Baker & McKenzie LLP Case Study

The decision to move was made in 2020 having identified a need for workspace that would support growth and reflect the sustainability goals of the Firm. 

It was also required to enable a new way of working. Trials in their former offices, which encapsulated a series of more open plan working experiments plus extensive staff engagement at the initial stages of the project, helped inform the workplace strategy. 

Groundbreaking Office Design

The result is beautiful, efficient, flexible offices over 6 floors, plus terraces, roof space and a ground floor reception, all underpinned by SMaRT technology.  No one has their own desk or workspace. Gone are the cellular lawyers’ offices of old. In their place, a variety of spaces are available according to need rather than role or hierarchy. 

These range from phone rooms and deep focus spaces to neighbourhoods of desks in groups of four or ten and semi-focus paired desks to promote collaboration. In addition to meeting rooms, meet-in-the-middle spaces offer scope to gather informally. A new deal suite occupies a space on a floor separate to other client spaces, and more square footage has been given over to client interaction spaces than previously, with event and entertaining spaces and a client lounge.   

Whilst a key objective was to support growth, the new office has a smaller footprint than those in Blackfriars. Great office design and SMaRT technology have enabled better and easier use of space and a complete transition to agile working.

The Experience

On arrival, staff navigate through the building via their secure credential. They can locate a self-service SMaRT locker for their belongings and the appropriate workspace with live desk availability via an intuitive app. Check-in to their desk is via an integrated desk puck which secures their workspace for the day, also notifying colleagues of their location. 

Staff can book meeting space, make catering arrangements, even check the air quality. In the event of a no-show, space occupancy sensors release rooms 15 minutes later.

The systems that connect and serve the firm are as discreet as the offices are striking. SMaRT fittings that are visible were carefully sought to meet the exacting interior design of the offices. These range from recessed AV systems and flush-mounted control panels to slimline LED tracks and spots, cameras and occupancy detection sensor lights. 

Project Challenges

A relocation project such as this presents many challenges, one in particular being the introduction of numerous pieces of technology within a tight timeframe. Baker & McKenzie have stringent cybersecurity due diligence processes. So, a major part of our role was concerned with the onboarding of all the new SMaRT technology. We helped bridge their understanding of how the different technologies come together, map out processes and work towards key milestones. 

Speaking of NuXform, Rachel Slade, the lead for the relocation project, and Jason Souris, IT Service Delivery manager, commented,

“The insight we had from NuXform into how and why something should work and their ability to get under the skin of things was invaluable. At the same time they have a broader knowledge of what’s evolving in the market and what these upcoming developments could make possible. NuXform were an important resource that we didn’t have internally with an approach that is very supportive, very open and always flexible. 

“Only months after moving in we are focused on bedding in the technology that we’ve implemented with NuXform and refining what we get from it but there’s huge potential ahead. Does our new office create open and visible networks, allow us to be our best selves and showcase the best about Baker McKenzie? Yes, it does.” Rachel added.