My Dad was a lawyer – he had his own practice – and I remember his office vividly. A warmly lit waiting room with a mid-century-modern motif. Floor-to-ceiling bookcases filled with volumes of legal tomes lining the hallway. In Dad’s private office, a big wooden desk and, on the wall behind, his diplomas and a few family photos. Adjacent was a little law library. In the secretary’s space were a series of metal filing cabinets and two metal desks. Typewriters, of course. A copying machine. And a single, small breakroom, which, in later years, had a Mr. Coffee maker.
The office had the form and function suitable for a solo practitioner of that era. I imagine large law offices of that same time looked a lot like Dad’s, although on a grander scale.
What would Dad have thought to step off an elevator and walk into a law office today? Back then, it was about the clients and the law, period.
It’s still that now – but it’s so much more. Like every modern workplace, the law office has had to keep up with the needs and expectations of today’s workforce.
“Employees are increasingly viewed as customers, and the workplace is emerging as a product or service offering,” said Gensler Design Director and Principal Troy Grichuk. “So, today’s office needs to be exceptionally purpose-driven, with curated amenities, and capable of creating experiences that enhance a company’s workforce and success.”
A global law firm with a major presence in New York City is a case in point.
The firm – whose Manhattan home is in a 1970s-era skyscraper on the Avenue of the Americas – engaged Gensler to transform a huge swath of space into a vibrant, hospitality-driven hub for attracting top talent, impressing clients and fostering a thriving culture.
Purpose-Driven Mission
To learn more about this project, I met with Grichuk, the design lead for the renovation.
Grichuk already had first-hand knowledge of this law firm’s needs: He’d been part of the Gensler team that had redesigned the same space in 2015, five years before the Covid-19 pandemic radically upended the way we work.
Just before and then during the pandemic, the law firm’s various U.S. offices had begun either moving to new spaces or renovating existing ones. The firm still had a number of years left on the lease of its Manhattan office and wanted to bring the same equitable experience to this site.
Grichuk noted that the trend toward an amenity-and-experience-rich environment had begun before the pandemic, but the design concept still was being defined. As the trend matured, designers across the profession saw that some amenities just weren’t used after novelty wore off. It’s been an important lesson.
“We’re now exceptionally intentional about utilization for every amenity, so it was an exciting challenge to re-envision a very purpose-driven, purpose-present space for the client,” said Grichuk.
As the creative lead, Grichuk met frequently with the project’s key stakeholders, engaging in what he called a “push and pull” to home in on needs and expectations.
“I would propose things that would stretch them a little, and they would propose things that would stretch me a little, and we would ‘rubberband back’ to a perfect common ground,” he said. “If we don’t have these moments, then you can actually overstretch a space in a way that makes it not functional – the space becomes too big or underutilized or not the right balance for the culture. So, we spent a lot of time upfront having conversations about how to make the space attainable, approachable and usable.”
Designing for Equitable – and Unforgettable – Experiences
Grichuk’s mission for the law firm’s Manhattan location was to reimagine a portion of the top floor – a space previously defined by what Grichuk called “old-school corporate.” Meanwhile, the remainder of the office was to retain this look created by the Gensler team in 2015.
“Every room was based on a rigid modularity. But with the renovation, we wanted to add an organic aesthetic, creating a juxtaposition between the structured and the soft,” he said.
The project began with a modest plan of revamping a small, underused area. This area was adjacent to the firm’s conference center, a large, corporate meeting space for engaging with clients. Given the proximity to this client-facing space, Grichuk saw an opportunity. He asked stakeholders to rethink possibilities for expanded interaction – and not just with their clients but also with employees, recruits and other guests.
“We had a whole conversation around creating day-to-night experiences – how the space during the day could build the firm’s culture by fostering team-member mentorship and collegiality, and how it could easily transition into an evening event space for engaging with recruits, entertaining clients, hosting speaking panels and things of that nature.”
