Brooklyn's Progress
September 2003

Story provided by Empire

9 Metrotech Provides State-of-the-Art Technology for Enhanced Workspace and Communications

More than 750 employees of Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield began moving into the company’s new Brooklyn location at 9 MetroTech Center in September.  The move puts staff in new, permanent space after occupying temporary space for two years around Manhattan after the company’s displacement from its offices at One World Trade Center following the attack on September 11, 2001.

“We are very excited about the completion of our new facility at MetroTech.,” said Michael A. Stocker, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer.  “We are a New York company and we’re committed to remaining in New York after the events of September 11th.  We are particularly excited to become part of the downtown Brooklyn community, a vibrant, burgeoning area with great amenities and easy access to transportation that cultivates a thriving corporate environment.”

Corporate functions that will be located at 9 MetroTech include auditing, general counsel and fraud, systems, technology, and infrastructure, marketing and sales, national accounts, operations, document services, finance, human resources, managed care and medical delivery.  At its new site, Empire is utilizing cutting-edge technology in workspaces and meeting areas.  Empire will mix standard furniture with movable furniture to allow for  “community centers” where flexible, modular spaces can be created.  “Smart boards,” walls that enable staff to display presentations via embedded technology, will also be widely available.

In addition, all workspaces will be equipped with a laptop drawer, as more employees will use laptop computers for greater work environment flexibility.  Employees will also begin using “soft phones” and network-based phones, mobile telecommunications with next generation technology that receive service through network based connections.  This technology allows greater flexibility when moving employees within sites and site to site.

In addition to MetroTech, the company has seven major office locations in New York including its headquarters at 11 West 42nd Street in New York City, and facilities in Albany, Middletown, Melville, Syracuse and Yorktown.

9 MetroTech Center is owned by Forest City Ratner Company and designed by Cesar Pelli & Swanke Hayden Connell.
 
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield is the largest health insurer in New York State, based on PPO and HMO membership.  Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc., d/b/a/ Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and Empire HealthChoice HMO, Inc., d/b/a Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield HMO, are licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, and have the exclusive right to use the Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and marks throughout 10 downstate New York counties and one or both of these names and marks in select upstate counties.  For more information on Empire, visit http://www.empireblue.com/.