The open-plan style “tangibly reflects the firm's drive for more collaborative ways of working”
DLA Piper’s Auckland office fitout has nabbed the Interior Architecture award at the 2021 Auckland Architecture Awards.
The firm relocated its flagship location in New Zealand to the PwC Tower last year, and the new office’s fitout was conceptualised by architecture and design practice Jasmax to evoke a “world-class, open-plan, technically sophisticated office environment,” DLA Piper said.
In the design of the space, the firm said that it sought to embody approachability and knowledge sharing while providing “a versatile, dynamic and progressive workplace that would establish the benchmark for law firms.”
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“The move to PwC Tower delivers many benefits to DLA Piper. Working from our global guidelines to design a workplace from scratch, we’ve been able to create a space that’s right for us,” COO Joanna Simon said. “Our new location is one that is fit for a leading global business law firm, a place that offers our clients an outstanding experience, is welcoming of our people and supports our firm's values.”
DLA Piper said that the new environment “tangibly reflects the firm's drive for more collaborative ways of working for staff.” The firm maximised available views of the city and harbour through sinuous paths with view shafts and through informal meeting and workspaces.
“The objective was to gently disrupt the rigour of the building’s grid and structural layout to create an organic and fluid arrangement of timber-lined spaces,” the firm said. “A clear delineation between front-of-house and back-of-house does not preclude a strong visual connection between the main office spaces and the views beyond.”
DLA Piper also set up a parents’ room and a wellbeing room for staff.
“It's fantastic to receive this recognition for our new premises. Over the past few months, we've enjoyed settling into our new home in the hub of the city and discovering new ways of working,” NZ managing partner Martin Wiseman said. “It's also been a pleasure to welcome many of our valued clients into our new space.”
Wiseman confirmed that the firm’s new Wellington office in Deloitte House follows the same fitout.