Fox Rothschild is a national law firm with 950 attorneys spread across 28 offices with 70 diverse legal service offerings. As part of a firm wide effort to balance and streamline company initiatives, Fox Rothschild tapped architecture and design firm FCA to modernize their Washington, D.C. office. A valued partner of Fox Rothchild, FCA has worked with the law firm for over 30 years designing all of their offices throughout the United States. The latest collaboration, a 18,700-square-foot relocation, reached construction completion in May 2021 and is located on the bustling corner of K Street and 21st Street NW.
Working closely alongside Fox Rothschild’s local facilities & real estate team, FCA sought to reimagine the workspace through newly introduced firmwide strategies including the creation of a uniform office size for all staff, spaces that encourage flexibility and collaboration, and well-equipped areas that support remote work. The team also adjusted conferencing spaces and filing ratios to evolve alongside the industry as it moves into a more digital and hybrid direction.
A guiding principle and inspiration behind the design, residential elements are layered into the office, providing employees with familiar comforts of home during their day-to-day at work. A variety of wood tones add warmth to the space and offset the industrial aesthetic of the exposed ceilings and concrete columns, creating a thoughtful balance between styles. A vibrant juxtaposition of materials, colors, and textures create unique moments throughout the office, lending to a softer, more inviting space that departs from the traditional law office ambiance.
With an increased focus on mentorship and company culture, Fox Rothschild and FCA conceptualized open-style, collaborative enclaves for junior associates. Central to the office, this area boasts various meeting amenities such as a lounge area and coffee bar. This specially-designed zone opens more avenues for team-building and mentorship between the junior associates, firm partners, and senior attorneys. Amongst a number of modern workplace must-haves, tremendous acoustics are accomplished through the use of felt. An abundance of natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows coupled with glass walls for designated office spaces creates visual connection between all employees, a key component to the new space. Clear sightlines and the presence of daylight are known to inspire greater employee collaboration, productivity, happiness, and naturally lends to a stronger company culture as a whole.
The new standard for a legal office, the front-of-house space is uniquely designed for entertainment and hosting, whether for company-wide get-togethers, client visits, or networking events; the glass walls of the main conference room even open up to provide additional space for larger gatherings. To further express the company’s unique personality while celebrating the office’s roots, black and white photography of surrounding D.C. landmarks beautifully complement the various finishes and industrial architecture of the space. The playful use of color, fabric, and furnishings also help to reflect the energy and enthusiasm of the local practice and its people.
An investment in the future of the firm, Fox Rothschild’s revamped Washington, D.C. office accomplishes a perfect balance of residentially-inspired warmth and hospitality design that lends to an inviting atmosphere, which remains uncommon in the legal field. FCA’s ground-breaking law office design reflects and solidifies Fox Rothschild’s commitment to its employees and their growth through an environment that supports modern modes of work, fosters mentorship, promotes a lively company culture and embraces a forward-looking vision for the legal industry.
