Reed Smith’s new London office to house art gallery

The firm is partnering with University of the Arts London and arts charity Create

24 July, 2024 – LONDON: Global law firm Reed Smith has today announced a partnership with Chelsea College of Arts, from the University of the Arts London (UAL) through which the firm is inviting MA Textile Design students to create original work for exhibition in its new London offices.

This summer, Reed Smith London will relocate from its previous City home in the Broadgate Tower to Blossom Yard & Studios, a modern and sustainable converted Victorian and Georgian warehouse space in the heart of Spitalfields.

The new office is based on the concept of blending the old with the new, with architects carefully restoring the existing Georgian and Victorian warehouses, showcasing and preserving the industrial features. Combined with cutting-edge technology, the unique workspace has been designed to foster collaboration and connection.

The firm’s partnership with UAL sees students from the university’s MA Textile Design course at Chelsea College of Arts respond to a creative theme reflecting the rich architectural and human history of Blossom Yard’s location, and what the new space brings to the firm in facilitating connection, focused on the theme of ‘how we grow’.

As part of its arts initiative, Reed Smith is also extending a longstanding relationship with Create, a charity working to enhance wellbeing through creative arts. Working with the charity, Reed Smith is offering adult carers from the Tower Hamlets area the opportunity to explore the same theme through the medium of photography. The collection will also be displayed in the firm’s new office.

Andrew Jenkinson, Reed Smith’s London office managing partner, said: “In collaboration with our people, we have been building a destination office that we hope can be a real calling card for the firm in London. Enhancing the space with new artwork from both up and coming artists and members of our local community will make it an even more exciting and engaging place to be.”

Kelly Palmer, Head of Graduate Futures at Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon Colleges of Arts, said: ‘In the ongoing commitment to provide our students at Chelsea College of Arts with real-life design experiences, we are thrilled to collaborate with Reed Smith on this inspiring project. Our students rose to the challenge of the brief, producing artworks that honour the site's heritage while complementing Reed Smith’s innovative approach to office spaces. By utilising sustainable design methods and drawing from a wide range of inspirations, our students created a varied collection of designs. I look forward to seeing the artworks installed.’

Nicky Goulder, Create’s Founding Chief Executive, said: “The creative arts have the power to transform lives, offering hope and inspiration, enhancing wellbeing, reducing isolation, and empowering individuals. We are delighted to extend our longstanding partnership with Reed Smith through this innovative initiative, which is enabling us to enrich the firm’s incredible new office space with original artwork created by unpaid adult carers. This will provide ongoing inspiration for those who work there and the clients who visit.”

The new office has been developed to the highest sustainable standards and has an ‘excellent’ BREEAM rating, which is the internationally recognized certification for eco-friendly buildings. It will use 100% renewable energy throughout the building and is smart enabled to reduce its carbon footprint.