakout areas are segmented by glass dividers, bringing natural light deeper into the new office space.

“When thinking of the materiality,” says Biton, “we wanted to reflect the architecture with something that was pliable and also readily available.” To that end, the designers turned to Chemetal, the more-than-50-year-old family-run manufacturer of decorative metals and laminates.

Rugged details such as oversized nuts and bolts on built-ins further reinforce the brand’s identity. A living wall was situated where it would be visible from a windowless conference room, ensuring that every internal space has a connection to nature.

Contrasting warm with cool, the reception area features two distinct surfaces. One, resembling rusted steel, clads the angular main desk and frames a living wall visible deeper within; the other is a mottled grey that covers a central volume with a recessed banquette and continues in the employee kitchen and built-in cabinetry.

In the employees’ kitchen, Chemetal’s Gotham Aluminum continues on a wall of cabinets and the island, with Weathered Aluminum reappearing as a feature wall. Apple green tiles, warm wood and leather provide rich visual contrasts.

Poured resin flooring in the lobby complements the exposed concrete elsewhere, while grey-toned carpet tiles with organic patterns soften the mood in the conference rooms and private workspaces. All, in the end, successfully distill Orion’s product line from a “macro to micro level.”