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JPMorgan Chase has instructed staff working at its new Manhattan HQ to submit their biometric data for building access, in a change from its previous voluntary approach.
Employees who began working at the bank’s 270 Park Avenue skyscraper in August were told that biometric verification is now “required,” according to internal communications seen by the Financial Times. The technology allows staff to enter through security gates using fingerprint or eye scans rather than ID badges.
The bank declined to comment on the new requirement.
Security and convenience goals
The 60-story, 2.5 million-square-foot building - described by chief executive Jamie Dimon as a “beautiful physical manifestation” of JPMorgan - will eventually house around 10,000 employees when fully open later this year. The project cost an estimated $3billion.
JPMorgan says the system aims to enhance both security and convenience. Exemptions reportedly exist for certain staff, though the criteria for those exceptions remain unclear.
The move follows heightened security concerns in New York’s corporate district, after a fatal shooting at 345 Park Avenue in July, only a few blocks from JPMorgan’s new site.
Dave Komendat, chief security officer at Corporate Security Advisors and former Boeing executive, said the technology’s expansion into commercial buildings represents a new frontier. “It’s a very effective way to make sure that the people entering your facility are exactly who they’re supposed to be,” he said.
A symbol of corporate transformation
JPMorgan first revealed plans in 2018 to demolish its former headquarters and replace it with a larger structure capable of housing its expanding workforce. The steel-and-glass tower now dominates midtown Manhattan’s skyline, and employees have described it as a “monument” to Dimon’s leadership.
New York mayor Eric Adams called the project a “1932 moment” for the city, comparing its ambition to the construction of the Empire State Building during the Great Depression.
The bank is also upgrading nearby properties, including its offices at 383 Madison Avenue, and considering adding hotel rooms for visiting employees at the recently acquired 250 Park Avenue building.
