The busy bees at the Wieden+Kennedy fun factory have been even busier than usual recently, launching this online film from animators Shotopop to highlight the joys awaiting lucky recruits to its Shanghai agency and quietly selling its iconic six-storey 220,000 sq.ft. Portland HQ in the city’s Pearl District to a JP Morgan company for $65m. As far as we know, the agency’s staying put.
Here’s Shotopop’s brilliant animation.
Wieden & Kennedy Shanghai from Shotopop on Vimeo.
Copywriters were Dong Hao and Ryan Gerber, art directors were Gerber and Ian Perkins.
As for the building, it was built in 1908 for the Fuller Paint Company, became a warehouse but then fell into disuse. W+K spent $36m restoring it as its worldwide HQ in 2009. It also houses the Bluehour restaurant.
It’s not clear why W+K sold it or what the money is intended for. Is founder Dan Wieden contemplating retirement? Maybe it was just a good deal.
Stephen…
Very interesting. Good catch. Not a mention of it in either AdAge or AdWeek. As I say on AdScam (giving you the credit, ‘cos I am a prince) Dan has said he will NEVER sell. Maybe he’s buying a bloody big yacht. And unlike BDA and BDHC management, he won’t be sticking the shareholders with the bill.
Cheers/George