MBT (architect), GTE Government Systems Group (1988), Mountain View, California.

Chauncey Jones

B.Arch. '74

MBT (architect), GTE Government Systems Group (1988), Mountain View, California.

Designing a Better Workplace

By Addison Reine, M.Arch. '22

Now a multifaceted designer and innovator in the field of architecture, Chauncey Jones (B.Arch. '74) began his undergraduate career at Cornell with a personal interest in engineering and a good amount of curiosity. During his time as a student, Jones explored multiple disciplines and expanded his knowledge in as many directions as possible. "You can build on things at Cornell," he said. "The architectural school could provide an opening, and if you wanted to delve further into that curiosity, there are other colleges at the university where you could pick up those other bits of information."

Jones sought out diverse perspectives, bolstering his architectural education with courses in photography, Japanese landscape architecture in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Asian art history in the College of Arts and Sciences, and silk screening in the College of Human Ecology.

Chauncey Jones headshot, depicts man in a suit

Chauncey Jones, headshot. photo / provided

Rendering of an office staircase and wall of windows

Chauncey Jones (director of design and construction for Verizon), Gensler (core, shell, and interior architect), Verizon Boston Hub Causeway (2021), detail of interior rendering, Boston.

Left:

Chauncey Jones, headshot. photo / provided

Right:

Chauncey Jones (director of design and construction for Verizon), Gensler (core, shell, and interior architect), Verizon Boston Hub Causeway (2021), detail of interior rendering, Boston.

During Jones's undergraduate years, several influential architecture scholars and practitioners taught at AAP, making it an exciting time to study architectural theory and design at Cornell. As a student, Jones operated the slide projector for professor Colin Rowe's classes, and had the opportunity to study under pioneers in the discipline such as Alan Chimacoff, Michael Dennis, Roger Sherwood, Fred Koetter, and Henry Richardson — all of whom made a distinct and lasting impression.

Jones went on to earn an M.S. in Architecture and Urban Design at Columbia University and then worked on smaller community urban revitalization projects in New York State, New York City, and Mississippi. He worked for various architectural firms in New York City during a seven-year period and then transitioned to the corporate world in 1983, when he joined Pitney Bowes's corporate real estate department. "It wasn't a difficult transition because of the curiosity I had," Jones said. "I asked: 'How do you make this whole building happen? What is the whole package?'"

Throughout his career, Jones has integrated his knowledge of architecture and urban design into large-scale corporate projects to create efficient and cost-effective designs. Jones describes his approach to work as based on his belief that designing for the client's needs and communicating clearly with many types of professionals during the process are vital to successful building development. His understanding that cohesive coordination of basic building functions ultimately allows for design possibilities to flourish has driven his creative process throughout his career. "I think it's very important to understand how a building is put together," Jones said. "It allows you to push the envelope in terms of design. And this is what it means to be a master builder."

office park aerial view

Chauncey Jones (project manager for GTE), HKS (core and shell architect), Staffelbach (interior architect), GTE Telephone Operations Consolidated Headquarters initial construction (1993), Verizon Research and Development Center reimagining of space (2015–2019), exterior view, Hidden Ridge, Irving, Texas.

The GTE telecommunications headquarters in Dallas, Texas, demonstrates how considering form and function leads to a long-lasting result. This project consolidated 11 separately operating U.S.-based companies at one location. "It has stood the test of time because we're talking about a building that was built 35 years ago, and it's still viable," Jones explained. "And it's viable because of things that we built into it from the beginning."

After his time with GTE, Jones worked for big names such as JP Morgan, Deloitte & Touche, and Gensler, and also had his own advisory project consulting firm. He joined Verizon in 2013 as the director of design and construction and, as of fall 2020, continues to lead a strong team of architects and professionals. "I had some great mentors in my working career, so I try to be the same type of mentor to my team," Jones said. Leveraging his past experiences, Jones cultivates a dynamic and collaborative environment in which his team can openly discuss strategies for development and design.

For more than three decades, Jones's designs for work environments continue to push the envelope, benefitting those who occupy them. And perhaps as noteworthy as his career accomplishments, he continues to delve into an expansive array of subjects and areas of inspiration, much as he did while a student at Cornell.

Projects

GTE Government Systems Group (1988)

Chauncey Jones (project manager for GTE), MBT (architect), exterior view, 120,000-square-foot building, Mountain View, California.

MBT (architect), exterior view

atrium of a big glass building with white interior

Chauncey Jones (project manager for GTE), MBT (architect), interior view of window, 120,000-square-foot building, Mountain View, California.

MBT (architect),
interior view of window

Chauncey Jones (project manager for GTE), MBT (architect), aerial view, 120,000-square-foot building, Mountain View, California.

MBT (architect), aerial view

GTE Telephone Operations Consolidated Headquarters (1993), Verizon Research and Development Center (2015–2019)

Chauncey Jones (project manager for GTE), HKS (core and shell architect), Staffelbach (interior architect), GTE Telephone Operations Consolidated Headquarters initial construction, exterior view (1993), 1,100,000-square-foot building, Hidden Ridge, Irving, Texas.

