Orrick with Unispace
Hear from the designer in the episode below for more in-depth project stories!
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Hear from the designer in the episode below for more in-depth project stories! -
Orrick, with the help of strategy/design/build company Unispace, kicked off their LA office project in mid-2021. With the role of the office still in flux, the team needed to design a space that would provide optimal settings for the best physical and functional experience and a unique expression of the office identity, culture, and DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging) values.
Through various strategic engagements with staff, the Unispace team first identified key themes to address in the design solutions under the overarching concept to “Embrace the Edge.” These developed into programmatic scenarios which were tested across three possible project sites to determine the final office location. As the project continued, the team discovered that increased collaborative environments amongst office suite groupings would best support the practice groups and culture of the LA staff.
In order to physically manifest Orrick’s powerful ethos of DEIB, Unispace took inspiration from their diverse art collection to build out the framework for Orrick’s Art for Impact program¹. This approach brought a focused lens to the DEIB themes Orrick LA was passionate about and translated those into a curated and updated art collection throughout the office. Two murals by iconic LA artist Robert Vargas totaling over 35’ in the main reception space coupled with the overall community engagement story of the Art for Impact project has had a deep impact on staff, visitors, and clients, who can now see themselves and others in their office. The office carries a statement for other law firms in the industry and creates a benchmark and message to them: you need to walk the walk to compete in the future.
Architectural design and finishing touches began to take shape, around the developed concept and Art for Impact goals. This translated into the bespoke vibe of dark vs. light contrast of wall vs. flooring finishes, metallic detailing and ceiling elements, and classic furniture finishes for the final touch. The project also went on to achieve LEED Gold and is currently pursuing WELL Gold certification.
In summary, the Orrick LA office is a manifestation of their culture, centered around:
· Collaboration in a meaningful way for 100+ staff, where offices are organized around suites of collaboration spaces that support true learning and mentoring vs. learning in the partners’ office doorways.
· Innovation that meshes knowledge gained via staff feedback, at all levels, who worked virtually for 2+ years to create highly functional and tech-enabled hybrid spaces.
· Inclusion through universal design principles that create equitable office sizes for all attorneys with a lack of hierarchy (i.e., no corner offices), access to natural light in all spaces, and accessibility features ranging from braille signage to gender inclusive bathrooms.
· Community Impact enhanced by Orrick’s Social Justice Fellowship that partners with A New Way of Life (ANWOL) and artists like Robert Vargas to truly walk the walk on DEIB.
· Sustainability through achieving LEED GOLD and pursuing WELL Gold certification to support Orrick’s global carbon neutral goals.
"It’s been really exciting to work with Unispace to design a space that’s fit for what the workplace is going to be like in the future." - Laura Saklad, COO Orrick
¹Unispace created Art for Impact to help clients create and deepen meaningful connections by engaging artists to drive impact with local non-profits and communities.
Written by: Chely Wright, Chief Diversity Officer at Unispace, GlobeSt. Woman of Influence (Diversity Champion) 2023, Crain's New York Notable LGBTQIA+ Leader 2023, Vice Chair of GLSEN board & Kara Schmidt-Robben, Design Principal at Unispace, NCIDQ, LEED AP ID+C
Unispace - Project strategist, designer, construction partner
LinkedIn: @Unispace
Instagram: @unispaceglobal
Orrick – client
LinkedIn: @Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Robert Vargas – mural artist
Instagram: @therobertvargas
A New Way of Life – Community group partner
LinkedIn: @A New Way of Life Reentry Project
KBMH – furniture
LinkedIn: @KBM Hogue
Regency – lighting
LinkedIn: @Regency Supply
Verdical Group – sustainability consultant
LinkedIn: @Verdical Group
AMA Group – MEP
LinkedIn: @AMA Group
IE Smart – AV/Security
LinkedIn: @i.e.Smart Systems, LLC
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