Collision Lab at Cornell Tech Bridging academia and industry to catalyze innovation

Client Two Sigma
Location New York, NY
Size 5,700 sq ft
Completion 2018
Program Incubator Lab, offices, conference rooms
Delivery Negotiated GMP
Photographer Bilyana Dimitrova

As the inaugural tenant of the Tata Innovation Center, Two Sigma wanted their new workspace to harness the vision for Cornell Tech’s campus on Roosevelt Island: “to spur the commercialization of new products and technologies by bringing together the best in academia and industry.”

Workplace inspired by the scientific method

Reflecting Two Sigma’s investment strategy, which is rooted in the scientific method, interior design draws on the principles of experimentation and discovery to spark innovation among engineers, students, and venture-funded entrepreneurs. A flexible, informal lab environment served as the guiding vision—this is the place to roll up your sleeves and experiment together. The simple, open layout, with views of the island, river, and city, feels equal parts maker-space, student union, and modern workplace.

User Driven Design

Adaptable spaces to interact and invent

Collision Lab features a variety of adaptable workspaces, with design, furniture, and materials chosen to meet specific needs. Plug-and-play workstations adjust to different team sizes and functions, while movable desks, whiteboards, and seating encourage customized setups. The open layout is anchored by a central community table and a sculptural acoustic canopy, creating distinct zones for both quieter and more dynamic work. Conference rooms, a hidden pantry, and support spaces are organized within two pavilions along the north and south sides. These pavilions offer a range of meeting rooms, from a seven-person conference room to a cozy “crawl” space.

A raised platform extends from the south pavilion, creating a hub for social interaction and doubling as a stage for all-hands meetings and panel discussions. Positioned at the heart of the Lab, the platform reinforces Two Sigma’s core values of teaching and collaboration, making it a central element of the workspace’s design.

Tech ethereal

The team introduced the concept of “tech ethereal,” an elevated approach to tech interiors, combining clean lines with a palette of earth tones and vibrant organic colors inspired by Two Sigma’s branding. In the conference rooms, chartreuse upholstery contrasts with mottled cork, while a trough of Irish Moss adds a natural touch to the white oak central platform. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows flood the Collision Lab with daylight, framing a striking tableau of midtown Manhattan and creating a transparent connection to the Cornell Tech campus below.

Details

Collaboration and autonomy

Collision Lab is designed to support the two core conditions of knowledge work—collaboration and autonomy. It enables people to interact, share, and develop ideas while also giving them control over their individual processes. The space thrives on the way entrepreneurs—Cornell Tech academics, Two Sigma professionals, and venture-funded partners—come together, customize the environment, and innovate.