February 28, 2014, Philadelphia – The 160 lawyers and 150 support staff in Reed Smith’s Philadelphia office are moving over the weekend to new offices on six floors of Three Logan Square.
“Everything is in place for a seamless and smooth transition,” said Len Bernstein, the firm’s Philadelphia Managing Partner. “Our extensive preparations over the past year-plus really paid off. As one of the 10 largest firms in this region, and with a world-wide presence, continuity of operations is key. Three Logan Square is an ideal location, the new space is beautiful and well-matched to our work needs, and, most importantly, everything is up and running right on schedule.”
In advance of the move, Reed Smith transported more than 3,000 crates of documents and materials, 400 computers, a truckload of live plants, 18 copiers, and dozens of printers from its former office in One Liberty Place to Three Logan Square. It was the Philadelphia office’s first move since 1989.
Mirroring a trend in law offices nationwide, Reed Smith’s new office simultaneously represents a downsizing and an upscaling of its Philadelphia presence. “Although the square footage at Three Logan Square is less than at One Liberty Place, the new office was designed to use space more efficiently,” said Pat Hiltibidal, Reed Smith’s firmwide Chief of Office Services. “We were trying to establish a sense of community with the environment we created, a place people would want to be and work, and we have definitely succeeded.”
The space is more than just another great office: early in 2012, Reed Smith entered a partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) Center for Market Innovation (CMI), which recruited the firm to participate in the High Performance Demonstration Project designed to promote the demand for high-performance tenant spaces by demonstrating their economic benefits to commercial tenants and building owners. The CMI evaluates systems and energy-management practices by modeling and quantifying energy savings generated by high-efficiency tenant build-outs.
As a result of participation in the partnership, the firm will use one-third less energy than a standard 2014 law firm build-out, with the savings going directly to Reed Smith. The energy value analysis also projects that the firm will enjoy an investment payback period of 1.6 years and an 83 percent internal rate of return on its investment, for a total electricity savings of $1.8 million over the 16-year life of the lease. Beyond the financial impact, the new Philadelphia office will make a positive impact on the health and wellness of the firm’s employees, as well as on the environment. The firm’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint is a priority that promotes its alignment with the environmental goals of clients, the city and the owner of Three Logan Square.
Occupying 129,996 sq. ft. on floors 28 through 33 of Three Logan, the new Reed Smith office includes a reception area and the firm’s signature high-end conference center space, which it incorporates into all of its new office spaces; attorney and support staff offices; a café; and use of the space in the most efficient manner. The printed library reference materials are distributed throughout the core of the new space, with the traditional legal library now fully accessible online, transferring the value of the library to the firm’s personnel.
All 191 perimeter offices have 8-foot glass fronts providing natural lighting, with an opaque film through each center section affording privacy. Lawyers were given a choice of conventional or adjustable-height desks, with more than 80 percent opting for an adjustable desk, at which they can either sit or stand to work. Throughout the new office, furniture and décor are uniform to promote and sustain the firm’s collaborative, community-focused environment.
The space also includes an all-purpose room, which can be configured as a moot court, or used for trial and other training sessions, exercise classes and community meetings. Other features include two shower facilities, a Mother’s Room and a lounge.
The office is in close proximity to Ben Franklin Parkway, a popular local hike and bike trail; and Three Logan's management is building an exercise facility for building tenants on the 49th floor, providing another support for the firm’s focus on health and wellness. Lawyers and staff have already formed several running and walking groups to take advantage of these new resources.
Three Logan Square is a 53-story tower with magnificent presence on the Philadelphia skyline. Long considered one of the premier architectural landmarks in the city, the building is recognized by the NRDC as a top-performing building with an Energy Star® score of 93.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm with more than 1,800 lawyers in 25 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses, from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises. Its lawyers provide litigation and other dispute resolution services in multi-jurisdictional and other high-stakes matters; deliver regulatory counsel; and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions. Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising, technology and media, shipping, energy and natural resources, real estate, manufacturing, and education. For more information, visit reedsmith.com.
U.S.: New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Houston, Princeton, Northern Virginia, Wilmington, Silicon Valley, Century City, Richmond
Europe: London, Paris, Munich, Greece
Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Dubai
Asia: Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Kazakhstan