Valley Headquarters and Ethan & the Bean

As people continue to live and work in highly experiential locations, suburban downtowns and main streets across the U.S. are experiencing a renaissance. Organizations recognize that high-quality talent seek highly amenitized and transit-accessible locations for work. With a desire to embed itself in the community, Valley Bank chose to relocate from a campus to a mixed-use building in downtown Morristown. The new office needed to provide proximity to walkable amenities, offer a choice of work settings, and showcase the company’s commitment to local impact.

Valley’s headquarters serves as both a destination and a workplace for employees. Gensler’s design strategy unites the six-floor office through two sets of communicating stairs that emphasize transparency and visual connectivity. The fully leased ground-floor retail space encourages interaction between Valley and the greater Morristown community. A glass facade enhances the office’s biophilic quality, providing abundant natural light and views of tree-lined Morristown.

The headquarters stands as a tangible expression of Valley’s values, offering employees a choice of work settings while embedding the company in downtown Morristown. Ethan & the Bean, the ground-floor nonprofit café, employs adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and welcomes the public. The gourmet coffee amenity activates downtown pedestrian life and fosters serendipitous exchanges between Valley employees and the surrounding community.