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Los Angeles Law Office
Emily Fisher | IAD 4510
Problem Statement. As economic uncertainty, rapid digitalization, and the prevalence of hybrid work alter the profession, law firms are no longer sufficient to satisfy the changing needs of today's workforce and clients. There is now a growing demand for increased flexibility, inclusion, and attention to well-being. Workplace culture has a direct impact on the quality of service offered. By bridging the gap between work and culture, the work environment is transformed into one that actively promotes connection, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose. Firms can cultivate a culture that strengthens relationships, drives performance, and positions the organization for long-term resilience and growth.
Problem Statement.
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Client Background.
Rooted in law, driven by legacy
NEXT is a law firm that serves clients worldwide with 16 offices across the world. NEXT is opening a new Los Angeles office designed to embody the firm’s values of legacy, inclusivity, and innovation, supporting hybrid collaboration, flexible work arrangements, and employee well-being. NEXT is located in the ROW DTLA District, an area that blurs the lines between work, culture, and play. ROW DTLA has transformed 32 acres into shops, restaurants, and offices spread across six buildings.
Client Background.
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The Roots. Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles is a city known for its diversity, innovation, and vibrant urban life. From thriving cultural districts to sun-filled outdoors, the city places emphasis on connection, engagement, and community involvement. Its landscape, which includes coastlines, hills, and urban districts, offers opportunities for both movement and relaxation, supporting a well-balanced lifestyle. These assets provide a framework for reimagining the workplace as a space that fosters flexibility, collaboration, and belonging. Creating an environment that reflects the city’s lifestyle to enhance employee well-being.
Location.
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Guiding Principles.
Inclusive Design.
Innovative.
Ensuring more diverse voices into the conversation to design for everyone’s needs, work modes, and work processes.
A seamless integration of technology to meet the ever-changing demands of technology in hybrid and AI-powered environments
Regenerative.
Flexible.
Promoting employee mental health and engagement by creating community-centered places that promote connection, support, and a sense of belonging
Desiging for flexibility of space, tools, and technology to create higher-performing experiences.
Guiding Principles.
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Inspiration. The California poppy, the state's national wildflower, has left a legacy of beauty, tenacity, and regrowth that is rooted in California's landscapes. The poppy, known for its ability to blossom brightly even in fire-scarred terrain, thrives in challenging and transformative environments. This remarkable capacity to reemerge and flourish after adversity becomes the guiding metaphor for the law office. Just as the poppy’s vibrant petals signal hope and regeneration, the design reflects a place where clients can feel supported, empowered, and ready to rise from difficult circumstances with renewed clarity and confidence.
Inspiration.
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Concept. The California Poppy Emerge through Adversity Even in the harsh landscapes shaped by wildfires, the California poppy emerges, embodying the concept of emergence through hardship. It's this same spirit of perseverance that inspires the NEXT law office design, reflecting the firm's ability to adapt, perpetuate growth, and build community from the roots up. This takes shape within the workspace through flexible spaces that promote resilience and adaptability to meet the needs of employees. Through the provision of focus, collaboration, and restoration, the California poppy is realized as a bond between people and nature.
Concept.
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Climate Diagram of Fire Spread From the Past Year
Analysis.
Site
Sun Path
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Parti Exploration.
The Poppy
Open + Enclosed
Fixed to Fluid
Roots
Concept formed from the Califiornia Poppy.
Shielded “me” spaces provide focus and restoration, and open “we” zones to encourage connection.
Modular furniture and design to easily be adaptable for needs of user(s).
Adaptable path that grounds the workplace in both function and identity
Parti Exploration.
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Strength Nature
Focus
Grounded
Material Board.
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Catering Pantry
Artifical
Quiet
Lactation Room
Focus Rooms Lactation Room
Focus Rooms Huddle Rooms
Private Offices Workstations
Case Rooms Production and Resource Center
Case Rooms
Work Café
Conference Rooms
Wildcard Space
Production and Resource Center
Conference Rooms
Wildcard Space
Workstations Catering Pantry
Multi-purpose / Town Hall Community Hub
Work Café
Partner/Associate Office
Community Hub
Multi-purpose / Town Hall Loud
Natural
Light
Acoustics
Lighting and Acoustics Diagram
Space Planning.
Zoning Diagrams
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Ideation.
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Key:
1. Community Hub/Reception 2. Medium Conference Room 3. Small Conference Room 4. Associate Office 5. Partner Office
Floor Plan.
6. Manager Offices 7. Visitor Office 8. Town Hall 9. Work Cafe 10. Wildcard Space
11. Large Conference Room 12. Case Rooms 13. Paralegal Workstations 14. Legal Assistant Workstations 15. Junior Associate Office
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16. Huddle Room 17. Focus Rooms 18. Production and Resource Center 19. Virtual Hearing Room 20. Lactation Room 21. Pantry 22. Managing Partner Office
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Return Register
Supply Diffuser
Ceiling Mounted Luminous Rod - LR 1.5
Recessed Can Downlight
Reflected Ceiling Plan | Welcome Hub
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Return Register
Supply Diffuser
Sound Masking System
Ringo Pendant Light
Recessed Can Downlight Paris-Hanoi - Nomadic Small Pendant Light
Reflected Ceiling Plan | Town Hall
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Return Register
Supply Diffuser
Pendant Light
Ringo Pendant Light
Recessed Can Downlight
Reflected Ceiling Plan | Work Cafe
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NE T Interior Spaces.
Renders
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Welcome Hub.
