For JPMorgan employees, taking your work home just got a lot more literal.
Employees who got on an internal waitlist can purchase a $150 LEGO-style replica of the bank’s new, $3 billion headquarters at 270 Park Avenue, according to screenshots of waitlist instructions reviewed by Business Insider. A source familiar with the product said the replica sets at the headquarters’ internal gift shop sold out quickly when the building first opened. Representatives for JPMorgan declined to comment.
The bank has been a leader in Wall Street’s return-to-office push, and the new building has cemented its commitment to in-person work in the country’s financial capital. The scramble for a miniature version of the headquarters also shows how much buzz it’s generated. 270 Park Avenue has taken on a life of its own — tourists will stop to take photos in front of the skyscraper, and TikTok is full of videos about the amenities
Buying the toy is no simple process — employees had to get on the waitlist for the 1,903-piece set before February 9. Starting after 10 am on February 26, those on the coveted list had 72 hours to pick up their replica from the shop, which offers everything from JPMorgan merchandise to trendy olive oil.
Only the employee on the waitlist can pick up the set during the 72-hour window, and they have to show either their JPMorgan ID, a state-issued ID, or their passport. As of now, there are enough replicas for everyone on the waitlist, and any extra sets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis after March 10.
Yet hope will remain for those who miss their waitlist window and don’t snag one of the leftovers, since the waitlist will reopen after April 1, according to the screenshots. Appearances aside, the building isn’t an official LEGO product, but rather made out of repackaged and “re-used LEGO elements,” the box specifies.
The resale market is already capitalizing on JPMorgan fervor: someone is selling what appears to be the toy for $500 on eBay. The product is 6.5 x 16.3 inches, according to the post, compared to the actual skyscraper’s height of 1,388 feet. Multiple platforms, including Walmart and Amazon, are selling dupes of the duped building, though those toys have 3,180 pieces and a slightly altered design.
JPMorgan’s new headquarters boasts a suite of offerings beyond repurposed LEGO bricks. The building, which opened in October and can house around 14,000 employees, has an array of restaurants, a pub, a gym, and an ever-waving American flag, to name just a few amenities.
With its LED lighting display, the 60-story building has changed Manhattan’s skyline, easy to spot from across the boroughs. Now, it’s moving beyond architecture and subtly changing interior design for those few who can get their hands on the replica.
Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at [email protected] or Signal at alicetecotzky.05. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here’s our guide to sharing information securely.
Read the full article here
