Shearman & Sterling

When Shearman & Sterling set out to redesign their Manhattan headquarters, they wanted a client-first environment to celebrate the legacy of the firm, and simultaneously establish a new design vision that would set a new standard for all future workplaces across the firm’s global portfolio. The new vision for Shearman & Sterling’s Manhattan office is big and bold, highly technical, and full of intimate moments and detailing that ground the space. With one of the most formidable legal legacies in American history, Shearman & Sterling’s offices had become a time capsule of the firm’s evolution.

From the onset of the project, our project team embraced the responsibility to balance business pragmatics with cultural aspirations to create a new home that reflected the dynamic workplace of the next generation of leaders. The goal was to reimagine a new showcase for the firm’s legal experts to adapt new ways of working, and to engage in more meaningful ways with their colleagues and clients alike. The result is a seamless balance between future aspirations and heritage. Amenity spaces were crafted with a focus on atmosphere and to facilitate informal connections. The full-service café offers a dynamic, private social club effect, with detailed ceilings, wood paneling, herringbone floors and seating options to facilitate a range of meeting types beyond just having lunch. Additionally, the library and technology hub were strategically located adjacent to the café for ease of access and visibility.