HKS (core & shell architect), exterior view

magazine cover of Knoll magazine interior office cubicle

Knoll Project Profile volume 6 number 1 (1993).

Knoll Project Profile cover

magazine cover of Interior Design atrium

HKS (core & shell architect), Staffelbach (interior architect), Interior Design volume 6 (1992).

Interior Design vol. 6 (1992) cover

interior of two office workers in cubicles

Chauncey Jones (project manager for GTE), HKS (core and shell architect), Staffelbach (interior architect), GTE Telephone Operations Consolidated Headquarters initial construction, interior view of cubicles (1993), 1,100,000-square-foot building, Hidden Ridge, Irving, Texas.

HKS (core & shell architect), Staffelbach (interior architect),
interior view of cubicles

Chauncey Jones (project manager for GTE), HKS (core and shell architect), Staffelbach (interior architect), GTE Telephone Operations Consolidated Headquarters initial construction, interior view of hallway (1993), 1,100,000-square-foot building, Hidden Ridge, Irving, Texas.

HKS (core & shell architect), Staffelbach (interior architect),
interior view of hallway

interior view of an office with conference tables

Chauncey Jones (director of design and construction for Verizon), HOK (architect), Verizon Research and Development Center reimagining of interior space (2015–2019), interior view of meeting spaces (2019), 1,100,000-square-foot building, Hidden Ridge, Irving, Texas.

HOK (architect), interior view of meeting spaces

Chauncey Jones (director of design and construction for Verizon), HOK (architect), Verizon Research and Development Center reimagining of interior space (2015–2019), interior view of cubicles (2019), 1,100,000-square-foot building, Hidden Ridge, Irving, Texas.

HOK (architect), interior view of cubicles

interior view of office with large screen tv

Chauncey Jones (director of design and construction for Verizon), HOK (architect), Verizon Research and Development Center reimagining of interior space (2015–2019), interior view of media wall (2019), 1,100,000-square-foot building, Hidden Ridge, Irving, Texas.

HOK (architect), interior view of media wall

Southern California Edison Co-Primary Data Center (2013)

Southern California Edison building exterior

Chauncey Jones (consultant/owner's representative), Callison Design (architect), exterior view, 110,000-square-foot building, Alhambra, California.

Callison Design (architect), exterior view

Southern California Edison electrical units

Chauncey Jones (consultant/owner's representative), Callison Design (architect), interior view, 110,000-square-foot building, Alhambra, California.

Callison Design (architect), interior view

Chauncey Jones (consultant/owner's representative), Callison Design (architect), interior view, 110,000-square-foot building, Alhambra, California.

Callison Design (architect), interior view

Verizon Boston Hub Causeway (2021)

Chauncey Jones (director of design and construction for Verizon), Gensler (core, shell, and interior architect), exterior view, 475,000-square-foot building, Boston.

Gensler (architect), exterior view

Chauncey Jones (director of design and construction for Verizon), Gensler (core, shell, and interior architect), rendering of stairs and casual seating area, 475,000-square-foot building, Boston.

Gensler (architect), rendering of stairs and casual seating area

Chauncey Jones (director of design and construction for Verizon), Gensler (core, shell, and interior architect), rendering of work spaces, 475,000-square-foot building, Boston.

Gensler (architect), rendering of work spaces

Verizon Media Headquarters (2021)

Chauncey Jones (director of design and construction for Verizon), Gensler (core, shell, and interior architect), rendering of exterior view, 650,000-square-foot building, San Jose.

Gensler (architect), rendering of exterior view

Chauncey Jones (director of design and construction for Verizon), Gensler (core, shell, and interior architect), rendering of exterior space, 650,000-square-foot building, San Jose.

Gensler (architect), rendering of exterior space

Chauncey Jones (director of design and construction for Verizon), Gensler (core, shell, and interior architect), exterior view, 650,000-square-foot building, San Jose.

Gensler (architect), exterior view

crane in a parking lot on a building site

Chauncey Jones (director of design and construction for Verizon), Gensler (core, shell, and interior architect), view of exterior under construction, 650,000-square-foot building, San Jose.

Gensler (architect), view of exterior under construction

Chauncey Jones (director of design and construction for Verizon), Gensler (core, shell, and interior architect), view of stairwell, 650,000-square-foot building, San Jose.

Gensler (architect), view of stairwell

Chauncey Jones (director of design and construction for Verizon), Gensler (core, shell, and interior architect), rendering of cafeteria, 650,000-square-foot building, San Jose.

Gensler (architect), rendering of cafeteria

Chauncey Jones (director of design and construction for Verizon), Gensler (core, shell, and interior architect), rendering of stairwell and meeting spaces, 650,000-square-foot building, San Jose.

Gensler (architect), rendering of stairwell and meeting spaces

Group photo of stakeholders wearing white hard hats and holding shovels, taken at the groundbreaking for the Verizon Media headquarters in San Jose, CA.

Group photo from the groundbreaking for the 650,000-square-foot Verizon Media headquarters in San Jose. photo / provided

Group photo from headquarters groundbreaking

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Chauncey Jones

Designing a Better Workplace