Spectrum Workplace delivered a workplace transformation for Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP – a leading law firm’s London headquarters, which enhanced collaboration, wellbeing and employee experience within a traditionally outdated professional services environment.
Director of Administration – Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Based in the heart of St Paul’s, this project focused on enhancing an existing office environment to better reflect the global reputation and operational needs of the firm. Working within a live professional services context, and against a wider backdrop of a sector often characterised by traditional working practices, the brief required a highly considered approach that balanced functionality, brand alignment and employee experience, while ensuring minimal disruption to day-to-day operations.
The project formed part of a broader evolution within professional services, supporting Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP in modernising its workplace to better reflect contemporary ways of working.
From the outset, the design strategy centred on improving spatial efficiency and creating a more balanced workplace that supports both focused working and collaboration. The existing layout was reconfigured to optimise the floorplate, improve circulation and create a clearer distinction between private working zones and shared environments. This has enabled the office to better support the varied demands of legal work, where concentration, confidentiality and teamwork must operate side by side.
A key focus of the project was enhancing staff wellbeing and fostering a more connected workplace culture. A new central breakout and collaboration hub was introduced as a social anchor within the office, providing a welcoming environment for informal meetings, cross-team interaction and restorative breaks throughout the day. This space plays a key role in encouraging connection between colleagues, supporting mental wellbeing and helping to create a more open and inclusive workplace culture.
Alongside collaboration and wellbeing, the design also prioritised a calm, professional aesthetic appropriate for a leading international law firm. A refined and understated material palette was introduced, combining neutral tones with subtle textural variation to create a sophisticated yet approachable environment. High-quality finishes were selected to ensure durability and longevity while maintaining a consistent sense of quality across the workplace.
Lighting design was carefully considered to support both productivity and comfort. Task lighting was integrated to enhance focused working areas, while softer ambient lighting was used within collaborative and social spaces to create a more relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. This layered approach helps to improve overall workplace experience and reinforces the balance between performance and wellbeing.
Delivered within a live, operational environment, the project required careful phasing, coordination and communication to ensure continuity of business operations. Close collaboration with the client team was essential in managing disruption and maintaining access throughout the works, ensuring a smooth and controlled delivery process.
Throughout the project, end-to-end delivery ensured that the design intent was carried through from initial concept to completion. Strong collaboration between all stakeholders enabled a high level of quality control and consistency, resulting in a workplace that meets both functional and experiential requirements.
The completed headquarters now provides Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP with a refined, future-ready workplace that supports productivity, strengthens collaboration and places employee wellbeing at its core. It offers a balanced environment where focused legal work can be undertaken alongside meaningful interaction and teamwork, reflecting the evolving needs of modern professional services environments.
Overall, the project demonstrates how thoughtful workplace transformation can enhance both performance and experience within a demanding legal setting. The result is a sophisticated and highly functional headquarters that supports wellbeing, reinforces culture and enables long-term operational success.
