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A commitment to circularity was high on the agenda for the refurbishment of international law firm Taylor Wessing’s London offices. The fit out at 5 New Street Square embraced low-carbon materials and a reuse-first approach while modernising the workspace. Gaining WELL Platinum pre-certification, this project is an exemplar of what can be achieved through close collaboration.
Taylor Wessing said that in 2023, it faced the choice as to whether to move to a new location in London or stay in 5 New Street Square. The firm decided to stay and invest in an extensive refurbishment as this would have less of an environmental impact than building and fitting out a new space.
The office has now been transformed to meet the client’s ambition to create a modern, inclusive, and high-performing environment that supports engagement and employee wellbeing.
Location5 New Street Square, London
ArchitectID:SR
ContractorMace
Refurbished while occupied, through phased handovers and close coordination, ensuring minimal disruption, the firm worked with interior designers ID:SR and contractors Mace on the redesign, remodelling and delivery of more sustainable premises.
The project covered levels 1 to 4, 9 and 10, and has created a premium client suite with dedicated reception, flexible meeting spaces, client lounge, event area, and staff restaurant with roof terrace access. Every space supports collaboration, hospitality and daily operations.
The previous working environment was mostly cellular and was subsequently reconfigured to accommodate both privacy and openness, honouring modern shifts towards agile work settings. Throughout, semi-enclosed desking bays have replaced closed-door private offices, allowing for the seclusion necessary for focused legal work whilst creating opportunity for connection and transparency.
Optima’s free standing 117 Plus panels were specified for these desk bays, framing the corridor. Standing at 2.8m tall above fabric panels, these screens were made with low carbon glass, and along with the furniture elements break up what was a large, open plan area. The fabric panels below are a patented acoustic panel system called Collective Re.Wrap®, developed by The Collective using recycled PET material.
Opposite this area Optima’s 117 Plus Single glazed partitioning and Edge Symmetry Single glazed doors have been used in the work zone to create rooms for more focused work or meetings. The acoustic brief demanded that standard glass was used here to deliver the acoustic specification. The rooms feature external, bespoke Tech Panels that are in keeping with the overall aesthetics of the interior.
Double glazed Revolution 100 partitioning with Tech Panels and Edge Symmetry Double glazed doors were specified for high acoustic comfort on Level 10. The solution exceeds the Rw48dB acoustic requirement specified, helping prevent sound from inside the room escaping out, and preventing noise from people passing or conversations outside out of the rooms from permeating in, both critical for confidential client and staff meetings.
This was key as the integration of a new staircase between storeys 9 and 10 has altered the way staff reach their desks, increasing a feeling of connectedness, whilst encouraging physical movement and creating opportunity for informal interactions to occur.
Bronze effects, charcoal grey and back-lit headshot images harmonise with a pared-back palette of light timbers and glass to create a bright and welcoming environment. Specially considered details such as acid-etched signage and illuminated wayfinding with recycled crystal back-panels make the space intuitively navigable.
The project also features Optima’s high acoustic and space saving Pocket Sliding Doors, and an Automatic Sliding Door for accessibility and ease of use. Meanwhile a special angled acoustic window was designed for the firm’s podcast studio.
Noise remains one of the most significant challenges in modern workplaces. When background noise exceeds 45–50 decibels (dB) – the average sound level, focus, communication, and privacy begin to decline.
A key consideration in this office redesign was the acoustic treatment. Here, not only is acoustic comfort and privacy accommodated, but the solutions chosen contribute positively to the visual and material quality of the interior. Throughout the project Optima’s 117 Plus and Revolution 100 have been finished in a bronze colour to complement the overall colour palette whilst the transparency of the glass adds to the sense of openness.
Optima Systems’s Revolution 100 Double glazed partitioning has been installed with Edge Symmetry doors. These 100mm thick glass doors have been designed exclusively for use within the Revolution 100 Double glazed system and can achieve an acoustic performance that competes with bespoke acoustic timber door sets as standard.
Privacy is further enabled with the use of manifestations on panels in these glazed systems. The manifestations allow light to flow through the frosted bands, and they double as privacy screening, while fulfilling safety and accessibility requirements.
All Optima’s solutions are designed to be demountable enabling them to be moved and reused in the future, should the space need to be reconfigured. Demountable solutions provide rapid, non-destructive assembly and disassembly. They offer distinct advantages such as high adaptability for changing spaces, lower long-term renovation costs, accelerated installation times, and enhanced sustainability, all of which contributed to the vision of this project.
Revolution 100 partitioning systems can also adapt to single or double-glazed panels, depending on the level of acoustic comfort and privacy required.
Optima’s free standing 117 plus glazed panels stand above Collective Re.Wrap® panels. This panel system is mechanically fixed and completely adhesive free, allowing panels to be removed, reused and fully recycled at end of life as part of The Collective’s wider take-back approach.
For this project, the panels were upholstered in textile manufacturer Camira’s Gravity Frost, selected both for its visual texture and alignment with the project’s wider sustainability ambitions. The integration of the Collective Re.Wrap® base panels supports a softer interior environment in this part of the office, shaped through acoustics, material and colour.
According to contractors Mace, the ‘reuse-first’ strategy contributed significantly to carbon savings; savings of 243 tonnes of CO₂e were made through reclaimed raised access flooring, glazing reuse, timber diversion, and repurposed fixtures. It was estimated that this amounted to 46 tonnes of glazing collected for reuse or recycling.
The reimagined space reflects Taylor Wessings commitment to innovation, client focus, sustainability and inclusivity. The decision to refurbish rather than relocate has resulted in a 56% reduction in carbon emissions compared with a new build. The building now operates with 50% greater energy efficiency, powered by air source heat pumps and 100% renewable electricity.
