lauckgroup, now Perkins+Will, recently renovated Winstead Attorneys' Houston office. Having previously designed a number of Winstead offices, the design team set out to create a design for the downtown office that offers a fresh and flexible workplace for the well-established law firm. The new, 54,000-square-foot space in the downtown area was designed to allow the firm to grow quickly, and includes larger open spaces, a conference center and offices for 75 lawyers.
Staying true to the art and culture focus of the Houston locale, they introduced a distinctively light and airy design intended to instill a feeling of community within the once dark space. With the goal of balancing functionality with a sense of modernity, the design team focused on creating open, architectural touch points to celebrate the strong sense of camaraderie evident among Winstead's people. Centralized, multi-use work spaces provide practical use for requirements today that can easily transform for Winstead's future needs.
As attorneys and their clients step off the elevator into the new office, they are greeted by a brightly lit reception area outfitted with a concrete 3D tile installation, designed to symbolize Winstead's diverse workplace culture and act as an anchoring point within the space. The tile is wrapped into a soft curve that guides visitors through spacious communal areas and flexible conference rooms. Plant life strategically placed throughout and abundant access to natural daylight act as a sequencing path through the office and contribute to an overall sense of well being for occupants as they move from the entrance through the public spaces.
Feature lighting installations in the reception and breakroom provide stunning focal elements, serving as art pieces that nod to Houston's renowned modern craft scene. Other touches such as corten steel planters, textured ceiling motifs, concrete and glass table tops, and white-washed wood provide distinctive and inviting moments hinting back to the fresh and modern yet warm spirit of the Winstead culture.
Challenging the traditional notions of law offices, the design team chose a light color palette-with hints of vibrant hues from LED color-changing light installations while sit-to-stand desking solutions were incorporated in a variety of configurations to further encourage teamwork within the office. Even the traditional 'war rooms' were abandoned in exchange for multifunctional rooms that could accommodate both storage and attorney collaboration.
Photography: Garrett Rowland