The law firm of Baker Donelson has signed a lease to relocate its Birmingham office to 1901 Sixth Avenue.
Baker Donelson, which is one of the city’s largest law firms, will move in early March from its current home in Shipt Tower to the building previously known as Regions Harbert Plaza. Initially, the Firm will occupy the 24th and 25th floors while buildout is completed on its permanent space on the 26th and 27th floors of the building.
The design of the new office space, which is being developed by KPS Group, will focus on creating an office environment that is more in line with the needs of a post-pandemic workforce. It will feature workspaces that accommodate “hoteling,” uniformly sized individual offices, and common areas designed for collaboration. One of those collaborative spaces will include an employee lounge with a coffee shop feel that incorporates soft seating and booths with outlets for device charging.
With the move, Baker Donelson will be reducing its office footprint from 67,708 square feet to 36,370 square feet. To allow for future growth, the lease includes an option for the Firm to add another half floor at a later date.
“Baker Donelson is committed to a strong and growing presence in Birmingham, and this new location Ā sets us up for success now and in the future,” said Jenna M. Bedsole, managing shareholder of the Firm’s Birmingham office. “While a more efficient use of space will allow us to reduce our footprint, this move will accommodate our continued growth and offer the advantages of a design that appeals to today’s workforce. All of us are excited to be in a new space that will offer more flexibility and collaboration, along with the great amenities available within the property.”
Managed by Harbert Realty Services, LLC, 1901 Sixth Avenue is a landmark Class A office building located in the Central Business District. The building has undergone a $3 million renovation.
“We are very excited to have a respected national law firm like Baker Donelson as part of the 1901 Sixth Avenue tenant mix,” said Tanner Sumners, vice president at Harbert Realty Services. “We believe that 1901 Sixth Avenue is Birmingham’s premier high-rise office tower, and the ownership is committed to the Birmingham market. We recently completed modern renovations to the lobby and common areas and have the ability to provide over-market parking needs. These are just a few of the reasons we believe Baker Donelson chose to make our building their new home.”
Baker Donelson has more than 650 attorneys and public policy advisors across more than 20 offices in 11 states and Washington, D.C. The Firm’s Birmingham office is among its five largest locations, with 59 attorneys and a total of 115 employees. Baker Donelson and its Birmingham predecessor firm Berkowitz, Lefkovits, Isom & Kushner have been in the current office space for more than 30 years.
Harbertās Sumners represented the landlord and JLL represented Baker Donelson in this transaction.