After several years of creative and commercial hardships in the face of COVID-19 lockdowns, a hard pivot to generating content for a new streaming service, and multiple contentious changes in leadership, the Walt Disney Company has regained its footing in 2024. This resurgence not only marks a return to form for the iconic entertainment giant but also highlights its ability to adapt.
For the first time in several years, the studio’s theatrical film releases achieved massive success, with hits such as Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine, and Moana 2. Each of these films saw the company leveraging new tools at its disposal, such as the highly successful streaming service Disney+, to bolster its theatrical advertising efforts rather than hinder them as they had in the past. As a result, the company forged bold new marketing tactics and achieved multiple billion-dollar successes.
Now, the Walt Disney Company is taking a moment to bask in its success by building a new headquarters in New York City. Disney has had a long history with NYC, and now Disney’s connection to the Big Apple is deepening with the opening of its new headquarters for its New York businesses at 7 Hudson Square.
This new complex, which serves as a collaborative town square in the bustling city, has already started welcoming employees and by next summer will officially house news, editorial, live productions, streaming, technology, advertising, corporate, business support functions, and more. The NYC headquarters is named the Robert A. Iger Building—an honor bestowed by the company and its board to mark Iger’s many accomplishments for Disney and its employees as he commemorates his 50th anniversary with the company.
The new building features hallmarks of Disney’s other offices and campuses around the world, reflecting the company’s century of creativity and community.
Disney and NYC’s History
Since The Walt Disney Company was founded more than 100 years ago, New York City has been part of the storytelling foundation that has supported the company’s success. For example, Steamboat Willie—the iconic short starring Mickey Mouse—debuted in Manhattan in 1928 at the Colony Theatre, now known as the Broadway Theatre.
Another major milestone in the relationship between Disney and New York City was when Walt Disney and his Imagineers debuted four spectacular attractions at the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair. These attractions showcased innovative forms of themed entertainment and dimensional, figural animation. Some of these marquee experiences, like It’s a Small World, would later become beloved Disney Parks attractions, with versions found at the company’s theme parks around the globe.
Similarly, Disney’s Broadway presence has been immense over the last several decades. Beginning in 1994 with a 13-year run of Beauty and the Beast, the company has since produced 10 Broadway titles, including The Lion King, the highest-grossing title in box office history. With three of the 15 longest-running shows in Broadway history—Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Aladdin, now in its 11th year—Disney Theatrical Group is one of the most successful Broadway producers of all time.
Legacy of Success
The Robert A. Iger Building is an example of what makes Disney unique. At the conclusion of a year that has seen the company harness its resources, tools, and resilience to steer back into success under Iger’s leadership, this new building shows how far the company has come since COVID-19. It not only forges a shared community that allows Disney’s storytelling to flourish, but it also connects Disney’s culture within a state-of-the-art complex focused on innovation, collaboration, and the indelible spirit of New York City.
With its roots firmly planted in New York City’s cultural fabric and its eyes set on the global stage, Disney is poised to continue enchanting audiences around the world. The Robert A. Iger Building will serve as a bridge between Disney’s storied past and the limitless possibilities that lie ahead, ensuring that the company’s magic endures for generations to come.
