A London Law Office that Redefines the Workplace

SJ Berwin’s new offices set a new standard for office design for law firms.

The office was selected as one of “four spaces redefining the workplace” by Fortune magazine and earned a Citation for Excellence in the Businessweek / Architectural Record awards recognizing design’s positive impact on business results. “The space must be a fantastic recruiting tool,” noted the jurors.

SJ Berwin used the relocation to its new offices as an opportunity to change the way its people worked. HOK’s design creates a non-traditional office space with a dynamic open plan and transparent ambience — a place where people want to be. In contrast to the conservative, hierarchical environment of a traditional law firm, SJ Berwin’s offices mirror the aesthetics and amenities of a boutique hotel.  

HOK developed the interior master plan for the building renovation in association with Seth Stein Architects. Though the budget was modest, public spaces are colorful and beautifully detailed. Clients enter through a double-height light cube that regularly changes color. Three atria bring light and life into central spaces surrounded by glass-fronted offices. By adding a fourth floor to the building, our design allowed for the creation of a half-acre roof garden on the Thames River side that is among central London’s largest.