Located in the heart of downtown Seattle’s central business district lives the FCA-renovated 20,350-sq.-ft. office of law firm Fox Rothschild LLC – a project attempting to answer the post-pandemic need for flexible spaces that foster a hybrid work schedule.
This test pilot for a new and increasingly compact office size achieved the firm’s goal of a 50% space reduction, with the previously three-floor office consolidated to a single floor. This allotment of space has yielded an office arrangement that is largely non-traditional in the legal field—approximately four offices for every six practitioners and a mix of dedicated and reservable spaces, ranging from 100 to 200 square feet. Peripheral offices line three of the four sides of the rectangular floor plan, comprising flexible in-board offices for paralegals, administrators and attorneys to utilize as additional touchdown space.
Despite reducing the footprint of the office, FCA was still able to increase the number of thoughtfully designed areas to accommodate differing team members’ needs and work styles. Extraneous circulation was also removed entirely, further allowing FCA to create a space with greater utility and choice within a much smaller footprint.
The interiors pay homage to the Pacific Northwest through the use of natural materials like locally sourced wood veneers. Layout offers optimal access to natural light and the glass perimeter allows occupants to access beautiful vistas of Seattle, including gorgeous water views and the iconic Space Needle. The main elevator lobby features a 62-foot-long topographic map of the area surrounding Seattle, paying tribute to the nearby stratovolcano Mount Rainier, which is also visible from the 44th floor office.
Custom branding throughout provides visual breaks across the glass that divides the space. Full-glass office fronts forgo the use of film, expanding sightlines that serve to make the space feel larger, while collapsible and mobile glass fronting allows these spaces to become multi-functional on an as-needed basis.
With contemplative areas for heads-down work and a plethora of flexible spaces for client interactions, this updated office offers the opportunity for connection, collaboration and individual touchpoints that cannot be replicated with remote work.
