Oklahoma City. In keeping with this vision, the building's design incorporated more than 2,000 square feet of open space for use by the firm's employees and community. A significant portion of one parking lot was bulldozed and converted into an outdoor courtyard featuring built-in seating and shaded areas for musicians and artists to congregate. The courtyard is connected to the interior kitchen and event space through the use of a large commercial glass overhead door which floods the interior areas with light and fresh air. All of the furniture and fixtures are on wheels to facilitate repurposing the space to meet the unique and individualized needs of the innovators, creators and artists within Oklahoma City. The space has even been given a persona DC on Film Row and has, of course, its own website (www.dcfilmrow. com) and Twitter and Facebook personas. The firm isn't content with simply providing the space; groups and organizations within the community are offered use of the space for free. As shareholder Douglas Sorocco said, "We wanted to be a good neighbor to everyone within the community. We wanted to create a `place' in which people could get together and work to make things better. Everyone and anything that brings the community together is invited to use the space. Our only rule is nothing that divides. As we say, if you'd like to use the space for an event, just ask, and we'll it doesn't hurt to have one." Beginning with this simple concept, Dunlap Codding is redefining what it means to be a law firm actively engaged in the Oklahoma City community. In February 2013, Dunlap Codding, Oklahoma's oldest and largest intellectual property boutique law firm, moved into its new offices at 609 W. Sheridan Avenue in the historic Film Row District of Oklahoma City. During 1920s warehouse in the Film Row District an area called "skid row" as recently as five years prior and which is now a blossoming arts and innovation area of the city and renovated the building into 15,000 square feet of office space. In developing the space, the shareholders' vision was to add to the unique character and flavor of the Film Row District by incorporating community oriented areas and space a concept that the firm's community circumstances and on the type of event or organization using the space, the firm provides use of its kitchen amenities, including free use of the soda, coffee, and water/ice machines. As an effort to reach out to everyone in the community, the firm partnered this last summer with a local church to open the space to the homeless population living in downtown Oklahoma City. The church provided food while Dunlap Codding contributed beverages, paper products and the staffing to facilitate the event. Upon seeing the need, firm members rallied by seeking out and obtaining articles of clothing, hygiene items, backpacks and suitcases from throughout the community and provided these items to their homeless guests. The firm's kitchen, social area, and courtyard were open from 5 until 8 p.m. so that those attending could relax and escape the brutal Oklahoma City summer heat, mingle, charge their cell phones, and eat dinner in an atmosphere of inclusion and community. Dunlap Codding will resume this service to the homeless again in the spring and has actively sought support and involvement from others in the Oklahoma City business community. Dunlap Codding started "Food Truck Wednesdays" as another means of creating community and bringing our neighbors together. The firm arranges for a local food truck to be on site for lunch, hires local emerging musicians to play Approach to Community Service |