NEXT Emily Fisher

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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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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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