The Atrium

Brand / Program Direction & Management / Environmental Design

Together with a remarkable internal team working at American Bible Society, we assembled an outstanding team of creative minds and production professionals to develop a 2.1 million dollar innovative third space on Columbus Circle in New York.

The Atrium at ABS Headquarters served as a place of gracious hospitality, a gift for the Lincoln Center and Columbus Circle community on Broadway in NYC. It provided a comfortable, relaxing environment for the community while displaying modern creative expressions of Scripture on several HD and interactive exhibits.

The Atrium was staffed by a host who interacted with guests on any topic of faith and life. This led to hundreds of dynamic stories of impact from our visitors. Often referred to as "The Apple Store meets Starbucks meets the Bible," our guests commented that there was simply no other space in New York like it.

Prior to The Atrium's opening, the existing bookstore attracted roughly 200 visitors per month. At its peak, the Atrium hosted nearly 4,000 visitors through events & programming, with a regular average of 1,500-2,000 monthly, an increase of 750 - 2,000%.

A primary goal for the Atrium was to cultivate a space for all people – antagoists, skeptics, and the Bible-engaged alike – to spark meaningful and gracious conversations to explore the Scriptures in new ways.

Below are some highlights of the development and operation of the space.

After months of careful planning, the area was cleared and prepped.

The vision was planned and mapped.

The fabricators created an incredible modular environment, while the multimedia production company installed multiple interactive environments.

Innovative interactive experiences were featured throughout.

The Broadway-facing LED screen displayed a variety of dynamic interactive experiences over a 2-year period, engaging thousands of visitors.

The Atrium hosted dozens of remarkable events during its lifespan.

The Atrium had over 1,000 visitors each month and became a surprising place for people to explore questions about faith and life.

See also: The Interactive Media Wall