LSM Wins British Office Award for K&L Gates

by Jesse Dorris | Monday, November 19, 2012

K&L Gates has exclusive access to this rooftop terrace, with exceptional views of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Washington, DC-based Lehman Smith McLeish, known for its striking headquarters for USA TODAY and Tishman Speyer, among others, adds another feather to its cap with the 2012 British Council for Offices “Best of the Best” Award. The prize recognizes the firm’s London office for international law firm K&L Gates.

The first impression within the reception area is a view across to the Cathedral; the Pucci reception seating rests on flooring of honed Grigio Danilo stone from Campolonghi, Italy.

K&L was the first pre-let and remains the largest tenant at Jean Nouvel’s One New Change, a London office development with stunning views of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Base building developer Land Securities worked closely with LSM during the building’s design stages, creating a purpose-built environment for the global law firm K&L’s British office.

The expanded slab opening creates a visual connection between floors, illuminated by custom Zomtobel light fixtures.

“As we continue to work more and more in the UK and across Europe,” says Debra Lehman-Smith, design partner and co-founder of LSM, “this accolade comes at a highly symbolic time. To be standing shoulder to shoulder with such iconic British projects has brought great pride to me and our team.”

The British Council for Offices chose the K&L Gates project from a field of 28 regional winners, including BBC North and Virgin Money, and presented the award at their annual dinner in October.