Savills Building & Project Consultancy has executed several projects for international law firms, the latest being the new office delivered for Bird & Bird, a global law firm, through the Open Book by Savills formula.
In November 2022, Bird & Bird relocated to Central Point in Warsaw, where it occupies a total of 2,200 sqm of high-quality office space spread over three floors. Its new premises are far from the typical office of a law firm.
Real estate advisory firm Savills both advised the tenant during the leasing process and completed the office fit-out project through the Open Book by Savills formula. The Savills Building & Project Consultancy team was responsible for the comprehensive management and coordination of contractors and subcontractors, allowing the client to generate substantial savings. As a result, the client was aware and in full control of project costs right from the start. All the work was supervised by qualified inspectors and managed by a dedicated project manager appointed by Savills.
“The biggest challenge in the design of the new office for Bird & Bird was to optimise costs. Due to the nature of its business, the client needed cellular offices which are considerably more demanding to construct on account of the building materials that must meet strict fire regulations, as well as installation solutions. Working according to the principles of the Open Book by Savills formula, we were able to deliver real budget savings that could be spent on additional amenities and fit-out items. As a result, the office space was even better designed and tailor-made for the client’s needs and in line with the latest trends. In an era of the rising costs of finishing materials and subcontractor services, demand for such services is noticeably growing,” says Jakub Jędrys, Head of Building & Project Consultancy at Savills.
Office design is increasingly important in a tenant’s identity and culture. The ways of workplace design have changed radically over the years, but working models and practices are still critical factors in space layout planning to ensure the best conditions for focused work.
“Bird & Bird’s objective was to create an employee-friendly office space. We, therefore, combined office minimalism with strong colours reflecting the dynamic nature of the team. As a studio focused on the well-being of people and the planet, we made sure that the furniture from the previous office got a second life,” says Bogusz Parzyszek, Co-CEO and Founder of Workplace.
Savills Building & Project Consultancy team carried out all the project work, starting from shell and core. It completed all the design work, provided general contractor services and supervised all the suppliers and subcontractors on behalf of the client.
“The implementation of the new Bird & Bird office project was a very interesting challenge due to its scale, which required coordination of the entire team. One of the law firm’s requirements was to adapt all offices, meeting rooms and informal work zones to the individual needs of employees. We were able to respond to this challenge, as evidenced by an office with a unique character that reflects its users,” says Marek Zujewicz, Project Manager, Building & Project Consultancy, Savills.
Savills continues to develop its building and project consultancy services, reporting record revenue in this business line in Poland last year. Its team, which has recently doubled in size, has completed 70 fit-out projects with a combined office area of over 50,000 sqm throughout the country. The value of Open Book by Savills mandates surpassed PLN 40 million.
