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Pasadena, CA -- In an interior design makeover, which pays tribute to the city's historic Arts & Crafts Era architecture, the intellectual property law firm, Sheldon Mak Rose & Anderson PC, has incorporated a Craftsman-style look into its new offices located at 100 East Corson Street, Third Floor, Pasadena, CA 91103. Eschewing the high-tech look sought by many law firms, the 21-year-old Pasadena-based firm sought to integrate a contemporary style into its new office space that reflected both its geographic roots, as well as the respected Greene & Greene architecture.

Since June 2006, the firm has been working with Wirt Design Group (WDG) to design and furnish the 15,000 square foot space, which includes a welcoming reception area, conference rooms, record center and private offices. At the law firm¡¦s direction, WDG sought to create an open, accessible space that maximized available daylight, and that also included aesthetic elements of nature, a distinct characteristic of Greene & Greene design.

"Our new offices incorporate the best of law firm design and technology while reflecting our firm's distinct culture," said Jeff Sheldon, a founding shareholder of Sheldon Mak Rose & Anderson. "We're a creative, innovative and forward-looking law firm rooted in traditional values and practices. We're also proud of this city's heritage."

WDG founder, Jeff Wirt, added, ¡§Our challenge was to capture the essence of the Greene & Greene concept, and to do it cost-efficiently. Part of the Arts & Crafts era ethos was the extraordinary attention to detail. Similarly, it's the attention to detail here which delivers the Arts & Crafts 'feel' in a contemporary way."

Overall Office Design

The office, which optimizes the use of open and welcoming public space, employs an Arts & Crafts palette of warm neutral colors, such as a range of greens, cream, and browns. The paints are complemented by woodwork in cherry finishes. To accentuate the horizontal nature of the space, a picture rail was integrated into the design of the office fronts, also allowing the firm flexibility to display their art in a traditional manner using decorative hooks and wire to hang the art instead of nailing them into the wall. Throughout the office are works by John Sexton, Ryuijie, Brad Cole, and firm shareholder, Robert Rose, whose idyllic landscapes are captured with a keen eye and expertise in lenses. The natural beauty in the selected art compliments the appreciation for nature in the design of the space.

The reception area serves as a welcoming space for guests and a central access point to all conference rooms. The space is accented and warmed with wood -paneled walls, oil-rubbed bronze hardware, art glass light fixtures and hardwood floors. Another Arts & Crafts period touch is that of built-in seating and storage units.

The focal point is the wood-framed gold moiré-patterned glass elevation suggesting the leaded-art glass doors depicting the Tree of Life on the Gamble House entranceway. These doors serve as the gateway to the boardroom.

The three conference rooms that make up the "Conference Center" are equipped with the latest technology for presentations and meetings, with one room dedicated to video conferencing. The interiors are furnished with tables adapted for workspace uses and equipped with power outlets that link computers to the LCD in the boardroom. In addition, the rooms are accented with vertical wood molding on the walls and custom millwork credenzas and banquette seating.

Records Center, Open Library & Project Room

By eliminating the need for a traditional law library by halving the number of books in their collection and housing those remaining along the corridors, the law firm has created more square feet for the litigation and docketing record center. In addition to the conference center, there is a "Project Room" where attorneys can hold discussions in a private environment.

Unlike traditional law workplaces, Sheldon Mak Rose & Anderson's perimeter space is not entirely lined with private offices. On two sides of the suite, there is full exposure to Pasadena's spectacular vistas, which makes the inner space appear brighter and more open. Plus, each office has a sidelight to allow more natural light into the office.

"While our work takes place all over the world, Pasadena has been our 'home' for more than two decades," said Mr. Sheldon. "We're pleased to have created an environment that melds both Pasadena's personality with that of our firm."

Sheldon Mak Rose & Anderson PC provides legal services in the areas of patents, copyrights and trademarks, trade secrets and IP-related litigation, both here and abroad to emerging and established businesses in an array of industries. Headquartered in Pasadena, the firm has offices in Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Sheldon Mak Rose & Anderson PC
100 Corson Street, Third Floor
Pasadena, California 91103-3842
p: (626) 796-4000; f: (626) 795-6321
www.usip.com

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