Confidential
Law Firm

A Modern space for a creative law firm

This newly designed law office in downtown San Francisco reflects the client’s stature as a global leader in law while embracing a modern, collaborative ethos. The program thoughtfully integrates attorney offices, distributed workspaces for support staff, multi-sized meeting areas, and a centralized hospitality hub. Connected by a new striking staircase and a seamless material narrative, the two floors foster connectivity across practice groups. Prioritizing transparency over hierarchy and hospitality over formality, the design employs a professional yet approachable palette of wood, glass, stone, and warm neutral tones, setting the stage for creative legal thinking.

A model of adaptive reuse, the project reimagines a previously occupied law office by retaining 60% of the original structure while introducing impactful upgrades. Enhanced acoustics and finishes revitalize existing offices, while bold interventions like new lobbies, interconnecting stairs, lounges, and hospitality spaces elevate the client’s experience. The phased construction process ensured minimal disruption, preserving a unified and timeless design that seamlessly blends the old with the new.

Anchoring the office’s reception area is an innovative digital art installation by Lontank that mirrors the changing hues of the San Francisco sky throughout the day. This dynamic feature, paired with the strategic placement of floating stairs against the window line, connects the space to the breathtaking city and bay views beyond. With its thoughtful materiality, spatial fluidity, and a focus on both functionality and artistry, this office embodies a sophisticated environment where forward-thinking legal work thrives.

  • Client: Confidential
    Location: San Francisco, California
    Size: 25,000 SQFT
    Completion Date: 2024

  • Architecture, Interior Design, Furniture Selection & Coordination, Bespoke Furniture, Environmental Graphics, Lighting Design, Interior Landscape Design

  • Seth Hanley, Melissa Hanley, Christopher Sowers, John Hunter, Derek Ramsey, Erika Russell, Crystal Adams, Dani Valdez, Xavier Padojino

    Photography: Garrett Rowland

Connectivity & Craft

A defining feature of the project is the beautifully crafted connection between the stairways and wood ceilings. This seamless link not only ties the spaces together, but also creates a flowing, sensory experience—guiding you effortlessly between floors and inviting you to the city views beyond. The linear design adds a sense of warmth and quiet elegance, transforming navigation into a journey that feels both intuitive and inspiring.

a Creative Partnership

“In planning the expansion and renovation of our San Francisco office, our goal was a design that would both reflect the storied values of our firm, which was founded in New York in 1875 and has been part of the international legal community for more than fifty years, as well as representing our exciting newer Bay Area presence where our attorneys, the top in their fields, are managing high-impact litigation and transformational M & A deals for a range of major technology and private equity clients. We selected Studio Blitz for their highly creative, holistic, and information-driven approach to design, confident they would present us with new space that would not only meet but exceed these aspirations. And that’s exactly what they did.

Our new office design evolved from the creative engagement of our firm’s partners with the Blitz design team. This was an ongoing, dynamic process where everyone’s involvement served to continuously raise the bar, resulting in a space that is at once inviting for our attorneys and staff, comfortable for our clients and exciting for law students who are seeking to join an extraordinary firm. Our space reflects the intelligence, creativity, and energy we bring to our work every day.  It took a very talented design team to achieve that goal, and we found that team in Studio Blitz.”

Joseph Shapiro, Director of Administration