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September 6, 2024 Deal Watch

Robinson+Cole’s new, modern Hartford office space promotes equity, collaboration

Robinson+Cole Managing Partner Rhonda Tobin Michael Puffer | Hartford Business Journal Robinson+Cole Managing Partner Rhonda Tobin outside her office in the Hartford Steam Boiler building in downtown Hartford.
By Michael Puffer

Robinson+Cole may be the state’s oldest law firm, but its new 70,000-square-foot office space on four floors at the top of the Hartford Steam Boiler building in downtown Hartford is consciously modern in appearance and philosophy.

Gone are the opaque office walls in Robinson+Cole’s former 120,000-square-foot location at 280 Trumbull St., as well as cubical islands marooned in the dark center of office floors.

Each floor in the firm’s new One State St. location is surrounded by glass, and interior glass walls allow sunlight and stunning vistas to flow through to interior cubicles.

And senior attorneys no longer get the biggest offices. Now, all offices are set to a uniform, 150 square feet, said Managing Partner Rhonda Tobin. In the past, every new hire or promotion could set off a chain reaction of office moves to match the new pecking order, she said.

“Really, it’s just about equity,” Tobin explained following a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday. “We are not big on titles and making distinctions about titles. The old setup in law firms was very much about status, and that’s not what we are about.”

Firm of the future

The storied firm’s hunt for a new location began in 2021, as its former lease began to run out and the COVID-19 pandemic prompted wide shifts in office use. Robinson+Cole opted for a “flight to quality,” meaning offices with sleeker décor and access to more amenities in a smaller setting that places a greater premium on collaborative spaces.

“The goal was really to build the law firm for the future,” Tobin said. “We were building a different kind of firm in terms of how we use the offices and collaborate with each other. It wasn’t about reducing our space.”

Michael Puffer | Hartford Business Journal
Robinson+Cole’s new downtown Hartford office was designed by Washington, D.C.-based Studio Alliance.

Robinson+Cole’s search focused on Hartford, where the firm has deep roots. Over nearly two centuries, its leadership has served in top civic and business posts steering the city and beyond.

“We are extraordinarily proud to continue our commitment to the city of Hartford and the business community here and throughout Connecticut,” Tobin said during a speech to several dozen staff and visitors. “There are so many new and exciting things happening in the city. And we are thrilled to deepen our roots here and look forward to partnering with the city to ensure both Robinson+Cole and the city continue to thrive.”

Tobin, speaking after Thursday’s ceremony, said the smaller space will cost the firm about the same amount as its former location, but offers stunning views, completely remodeled floors and access to several shared building amenities, including a top-notch cafeteria, daycare and fitness centers and a golf simulator. The office was designed by Washington, D.C.-based Studio Alliance. 

“It really came down to amenities,” Tobin said. “Financially, it was probably a wash, but for the same money we could get all this.”

Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, speaking at Thursday’s ribbon-cutting, thanked the firm for its loyalty to the city.

“It is such a great celebration to have the state’s oldest law firm recommit to the future of the city of Hartford for another 20 years right here in our downtown,” Arulampalam said.

The Hartford Steam Boiler building is Robinson+Cole’s sixth Hartford location since 1845.

Attorney Frank F. Coulom Jr., who retired four years ago after more than 35 years with Robinson+Cole, visited his firm for Thursday’s ceremony and pointed out three prior locations in other downtown towers through the window of a 24th-floor office overlooking the city center.

Coulom said he is proud to see his firm’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

“This firm has come so far, but when you look at these vistas, it’s kind of emblematic of where this firm is going,” Coulom said. “You can’t help but be proud of an institution that goes back to 1845, but instead of looking backward is looking forward.” 

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