BCO_National_Awards_2026_Suplement - Flipbook - Page 24
BCO Awards 2026
FIT OUT OF WORKPLACE
Sponsored by Redworx MEP
Client
DLA Piper
Owner
MRP
Regional Winner
Fit Out of Workplace
North of England, North Wales and Northern Ireland
DLA Piper, Leeds
City Square House, 11 Wellington Street, Leeds
T
he judges were highly
impressed by DLA
Piper’s new Leeds
headquarters at City Square
House, describing it as a
“physical manifesto” of the
firm’s values. Link staircases,
higher floor-to-ceiling heights,
and added bike and shower
facilities were all developed as
a result of the firm’s brief.
Occupier
DLA Piper
Project Manager
Gardiner & Theobald
Quantity Surveyor
Gardiner & Theobald
Brief Consultant
ID:SR
Architects
Sheppard Robson / TODD
Architects
Interior Designer
ID:SR
M&E Engineer
Buro Happold
The firm signed a lease for
83,000 sq ft of prime office
space at City Square House
in 2021. It was the largest
private-sector prelet deal in
Leeds in 20 years, bringing
together nearly 600 staff
from DLA’s two previous
sites, Princes Exchange and
West One. City Square House
opened publicly in May 2024,
Structural Engineer
Buro Happold
Sustainability Consultant
Buro Happold
Contractor
Overbury
Investment / Property Co
MRP
Developer
MRP
Technology Consultant
New Era Technology
Agent
Knight Frank
with DLA Piper moving in
that December.
Sheppard Robson led the
design vision, built around
a “One Vision, One Space”
philosophy that replaces
hierarchical layouts with a
transparent, collaborative
environment. A dedicated
floor was designed purely for
staff amenities.
The client suite and multifunctional rooftop terrace
were noted by the judges for
their ability to seamlessly
transition from professional
business settings to high
quality event spaces with
panoramic city views.
The design also considers
how people navigate and
work differently. Colourblocked wayfinding, quiet
tech-free zones and varied
24 • ESTATES GAZETTE • October 2026
sensory environments
support neurodivergent
staff, while circadian lighting
and EV and e-bike charging
points feature throughout the
wider building.
Recycled suit fibres and
locally sourced British wool
honour Leeds’s industrial
heritage, part of a fit out
targeting WELL Platinum
and BREEAM Excellent.
DLA Piper committed to
the move at the start of the
pandemic, years before staff
arrived. The judges praised
the project as a “physical
manifesto” of the firm’s
values. They concluded that
DLA Piper “has created an
exceptional environment that
truly ‘lifts the spirits’ and
fosters a genuine sense of
pride for its people.”
bco.org.uk
