Spacesmith was engaged by law firm Boies Schiller Flexner (BSF) as executive architect on the build-out of their new headquarters in the Hudson Yards development. Our team worked closely with design architect Schiller Projects on the execution of the four-story space, floors 18-21, covering 110,730 sf. The goal of this project was to challenge the traditional hierarchical design of law offices and provide more spaces that foster collaboration, communication, and innovation.
To achieve this switch in culture, the design flips the script on the long-established layouts of legal offices. The majority of partner offices are now located along the core, as opposed to the corner. They feature floor to ceiling glass enclosures, recessed lighting, and custom curvilinear concrete walls. Each work station is equipped with custom sit-to-stand white oak desks and has sight lines out to panoramic views of the Hudson River. Associates and paralegals share semi-open workspaces at the perimeter in groups of four. Within 25 feet of every attorney's desk are breakout spaces with adjustable height desks and full digital services for up to 5 people, designed to support impromptu meetings.
A large, 4,000 sf, multi-use cafeteria with an on-site barista is located on the 19th floor. An operable partition allows the space to transform from an all staff assembly area into smaller, more intimate rooms for trainings or meetings.
Each floor holds interactive touch screens that map out all offices and conference rooms. This high-tech wayfinding tool allows employees to see in real time which rooms are available. Formal meeting rooms throughout are connected to smaller huddle spaces and to what the client refers to as the “library” – no books, but the atmosphere of a quiet car.
A centralized, open staircase connects floors 19-21 and promotes employee activity and interaction. Hanging within is an impressive sculpture of overlapping, metal-beaded cables that visually connects the main reception to the floors above. A grand gesture, it stands out among the monolithic, curved concrete walls and black terrazzo flooring throughout.
