Office Envy: Forvis Mazars

Architect: HOK Architects Inc. (Kansas City)
Designers: HOK Architects and in-house

Spanning roughly 105,000 square feet, Forvis Mazars LLP’s four-story office building in downtown Springfield has undergone a complete renovation for the first time since the accounting firm moved into the space in 2009. The remodel at 910 E. St. Louis St. took place over four years and amid two name changes: BKD in 2022 became FORVIS through a merger, and another merger in 2024 created Forvis Mazars.

The needs of the firm, however, haven’t changed. And that dictated the design, says Partner Erica Smith, who helped oversee the remodel. “Having worked in this job, I’m on my 22nd year, there are just some things that could work better as you try to think about your work life,” Smith says. “To try to create spaces where our people collaborated more, where they interacted with each other more. … Another goal was to make a streamlined experience for our clients.”

Part of that client experience is evidenced on the first floor, which Forvis Mazars now fully occupies. A reception space has been added featuring a coffee bar, along with a suite full of conference rooms of varying sizes for client meetings.

The materials used in the space were selected for durability – not surprising for a group of diligent accountants – but also to appeal to many types of people.

“We wanted something where everyone felt comfortable, so we weren’t too modern or too traditional,” Smith says. “We tried to find a balance.”

Pops of blue, Forvis Mazars’ brand colors, are weaved into design elements with rich wood finishes and neutral flooring featuring browns, blacks, grays and beiges – all giving a timeless feel.