SMBW completed the Virginia Bar Association offices with a welcoming feel and embracing the views of the area it serves in Richmond, Virginia.

Driven by a desire to attract new members and serve existing members better, the Virginia Bar Association’s member center has been crafted to become a fresh, inclusive home base for lawyers to meet, work, and collaborate. Geared to serve members more effectively through innovative meeting space and touchdown areas for debriefing, the 7,100sf space was designed to support many types of gathering and transforms to fit a variety of functions.

Capturing prominent views of the Virginia Capitol, the prime gathering place – the café – was positioned at the windowed corner of the office. By locating the large 26-person conference room adjacent to the café, the layout offers the opportunity to open up from end to end, in order to support larger functions. The addition of a glass folding wall bisecting the two spaces also allows the spaces to be used independently for smaller functions and day-to-day use.

Small conference rooms were created with a mix of glass and drapery, giving members the necessary option for both transparency and privacy, whether they are meeting with clients or collaborating with peers. The concept of study “carrels” morphed into private focus rooms for careful reading and solitude amongst the meeting spaces.

The Virginia Bar Association staff needed to remain fully accessible to the member space, but also allow dedicated space separate from the members to maintain their own operations. As their member base continues to grow, future flexibility for staff growth was factored into the design plan.

Design: SMBW
Photography: Ansel Olson

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