CEO Aaron Cohen showed me around their new concrete offices
in the
Starrett Lehigh building on 26th Street and 11th Avenue on
Tuesday,
August 15. The mustard-yellow paneled bookshelves above the
rows of
metal desk units conveys the campus-like atmosphere that
Cohen was
going after. Smooth circular bathroom tiles paved the way to
fiberglass pod-conference rooms. The space-age conference
phones
were still sitting in their boxes, waiting for deep new
media
voices to boom out strategies and plans over it. As Aaron
explained, the company will be changing its name to Concrete
Inc.
in an effort to establish itself as the intellectual center
of
Silicon Alley. The space, designed by architects Specht
Harpmann
and constructed by MBI, flows throughout the floor and
includes
two terraces -- one will be enclosed -- for parties and
catered
events.Perks for Concrete workers include select dinner
parties on
the terrace and corporate membership to Chelsea Piers! As
Aaron
spoke to the guests and announced unofficially the company’s
new name --Concrete Inc. -- I sipped a seltzer water with
Inside.com's director of bizdev Andrew Gelman and Colby
Hall.
Before ducking out, Shopguide.com Inc. COO Albert Crane said
"hello" and I spied Concrete's chief production
officer Kit Cody
and director of technology Julie Hsu.
****
KORRECTIONS
Last week's edition incorrectly identified Vault.com as a spin-off from Concrete Media. Vault.com is not a spin off of Concrete Media, it is an independently
owned and operated career site.