Move cements the firm's commitment to the burgeoning Penn Quarter/Chinatown neighborhood
Washington, DC (Feb. 28, 2017) – Venable LLP announced today that it has officially moved its Washington, DC headquarters to 600 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, located in the heart of the city's burgeoning Penn Quarter/Chinatown neighborhood. Venable's new flagship office, which is in a newly constructed, high-performance, next-generation building, enhances the firm’s commitment to exceptional client service, and its investment in the local community, its employees' wellness, and high environmental standards.
The new office is home base for approximately 400 attorneys and staff members. Venable is the building's largest tenant, occupying 80 percent of the building and approximately 270,000 square feet, which although it is a smaller footprint than its previous home at Terrell Place at 575 7th St., NW, is more efficient space and will allow the office to continue to grow. The current space spans across seven full floors, one partial floor, and a ground-level reception area.
"Venable was the first law firm to commit to the then-nascent Seventh Street corridor more than 15 years ago, and we are extremely proud to have contributed to the neighborhood's growth and vibrancy. Our clients, our attorneys, and our personnel have enjoyed and benefitted from being in the neighborhood, and we remain committed to the continuing redevelopment and economic growth of this business district," said Brian L. Schwalb, the firm's Partner in Charge of the Washington, DC office.
"We spent a great deal of time working closely with our development and design partners to ensure that our office space is optimally designed to not only be much more efficient, but to enhance collaboration, transparency, and client service. We will accommodate more attorneys and staff in less space and have incorporated leading-edge technology to work smarter, which results in cost savings and enhanced service for our clients," said Jennifer J. Bruton, who serves as the Administrative Partner of Venable's Washington, DC office.
Hosting clients and guests has always been important to Venable. In its new headquarters, the firm is now able to host more events, both in person and virtually via state-of-the-art webcasts and video conferences for clients and friends of the firm who want to learn more about legal developments that affect their businesses. The firm's conference center, named after former firm chairman and former U.S. Attorney General Benjamin R. Civiletti, is outfitted with the latest technology and can accommodate more than 150 people, offering attendees a high-end, high-tech meeting experience.
The new office space reflects Venable's culture of collaboration, teamwork, and open communication between staff and attorneys. The firm has incorporated clear glass walls, open interior staircases, and flexible workspaces.
"Consistent with our long-standing focus on employee wellness, we are providing treadmill desks in designated open areas for those who prefer to work that way. In addition, every employee – attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and professional staff – has an adaptable workstation that includes a motorized standing desk. This perfectly complements our firm’s ongoing Employee Wellness program," said Mr. Schwalb.
There is also an onsite, state-of-the-art fitness center for employees who want to exercise before, during, or after work, and a healthy-choice café and self-serve market to provide nutritional options for all employees. There is a rooftop bocce court, so that the firm can continue its tradition of friendly – albeit highly competitive – bocce tournaments, which foster a spirit of community among attorneys and staff.
Venable's time-honored commitment to the environment influenced many design features of the space including the naming of conference rooms. Each room in the new conference center is named after one of the largest national parks in the country and reflects the firm's support of the National Park Service in its fight to preserve the ecological and historical integrity of the places entrusted to its care.
Furthermore, the new office is energy efficient, with LEED® Platinum certification – the highest level of achievement in sustainability. It also includes a high-performance, energy-efficient HVAC system, and high-performance windows that allow daylight to enter the building while blocking 70 percent of the sun's heat to keep the building cool in the summer. There is also an extensive water conservation system that will significantly reduce consumption and discharge into the regional storm water infrastructure.
The building is designed by Alliance Architecture and constructed by the Gould Property Company and Oxford Properties. Visit the 600 Massachusetts Avenue website for more information.
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Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC that serves as primary counsel to a worldwide clientele of large and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, and high-net-worth entrepreneurs and individuals. With nearly 700 attorneys across the country, including California, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC, the firm strategically advances its clients' business objectives in the U.S. and around the globe. Venable advises clients on a broad range of business and regulatory law, legislative affairs, complex litigation, and the full range of intellectual property disciplines.