Gowlings

Toronto, Ontario
170,000 Sq. Ft.

As the result of a merger with another major business law firm, Gowlings was practising from two downtown locations. This situation and the expiry of leases led to a real estate exercise with three specific goals: consolidate all of the practice groups in one location, decrease overall square footage and implement one distinctive “look”. The new space model’s efficiency ultimately reduced the firm’s total square footage by 20% and was possible based on the decision to adopt universal sized offices for all lawyers. Each practice floor has meeting rooms for internal use, war rooms and a compact file system designated to the particular group.

The new Brand statement is made as you enter the reception area on the Client floor. The biggest change in space planning was the location of eighteen meeting rooms on this floor, five of which can be adjusted in size by the use of Skyfold partitions. These meeting rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art audio visual equipment and technology and are supported by the back of house support food and client services required to run this highly utilized facility.