Drawing upon what he called the “tricks and traits” of hospitality design, Grichuk proposed several zones for the area slated to be renovated – food/beverage service, lounging/dining and relaxing/gaming – with well-defined queuing and circulation around each zone. This thoughtful zoning would allow for a variety of experiences within the space, catering to different moods and needs throughout the day and into the night.
Through discussion with the client, the scope expanded dramatically – to 6,000 square feet – ultimately transforming a fourth of the floorplate into a dynamic hotel-like space.
Let’s look at the result.
Objection! – to the Ordinary
Two elevators lead to this space – one from the ground floor and the other servicing employee-only floors. Both elevators open into bays leading directly into the now hotel-lobby-like environment.
The palette backdrop is muted and sophisticated, reminiscent of high-end hospitality venues.
While your eyes take in the entirety of the swank, elegant space – flanked by nearly floor-to-ceiling windows – your first steps naturally lead to a striking food-and-beverage bar. A glamorous gathering spot, it’s as if Manhattan’s top barista, concierge and bartender brainstormed this gorgeous amenity.
Shaped like a soft-edged triangle, the glass counter is uplit. Architectural lighting above mimics the proportions of the bar, anchoring it in the overall space. Against a nearby wall are glass-doored refrigerators as well as an additional counter for food/beverage service. By day, coffee, tea, sodas, sandwiches and other fare are available. By night, the bar area seamlessly transforms to serve up cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. For especially large events, another nearby bar, adjacent to a catering pantry, can be put into play.
If you were to turn farther to the right of the food/beverage bar, you’d be heading into the aforementioned conference center and adjacent private offices, which retain their brighter tones and more buttoned-up aesthetic.
Let’s continue through the renovated space. Distinct flooring and ceiling patterns create flow and encourage movement. Stylish yet durable terrazzo tile and porcelain wood-look flooring were chosen for their practicality and cleanability, essential in a space that incorporates food service. Rippled metal ceilings handily hide ductwork while adding texture, depth and the illusion of greater height.
The color scheme – incorporating subtle pops of red, orange, yellow and green – adds a touch of playfulness while complementing the existing blue accents in the adjacent office areas, creating a sense of visual continuity.
Near the food/beverage bar is a long built-in booth against a windowed wall. Cafe-sized tables and chairs invite you to sit down with a colleague for coffee and conversation. Steps away is a carpeted lounge-like area with a sofa, coffee tables and upholstered swivel chairs for flexible small-group gatherings. Farther along is a more expansive dining area with movable tables for four as well as a custom-made high-top table with seating for 10 or more.
Another fixed booth wraps around an opaque glass partition. More cafe tables and chairs here invite additional respite.
And just on the other side of the partition is a recreational area with a pool table, shuffleboard and large-screen TV. Throughout the entire space is a curated selection of classic board games for people to play.
“Everything was carefully chosen – and placed – to flex for both casual gatherings and formal client events, to create those experiences that foster interaction and build relationships,” Grichuk said.
The Impact: A Space for Connection
The impact of the redesign has been profound.
“The area has become a ‘hinge’ connecting the client/visitor and employee experience,” said Grichuk.
Employees appreciate the opportunity to take breaks, connect with colleagues and recharge in a welcoming environment. The space has also become a powerful tool for client engagement and recruitment, offering a tangible demonstration of the firm’s forward-thinking culture.
“They love it,” he said. “They use it for evening events and cocktail parties … internally, they feel like it’s really enriching the culture.”
The space has fostered a breakdown of traditional hierarchies, with partners and associates mingling in the game room and connecting on a more personal level.
The firm has used the space for intern events and internal networking gatherings. One partner used the space to host an event where his clients could network with one another, creating business opportunities.
“It’s really working out to be what it was intended to be,” said Grichuk. “It’s a testament to the power of design to shape not just physical spaces, but also the culture and experiences of those who inhabit them.”