Miller Thomson

New innovative legal workplace environment for one of Canada’s top firms.

Miller Thompson, is a full-service nation-wide Canadian law firm. The Vancouver project saw them relocate from a multi-floor tenancy in a standard office building to a single 48,000sqft floor within a converted commercial building, previously occupied by retailer Sears.

Miller Thomson made the decision to have all their lawyers on one floor to promote greater interaction between teams.

The design of the workplace sees 50% of the workspace fitted out with single size offices and 50% open plan, allowing for all employees to choose how they prefer to work. Offices are internally located, pushing the open plan office to the prime perimeter areas of the deep floorplate, closer to natural light.

The design is based on the creation of a series of working neighbourhoods. A central street combines all of the communal facilities and links the front-of-house client experience with the heart of the staff facilities. These staff areas are centred on the forum, with its stadium-style seating and loft space work area. All of the communal facilities sit on a raised timber floor that connects to the sunken working are of the neighbourhoods. The central café area provides informal meeting spaces in a range of settings. The variety of places encourages mobility, empowering people to choose to work in any way that they want.

The importance of light, outlook and fresh air to all staff has been capitalised upon in the design of the workplace through the creation of view corridors and the access to a unique central outdoor courtyard and an external terrace that overlooks a city square. The outcome is a very open work environment that celebrates choice, health and wellness.

The design for the workplace is inspired by it’s location in Vancouver and the link to nature; with an extensive use of local, natural materials, products designed by local artisans and furniture manufacturers.

Role: Lead Design

Sector: Legal