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Making a towering Financial District office space into a stylish meeting ground in the post-work-from-home boom is far from an easy task. But then, most office spaces don’t have Gabriella Khalil at the helm.
“Up until now, there hasn’t been great positivity surrounding the concept of an office,” said Khalil. “So I wanted to make sure we were being playful and adding humor into the journey of anyone who’s walking in the door.”
Khalil wears many hats, but most in the New York fashion scene will likely know her as the creative director of the WSA, the Fidi office skyscraper that reopened in 2024 with below-market rates to attract tenants like Bode and Luar. And there is a good dose of the humor Khalil referenced in the sleek, early ’80s-inspired aesthetic she created for the space: At the entrance to the building’s lobby is a double foot-shaped bed by designer Frank Oelke.
In addition to its main function as an office building, the WSA has come to be the go-to events hub for brands in fashion, beauty, media and just about any sector with an eye to be part of the zeitgeist. In 2025, it was the site of Byredo press events, Substack-hosted media mixers and a pop-up from Mexico City’s acclaimed Pujol restaurant. Much of the appeal of the WSA comes from the lounge-like atmosphere that Khalil created, replete with mirrored surfaces and brown carpeting that bridge the gap between sleek and inviting.
But perhaps the main draw of coming into an office in 2025 is not the swanky digs, but instead the ability to mingle with other creative tenants.
“There’s the [appeal] of amazing amenities and things like that. What feels more relevant to me is that you’re in a space where everyone is kind of coming together and really … I don’t want to say ‘feeding off each other.’ It’s more like the energy is bouncing off of them,” she said. “The best way to put it is: You’re part of a really great community, and you feel there’s a connection.”
Khalil’s ability to create such inviting spaces comes from her background in hospitality. She founded the luxury hotel Palm Heights in Grand Cayman in 2019. The ’70s-inspired resort is its own fashion and design hub, as well, having collaborated with the likes of tableware brand Gohar World and indie designer Christopher John Rogers. In 2025, Khalil expanded her audience through a Palm Heights collaboration with H&M Home.
Khalil has applied her touch to other projects, including those outside of the Palm Heights and WSA umbrella. In November, Khalil and the Australian jewelry brand Erede released a 10-piece jewelry collection, complete of course with a launch party at the WSA.
Even while many people may still be shopping online or working remotely in 2025, Khalil believes the ultimate luxury still lies in in-person meetings.
“People really, really want experience. They want these interesting, bespoke experiences. That’s where people want to spend their money, and that’s how they want to spend their time, which is obviously super valuable,” said Khalil. “We’re still doing things digitally, no matter what. But there’s still this idea of connection and experience that is really important, and will get more important as time goes on. And that’s across the board.”
