Finnegan Henderson law firm by Davis Carter Scott architects. Photo by Jim Tetro.

Washington, DC-based architecture and interior architecture firm Davis Carter Scott recently completed a 250,000-square-foot office for law firm Finnegan Henderson—a highlight of which is this grand, seven-story glass-encased spiral staircase. Designers were challenged to create a functional, interconnecting stair that would aesthetically blend with each floor and pass DC building codes. The end result, as shown in this photograph, is sheer magic. Last May, Davis Carter Scott received a 2006 Award of Excellence from the Maryland/DC chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties for its stunning, whole-office design.—Sharon Jaffe Dan