Edinburgh
5 Forres Street
Edinburgh, EH3 6DE
Glasgow
83a Candleriggs
Glasgow, G1 1LF
Manchester
11 York Street
Manchester, M2 2AW

Morton Fraser MacRoberts

A shared space for a shared vision

A person walking down the hallway of the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office Seven people sat around a meeting room table in blue and grey office chairs at the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office

When two prestigious law firms merged, Morton Fraser MacRoberts became one of Scotland’s largest independent legal practices. To effectively integrate the two businesses, they required a collaborative environment to unite colleagues and provide an attractive space to welcome clients.

  • Location Edinburgh
  • Client Morton Fraser MacRoberts
  • Status Complete
  • Services Interior Design, Principal Design
  • Photography David Cadzow

Fostering a Cohesive Environment

The need to bring together two offices in Edinburgh, and a timely lease event, contributed to a decision to relocate to new, grade A office space in Edinburgh’s Haymarket.

This gave both practices a fresh start under their new brand.

Two people sat on royal blue sofas talking to a person on a light blue stool in the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office talking to each other while one person sits at a high table to their right
Two people sat facing each other, one on a blue sofa and the other on a wooden chair with a blue cushion, in a seating area of the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office
A person walking down the hallway of the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office

The consolidation was also an opportunity to design a more efficient, effective and modern workspace. The two former businesses, taken together, had previously occupied four floors across two offices, with a less-than-optimum balance of desks, meeting rooms, breakout space and storage space.

By bringing everyone together on one floor Morton Fraser MacRoberts could foster a more connected and cohesive working environment better suited to their new requirements.

One person walking down the hallway of the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office while two people sit on red armchairs in the corner talking
Two people sat on a blue sofa, in an area enclosed by shelves adorned with plants in the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office

Space Planning

Creative space planning was required to increase efficiency and maximise the reduced floor area to ensure they had the wide range of social, collaborative and focus space needed.

The aim was an optimal, flexible workspace for colleagues whilst providing a suitable and welcoming space for clients.

Two people playing table tennis while others sit around them talking with each other in the Morton Fraser MacRoberts breakroom
People using the breakroom at the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office - some sat at the high tables on pink chairs while others are in the kitchen
The breakroom area at Morton Fraser MacRoberts, people sat at various different high tables with pink chairs dotted around the space, conversing with each other

Designing a Collaborative Environment

Encouraging their hybrid workforce into a collaborative environment was essential to unite both teams and foster ‘moments that matter’. So, the new workplace required a social and creative hub as well as inclusive workspaces for meetings or to focus.

They also wanted to carry forward learnings from the upgrading of their Glasgow office. Although aiming for a similar look and feel they weren’t too prescriptive about the palette to give it a unique identity.

Custom solutions for the reception area and bespoke joinery in the social area also created an individual and original design.

Two people sat at the black front desk of the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office while two people wait in grey armchairs in the reception area
One person on the phone in a meeting room at the Morton Fraser MacRoberts, looking out the window at the Edinburgh skyline
A person on a laptop in a glass office booth in the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office

Optimising the Space

Making the most of the stunning views of Edinburgh, client space and meeting rooms were based around the perimeter. Pods, booths and quiet spaces were located more centrally.

And to resolve some of their previous storage issues and free up space, a library was created putting legal textbooks on display.

Two people talking next to a full bookcase in the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office

“The space successfully meets both the business's 'hard' requirements of flexibility, efficiency, variety, security, discretion, etc as well as our 'softer' objectives around personality, allure and aesthetic appeal. You have delivered on both form and function without compromising on either! The feedback from staff has been unanimously and unequivocally positive and there is a palpable buzz about the place every day of the week. ”

- Kevin Kendrick, Operations Director, Morton Fraser MacRoberts
A grey sofa in the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office with grey, white and blue cushions in front of high windows that look out towards Edinburgh
Two people sat on royal blue sofas talking to a person on a light blue stool in the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office talking to each other while one person sits at a high table to their right 1
Two people sat facing each other, one on a blue sofa and the other on a wooden chair with a blue cushion, in a seating area of the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office 2
A person walking down the hallway of the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office 3
One person walking down the hallway of the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office while two people sit on red armchairs in the corner talking 4
Two people sat on a blue sofa, in an area enclosed by shelves adorned with plants in the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office 5
Two people playing table tennis while others sit around them talking with each other in the Morton Fraser MacRoberts breakroom 6
People using the breakroom at the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office - some sat at the high tables on pink chairs while others are in the kitchen 7
The breakroom area at Morton Fraser MacRoberts, people sat at various different high tables with pink chairs dotted around the space, conversing with each other 8
Two people sat at the black front desk of the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office while two people wait in grey armchairs in the reception area 9
One person on the phone in a meeting room at the Morton Fraser MacRoberts, looking out the window at the Edinburgh skyline 10
A person on a laptop in a glass office booth in the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office 11
Two people talking next to a full bookcase in the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office 12
A grey sofa in the Morton Fraser MacRoberts office with grey, white and blue cushions in front of high windows that look out towards Edinburgh 13

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