Murtha Cullina, LLP, Office Renovation

the story

Murtha Cullina, LLP was a design-build project by The S/L/A/M Collaborative and S/L/A/M Construction Services, inspired by the shifts in law firm demographics, rising real estate costs in major markets, and competition for new generation talent. Our team leveraged a thoughtfully designed workplace and innovative design strategy to ensure operational efficiency and a better client experience. The downtown Hartford office transformation reflects multi-generational preferences and priorities as well as a novel, democratic approach to leveling the office size of all attorneys.

at-a-glance

TYPE:

Renovation

SERVICES:

Architecture

Construction Services

Interior Design

Pre-Construction Services

LOCATION:

Hartford, CT

STATUS:

Completed 2020

SIZE:

25,469 SF

Shifts in law firm demographics, rising real estate costs, and competition for new generation talent required an innovative design that included operational efficiency as well as a better workplace and client experience.

The design goal was to reconfigure the existing space for flexibility to support trainings, meetings, social functions, and conferences strategically placed near the office lobby, while limiting visitor traffic through workspaces and the employee café / breakroom room.

Tackling the most transformative change in the legal workplace today—the single-size office, Murtha Cullina’s new space includes standard 150 SF offices for all attorneys, partners, and associates, with transparent design elements throughout for visual access into offices and meeting rooms. A destination café serves as an alternate place to work, contributing to the desired transparency and inspired culture.

<p>The overarching design concept for the space is a transition into styled modern elegance with edgy touches. Simplicity, wonder, and drama unfolds in the elevator lobby. </p>

The overarching design concept for the space is a transition into styled modern elegance with edgy touches. Simplicity, wonder, and drama unfolds in the elevator lobby.

<p>Beyond, a largely tone on tone, warm palette with occasional bold contrasts. Elegant and sophisticated in its simplicity, functionality, and tailored detail. A palette of typical spaces and signature destinations that are stately modern, contemporary, and interpretive of formal tradition, yet bespoke.</p>

Beyond, a largely tone on tone, warm palette with occasional bold contrasts. Elegant and sophisticated in its simplicity, functionality, and tailored detail. A palette of typical spaces and signature destinations that are stately modern, contemporary, and interpretive of formal tradition, yet bespoke.

The new workplace includes transparent design elements throughout, for visual access into offices, guest coffee bar, and meeting rooms.

<p>The large multi-purpose room, with an adjacent catering kitchen and abundant daylight and views, transitions easily between instructional training and hospitality event functions via two large double doors opening into the office reception area and the guest coffee bar.</p>

The large multi-purpose room, with an adjacent catering kitchen and abundant daylight and views, transitions easily between instructional training and hospitality event functions via two large double doors opening into the office reception area and the guest coffee bar.

<p>An employee café designed to be a destination work space, helping to build a more inclusive work environment, facilitate knowledge sharing, and an inspired culture.</p>

An employee café designed to be a destination work space, helping to build a more inclusive work environment, facilitate knowledge sharing, and an inspired culture.

<p>The open plan design features typical size support staff workstations. The perimeter of the floor plate was planned as a move to the single standard office footprint of 150-SF, shows Murtha Cullina’s novel democratic approach to space regardless of title or tenure between levels of partners and associates.</p>

The open plan design features typical size support staff workstations. The perimeter of the floor plate was planned as a move to the single standard office footprint of 150-SF, shows Murtha Cullina’s novel democratic approach to space regardless of title or tenure between levels of partners and associates.

Murtha Cullina, LLP

the story

at-a-glance

Project Contact