MasterCard International Global Headquarters
Encyclopedia
The MasterCard International Global Headquarters is an office building located at 2000 Purchase Street in the town of Harrison, New York
that was constructed in the early 1980s as part of a movement of large corporations to suburban estate settings and has been called the "architectural jewel of Westchester". The building is part of the Purchase Centre complex and originally was constructed by the Nestle
company and occupied by IBM
for several years. It was designed by I. M. Pei
of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners
and has won awards over the years for its architectural
style.
, New York
to a new site in Harrison, New York. Nestle had been one of the first companies to move to a suburban environment 25 years early and was part of a general relocation movement at the time of companies' headquarters to "estate settings". Nestle stated that if the town did not grant a zoning amendment for the parcel it had selected, it would move the headquarters out of the state. However, the town of Harrison objected to the construction on the grounds that the new building would interfere with the town's zoning plan that had been adopted five years earlier and would cause traffic flow problems in the area. Then-governor of New York, Hugh Carey
, intervened on behalf of Nestle, but in June 1977 the town board rejected the request for the zoning amendment. Nestle then approached Manhattanville College
, which had recently announced plans to sell 135 acre (0.5463261 km²) of surplus land from its 250 acres (1 km²) campus. With subsequent state modifications to the I-684 highway to the site, it became possible for the construction of the headquarters.
By 1980 Nestle had commissioned renowned architect I. M. Pei
to design the building, which would be composed of a central saw-toothed parallelogram and two quarter-circle wings. Then in 1982, Nestle announced that it had sold the half-completed building to IBM
as a result of changing financial projections and that it would remain in its White Plains location. Later in 1986 Nestle constructed a new building across the road from the 2000 Purchase Street facility that would serve as its headquarters until it moved again to Glendale
, California
in 1992.
IBM would use the facility to centralize activities in the Westchester area from 1985 to 1992 when it began moving employees to other facilities as part of cost containment efforts. By 1994 the facility was purchased by MasterCard
to serve as its global headquarters. MasterCard moved into 2000 Purchase Street in October 1995 and in December 2001 acquired the 100 Manhattanville Road facility to serve as its North American Region headquarters.
stone and architectural concrete to maximize the effectiveness of natural resources. The facility is composed of a central lobby with a full-height atrium
and two quarter-circle wings to the north and west with smaller atria, all incorporating natural features such as ficus
trees and an indoor stream. Also on-site is a cafeteria, a company store, and other employee amenities. An 1,100 car parking facility is built into a hillside on the site.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
that was constructed in the early 1980s as part of a movement of large corporations to suburban estate settings and has been called the "architectural jewel of Westchester". The building is part of the Purchase Centre complex and originally was constructed by the Nestle
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
company and occupied by IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
for several years. It was designed by I. M. Pei
I. M. Pei
Ieoh Ming Pei , commonly known as I. M. Pei, is a Chinese American architect, often called a master of modern architecture. Born in Canton, China and raised in Hong Kong and Shanghai, Pei drew inspiration at an early age from the gardens at Suzhou...
of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners
Pei Cobb Freed & Partners
Pei Cobb Freed & Partners is an architectural firm that was founded in 1955 by I. M. Pei as I. M. Pei & Associates, in 1966 called I. M. Pei & Partners, and received its current name and organization in 1989. The founders were I. M. Pei, Henry N. Cobb, and Eason H. Leonard. Pei and Leonard retired...
and has won awards over the years for its architectural
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
style.
History
In 1977 the United States-based component of the Nestle corporation announced that it intended to move from its headquarters in White PlainsWhite Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to a new site in Harrison, New York. Nestle had been one of the first companies to move to a suburban environment 25 years early and was part of a general relocation movement at the time of companies' headquarters to "estate settings". Nestle stated that if the town did not grant a zoning amendment for the parcel it had selected, it would move the headquarters out of the state. However, the town of Harrison objected to the construction on the grounds that the new building would interfere with the town's zoning plan that had been adopted five years earlier and would cause traffic flow problems in the area. Then-governor of New York, Hugh Carey
Hugh Carey
Hugh Leo Carey was an American attorney, the 51st Governor of New York from 1975 to 1982, and a seven-term United States Representative .- Early life :...
, intervened on behalf of Nestle, but in June 1977 the town board rejected the request for the zoning amendment. Nestle then approached Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, located in Purchase, New York. Founded in 1841 it was known initially as Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart...
, which had recently announced plans to sell 135 acre (0.5463261 km²) of surplus land from its 250 acres (1 km²) campus. With subsequent state modifications to the I-684 highway to the site, it became possible for the construction of the headquarters.
By 1980 Nestle had commissioned renowned architect I. M. Pei
I. M. Pei
Ieoh Ming Pei , commonly known as I. M. Pei, is a Chinese American architect, often called a master of modern architecture. Born in Canton, China and raised in Hong Kong and Shanghai, Pei drew inspiration at an early age from the gardens at Suzhou...
to design the building, which would be composed of a central saw-toothed parallelogram and two quarter-circle wings. Then in 1982, Nestle announced that it had sold the half-completed building to IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
as a result of changing financial projections and that it would remain in its White Plains location. Later in 1986 Nestle constructed a new building across the road from the 2000 Purchase Street facility that would serve as its headquarters until it moved again to Glendale
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1992.
IBM would use the facility to centralize activities in the Westchester area from 1985 to 1992 when it began moving employees to other facilities as part of cost containment efforts. By 1994 the facility was purchased by MasterCard
MasterCard
Mastercard Incorporated or MasterCard Worldwide is an American multinational financial services corporation with its headquarters in the MasterCard International Global Headquarters, Purchase, Harrison, New York, United States...
to serve as its global headquarters. MasterCard moved into 2000 Purchase Street in October 1995 and in December 2001 acquired the 100 Manhattanville Road facility to serve as its North American Region headquarters.
Structure
The facility is a three-story building that incorporates travertineTravertine
Travertine is a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, especially hot springs. Travertine often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, and cream-colored varieties. It is formed by a process of rapid precipitation of calcium carbonate, often at the mouth of a hot...
stone and architectural concrete to maximize the effectiveness of natural resources. The facility is composed of a central lobby with a full-height atrium
Atrium (architecture)
In modern architecture, an atrium is a large open space, often several stories high and having a glazed roof and/or large windows, often situated within a larger multistory building and often located immediately beyond the main entrance doors...
and two quarter-circle wings to the north and west with smaller atria, all incorporating natural features such as ficus
Ficus
Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The Common Fig Ficus is a genus of...
trees and an indoor stream. Also on-site is a cafeteria, a company store, and other employee amenities. An 1,100 car parking facility is built into a hillside on the site.
Awards
- 1988 Building Stone Institute: Annual Tucker Award
- 1986 American Institute of Architects: National Honor Award
- 1986 Concrete Industry Board: Annual Award