Stephenson Harwood’s Athens Offices: A phased renovation tailored for a global law firm

# Project in brief Stephenson Harwood moved into a renovated office building in Palaio Faliro, Athens. A&M Architects designed and delivered 1,500 square meters of workspace across three floors in 2026. The brief combined the formal needs of an international law firm with a human-centered approach to everyday work.

# What the project delivered The build-out provides a contemporary workplace that aligns with Stephenson Harwood's international identity while supporting current legal-practice workflows. Delivery used a phased Design & Build model so the firm could relocate without disrupting business-as-usual.

Phase one prioritized the reception and primary workplace areas, allowing the offices to become operational quickly. Phase two completed the remaining workspaces and introduced a landscaped terrace, creating a unified workplace across the three floors.

# Design approach and priorities

• Formal requirements: The scheme supports the operational and representational needs of an international law firm, including reception and principal work areas.
• Human-centered elements: The design seeks to make the workspace feel warmer and more comfortable for everyday use while maintaining professional standards.
• Continuity of operations: The phased delivery was a critical constraint that shaped sequencing and handover.

# Notable spatial moves The reception was completed in the first phase to provide a functioning entrance and client-facing area before internal moves. The landscaped terrace was included in the second phase to extend usable amenity space and complete the workplace program.

# Client and design team

• Client: Stephenson Harwood
• Architect/Delivering firm: A&M Architects
• Location: Faliron (Palaio Faliro), Athens, Greece
• Size: 1,500 sqm (16,146 sq ft) across three floors
• Completion year: 2026

# Why this matters for firms relocating in dense urban settings Phased Design & Build is a practical method when a tenant needs to move into a new space while maintaining client service. Prioritizing reception and primary work areas first reduces disruption and allows staff to settle in before secondary amenities are delivered. Adding a landscaped terrace in a later phase increases staff amenity without forcing an all-or-nothing handover.

# Practical takeaways for similar projects

• Sequence work around occupancy milestones: complete high-priority, client-facing spaces first.
• Use a single design-build delivery team to control schedule and minimize coordination gaps during phased handovers.
• Include outdoor or amenity spaces in later phases to expand workplace quality once the core operations are stable.

# Bottom line This project demonstrates a straightforward, occupancy-focused approach to fitting out a law firm in a renovated building. The phased Design & Build allowed Stephenson Harwood to move in with minimal operational interruption while finishing the full workplace program, including a landscaped terrace, in a second stage.