Maggie Giaccone, 33

Maggie Giaccone likes to tell stories. Not in images, film or text — but in real estate. The senior associate at TPG draws up offices with flair. Just look at the offices of the French spirits company Remy Cointreau in New York’s Midtown.

Giaccone designed Remy’s U.S. headquarters to look like “its own cellar,” Giaccone said. “The team at 3 Times Square is just as important as the true cellar masters because they are the people who market the product and get it on shelves.”

And Giaccone delivered. She, along with her team and the client, created an elevator lobby where the ceiling curves to resemble an underground bottle cellar. Once inside the office, they added white Venetian plaster to contrast.

“This client is very proud of its heritage and brand, and wanted to build this story along with me,” Giaccone said. 

Another example is Clear. When the biometric travel company moved to Chelsea, Giaccone applied a similar ethos. The company, whose ID-confirming kiosks are stationed in major airports, wanted a space that would be minimal and frictionless to reflect its brand. 

Giaccone and her team placed dichroic glass in the lobby, which can display different colors depending on the lighting. The design feature functions not only as a physical manifestation of the company’s name, but also reflects the sky’s different colors. They also added C-shaped lights above a staircase to resemble the Clear logo.

“Design is like a puzzle,” Giaccone said. “It’s not just the pretty pictures, but about how specific strategies behind planning make something holistic and functional.”

Giaccone’s love for design dates back to her childhood. “Growing up, I’d attempt to redesign my room and then ask my mom if I could redecorate our bathrooms. I just wanted to create.”