Restoring historic character while delivering the privacy, comfort and precision expected of a high-spec legal workplace

The project started with a detailed study of the client’s working style and expectations, with Agilité understanding early on that privacy, acoustic control and a welcoming client environment would be central to the project’s success. As such, the team’s tender approach focused not only on programme and cost, but on demonstrating confidence, technical understanding and a clear grasp of the client’s brief. During preconstruction, the team reviewed opportunities for value engineering, particularly around high-cost items such as the acoustic glazed partitions specified by the client.

Early on, the programme was disrupted by the discovery of lead in part of the building. This required treatment by the client, delaying physical progress on site by around two weeks. Rather than lose momentum, Agilité continued progressing administrative and technical tasks off site – including procurement, drawing approvals, specifications and samples – so construction could resume efficiently once access was restored.

Winston & Strawn’s offices combine two spatial identities within one office – a more contemporary office environment in the newer part of the building, and a more traditional, heritage-rich client area within the older section, where original mouldings, parquet flooring and fireplaces were retained.

As a law firm, the client placed particular emphasis on privacy, high acoustic performance and lighting that could be controlled and dimmed to support employee comfort throughout long working days. The design also included a mix of formal and informal environments, with some meeting rooms conceived as lounge spaces over traditional boardrooms, helping create a more relaxed experience for users.

Working within the heritage section of the building added another layer of complexity, as the team had to carefully cut existing mouldings in order to route electrical services, before recreating them using traditional methods.

Communication between stakeholders was constant, including ongoing liaison with the client’s US-based teams for technical and IT approvals. Agilité ensured those not on site could track progress and review information in real-time and when approvals stalled or technical issues arose, the team kept all relevant parties copied into a single email stream to resolve issues quickly and collaboratively.

This communication strategy was particularly important for the IT package, which followed American rather than French standards. The IT room, cable specifications and installation requirements differed significantly from local practice, requiring frequent exchange with the client’s team in the US and careful coordination with specialist subcontractors.

The delivery itself was spread over a complex building arrangement made up of four linked structures with varying levels and uneven floor conditions. Following the lead treatment, the team had to reinstall the raised floor – carefully levelling it across the entire space while accounting for differences in height between areas.

Coordination proved especially important around the imported glazed partition package too, as the specialist installer was travelling from the UK and required a fixed installation date. Agilité had to tightly manage the preceding works to ensure the site was ready exactly when required.

With the building’s lift too small for some deliveries, the team used a forklift to bring materials in through the windows, creating a protected pedestrian tunnel at street level and coordinating the lifting and internal handling process from the fourth floor.

Despite the combination of lead treatment, heritage protection, change orders, imported systems and complex IT requirements, Agilité delivered the project on time. The finished office balances beauty, privacy and functionality, creating a highly tailored workplace for Winston & Strawn’s employees and clients alike.