Pepper Construction completed an 81,500-square-foot renovation for Chicago-based law firm Barnes and Thornburg, LLP. Located at 1 N. Wacker Drive, the renovation included three existing floors and an expansion onto a fourth floor.
The company and designers began the renovation process by getting feedback from employees, who primarily asked for more light. The resulting design features glass in every possible application. Spaces such as private offices, conference rooms and existing pantries were reworked and perimeter offices were expanded to introduce more light into the space, per the employees’ feedback. In addition, the existing internal stair was extended down to the 42nd floor.
The renovation is a move toward modernity with glass-front offices, “war rooms,” and a central library/cafe. The expanded conference center on the 44th main reception floor extends views out to the perimeter with a gallery space for breakout and artwork showcase, multiple and varied size glass front rooms and semi-private hospitality area for entertaining.
Barnes & Thornburg chose this location when they entered the Chicago market in 2002, with an eventual planned expansion in mind. They’ve never had any intention of moving because of the visionary location and the views it offers from such a high floor. The reinvention of their office offers employees an experience that matches the moment, which included adding a new, contiguous floor to the footprint.