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Map Key
FF & E Coalesse Ensemble Lounge System
Custom Reception Desk
Upon arrival, there is an ambient glow from gold and bronze metals flashing around the space, symbolizing the vibrant essence of the poppy flower. The welcome area has a custom reception desk and a marbled wall that frames the room. Lounge seating is implemented to provide flexibility and comfort.
Welcome Hub.
Acoustic Wood Slat
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Carpet
Marble
Bronze
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Town Hall.
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Map Key
FF & E Modular Folding Table System
MaxStacker III
Materials Wallpaper
Carpet
Walnut Wood
The Town Hall concentrates on modularity, making it the ideal location for a multi-use space. The room has stackable chairs and folding tables, which allow for various positions dependent on the needs of the area. Its storage capacity makes it ideal for storing furniture to accommodate modifications.
Town Hall
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[Mid Day] Presentation on mental health in the workplace
[Morning} Morning meeting with Regional HR
Town Hall Layouts
[Afternoon] Internal Brainstorming Session
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Work Café.
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Map Key
FF & E PLAN Column Table - 28" Diam.
Materials Marble
Wallpaper
Fabric
Walnut Wood
The work café offers a social setting for employees to unwind and reconnect. It includes nook and bar seating, allowing staff to work. Furniture choices for the work cafe enhance comfort and can be adaptable for hosting guests.
Work Café.
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Work Stations.
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Map Key
FF & E Campfire Big Table
HeightAdjustable Desks
Materials
Acoustical Wall Slats
The workstations and huddle room serve as a community gathering area for both collaborative and individual work. The space accommodates both Open + Enclosed areas, such as individual work stations, modular huddle rooms, and group desks.
Work Stations.
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Wallpaper
PVC-Free Resilient flooring
Rug
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Conference + Collaborative Tables
Workstations Modular Huddle Room
Work Station Axon.
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Private Office.
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Map Key
FF & E Aleta Executive Chair
HeightAdjustable Desks
Materials
The office is located right on the exterior glass. This location is intended to accommodate both focused individual work and small-scale collaboration within the workplace, including virtual meetings. It provides a quiet, confined atmosphere that represents the user's professional identity while allowing for smooth transitions between work modes.
Private Office.
PVC-Free Resilient flooring
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Wallpaper
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Option 1
Private Office Layouts
Option 2
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Option 3
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Large Conference.
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Map Key
FF & E Aleta Executive Chair
Ocular™
Materials
This room provides a prestige-driven, versatile setting for client meetings, team work, and formal presentations. It encourages both inperson events and equitable hybrid interactions. This space is able to comfortably accommodate 12 to 16 people while also providing enough space for delivered meals to be received within the room.
Large Conference.
Carpet
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Wallpaper
Wallpaper
Walnut
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Wildcard | Nyctinasty Room
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Inspiration. The concept for this sensory space is inspired by the California poppy's nyctinastic movement - its delicate closure at night and reopening with the return of light. Just as the poppy responds to its surroundings with rhythmic peace and protection, this space is intended to provide employees with a place to withdraw, regroup, and reopen with new clarity.
The lounger's proven body, suspended on ropes similar to a hammock, transports you to a realm of simple floating and full relaxation. The ergonomic design and solid-oiled wood construction provide an exceptional relaxation experience. High-strength nylon ropes can sustain enormous loads. You may easily adjust the lounger body along the rope to any reclining or sitting position.
Wildcard | Nyctinasty Room
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Map Key
FF & E Wooden Floating Lounger
Water Curtain
Materials
Soft loungers, a serene water feature, sound-masking acoustics, and diffused lighting replicate the poppy's relaxing "sleep movement," providing a restorative environment that reflects the plant's natural cycle of rest and resilience.
Wildcard | Nyctinasty Room
Stone
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Wallpaper
Metal Effect tiles
Acoustical Wood Slat
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THANK YOU
ShawContract Sculpt Loop Tile, 24 in x 24 in Cradle to Cradle Silver
The Wood Veneer Hub Slatpanel Walnut Luxe Fire-Rated Acoustic Wood Wall Panel
Kaolin Surfaces Porcelain Tile
Walls Republic Wallpaper Non-woven matt
Tile Expert Onyx Tile
Coordonné Vinyl wallpaper on non-woven backing
CONCORD WALLCOVERINGS Wallpaper Non-woven matt
ShawContract Pivot Floor Tile PVC-Free
Walls Republic Wallpaper Non-woven matt
Casamance Wallpaper non-woven backing
Catalog | FF&E
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Patcraft Resilient Floor In The Loop / fully recyclable
Tile Expert Metal Effect tiles
White Stucco
Arte Wallpaper Non-woven matt
Shaw Contract Carpet Tile
Eco Outdoor Kinney Random Ashlar natural stone
Catalog | FF&E
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Coalesse Ensemble Lounge System
Steelcase Ergonomic Chair Karman
Steelcase Marien152 Conference Chair
Bolia Palm Stool
Steelcase Slim Leg HeightAdjustable Desk
Steelcase Height-Adjustable Desks Migration SE
Steelcase Conference + Collaborative Tables Ocular™
Orangebox Pods Campers & Dens
Coalesse Conference + Collaborative Tables Potrero415
Steelcase Campfire Big Table
Catalog | FF&E
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Steelcase Ocular Table, Arc7
Viccarbe Aleta Executive Chair
AVFI ModuDesk™ Modular Folding Table System
Steelcase Max-Stacker III
FirstClass Holz Siesta Heaven wooden hanging loungers
Fredericia Furniture PLAN Column Table - 28" Diam.
Catalog | FF&E
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