REFLECTING ON LEGAL SPACE DESIGN TRENDS AT THE ALA SYMPOSIUM.
Let’s face it – who among us likes, much less embraces change? Countless quotes remind us that it is the only constant in life, and yet it is not always welcome – especially in the workplace. Not immune from the changes taking place all around us, the modern law office is experiencing transformation that reflects design trends seen in the broader world of commercial interior design. Recently, I was fortunate enough to present at the New York City chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) annual Symposium as part of a panel of peers discussing the latest directions in legal office design and furnishings. The wide-ranging conversation that took place reinforced concepts and ideas that I have observed playing out elsewhere across the industry.
Law offices have notoriously been slower to adapt and reluctant to embrace modern shifts in workplace design. As other businesses have followed the lead of the tech industry towards flexible and more casual open office environments, legal space design has taken a more cautious path towards only those elements that meet the particular needs of attorneys. While the nature of work being performed at law offices continues to require space that allows confidentiality and the ability to focus, here are some of the key factors driving progressive change in this sector:
- Reduced Office Sizes – Attorney office footprints continue to shrink, with a growing number of firms choosing to move to a universal office size for all lawyers regardless of seniority. Besides helping space efficiency, this can reduce operational needs and allow for furniture standardization. However, the use of enclosed offices still contributes to legal tenants being among the highest users of space on a per-person basis.
- Emphasis on Collaboration – With the legal library – historically where attorneys would interact while working – solidly on the way out, creating spaces for attorney collaboration has become a new design challenge. This is being met in a number of creative ways, such as extending seating areas adjacent to coffee pantries or integrating stand-up meeting areas into the practice floors.
- Resource Centers – With self-sufficiency of lawyers on the rise and the role of dedicated legal secretaries continuing to reduce, firms are experimenting with new support models. In lieu of traditional secretarial workstations, one idea that has gained traction is the creation of “Resource Centers” – consolidated areas at the heart of working neighborhoods that flexibly house a variety of legal team personnel, including secretaries, paralegals and other project specialists.
ERIK HODGETTS, AIA, LEED AP
Erik is a Principal in IA's New York office, and is a senior account leader and licensed architect with over 25 years of experience in the industry. The planning, design and realization of law firm office space has been a major focus of his career, and he heads up the firm’s in-house Best Practices group for the legal sector, tracking space usage, metrics and design trends nationally.
In addition to deep experience with legal clients, Erik also brings to bear his expertise working with major companies in technology, investment, banking and other industries to give a broader perspective of office planning and design standards in today’s rapidly-evolving business world.