Award-winning Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel, Architects, PC (GKV) designed Darby & Darby's new law offices located at 7 World Trade Center. Taking full advantage of the views, the new 80,000 s/f office space is designed around a two-floor conference center which includes a board room, and a multi-purpose room. The board room and multi-purpose room created as individual glowing glass and sycamore "boxes" are placed at opposite ends of the main reception area. Large translucent sliding glass doors reveal a board room with custom-designed furniture and a multi-purpose room that seats 40. Use of sheer stretch fabric ceilings in all conference rooms allow for acoustical separation and privacy while maintaining a light and airy design. Guests will be awestruck by panoramic views of the New York City skyline as they enter the main reception area on the 42nd floor. A glass staircase suspended by stainless steel tension rods located in the reception area unites the two-floor conference center and makes a striking contemporary design statement. To take advantage of the natural light, an open-office plan was created along with private offices on the perimeter. Full height glass sidelights connect to figured sycamore wooden doors at the perimeter offices, pulling natural light into the corridors and other interior space. Facing north on the perimeter glass an employee café offers views of Midtown Manhattan and encourages informal gatherings with seating for 22. The use of color in the main corridors helps to denote functional areas as well as add a touch of whimsy. "We were extremely excited about working with Darby & Darby because it gave us an opportunity tocreate a unique open space to maximize light while challenging us to maintain private areas necessary in a law firm," said Michael Fontaine, AIA, project architect. "We knew that Darby & Darby would be as pleased as we were with the results." GKV Architects, PC is a New York City-based architecture and design firm with a focus on quality base building and interior design solutions. Founded in 1995 by Randolph Gerner, AIA, Richard Kronick, AIA and Miguel Valcarcel, AIA, the firm has a broad portfolio in the residential, corporate, commercial, restoration, hospitality and institutional fields totaling more than 30 million s/f. Darby & Darby PC is a full-service intellectual property firm that has focused on patents, copyrights, trademarks and false advertising for over 110 years. As one of the oldest and largest intellectual property firms in the U.S., with approximately 100 professionals, Darby & Darby has long been important in pioneering and precedent-setting IP matters. Darby & Darby's greatest resources are the skill, vision and creativity of its professionals, who are dedicated to providing superior legal services in litigation matters, due diligence projects, licensing transactions and prosecution in all technical disciplines.