| An office refurbishment will provide a company | | | | You may need space for primary or secondary |
| with many benefits. Whilst a dull and uninspiring | | | | work areas, for general office purposes, special |
| office could lead to the stagnation of ideas and | | | | projects, breakout areas, reception and visitors, |
| creativity, a well-designed, thoughtfully laid out and | | | | storage, delivery and service areas and meeting |
| well presented office, will have just the opposite | | | | spaces. All of these can be catered for given |
| effect. | | | | sufficient space and efficient space planning. |
| The provision of an attractive workplace will help | | | | Suspended Ceilings: One of the most cost |
| retain a happier, more contented, motivated and | | | | effective alterations it is possible to make to any |
| inspired workforce. Employees spend a large | | | | work space, is to reduce the amount of |
| proportion of their time at work, within the | | | | unnecessary or wasted overhead space. The |
| surroundings that you provide for them. To | | | | installation of a suspended ceiling will reduce the |
| maintain morale and keep them well motivated, it | | | | height of a room which will in turn, save money |
| therefore makes sense to ensure that their | | | | of fuel bills. Money can be saved on both heating |
| working environment is as pleasant as it can be. | | | | and lighting by reducing the cubic measurement or |
| What's more, creating a good impression to | | | | volume of the room. |
| visiting clients, with a smart and well laid out | | | | The installation of a suspended ceiling is also a |
| office, will lead to increased sales and repeat | | | | very effective way of hiding any unsightly wires, |
| business. A high quality finish on furniture and | | | | pipes or duct work, whilst its simple disassembly, |
| decoration and clean, up to date premises will instil | | | | allows for easy access when any maintenance |
| confidence in your clients and reflect on the | | | | work needs to be carried out. |
| quality of the business' products and services. An | | | | Lighting: The availability of natural light is an |
| office refurbishment can make a real difference | | | | important consideration in any environment and |
| and turn a tired workspace into a hive of positive, | | | | the office is no exception. Studies and surveys |
| highly charged and profitable activity. | | | | have shown that the effects of natural light on |
| Improved layouts and office partitioning can also | | | | staff morale and productivity are extremely |
| be installed during an office refurbishment, leading | | | | beneficial. For this reason, it is recommended that |
| to practical benefits too. For example, a reduction | | | | glazed partitioning be used wherever possible. |
| in noise pollution can be achieved through the use | | | | Glazed partitioning will allow the flow of natural |
| of office partitioning, leading to an increase in the | | | | light through the building. |
| productivity of the workforce. In any workplace, | | | | In circumstances where the use of electric light is |
| increased noise levels can often lead to a loss of | | | | unavoidable, for example, at night or within a |
| productivity, particularly in situations where a | | | | windowless office, it is best to steer clear of |
| degree of concentration is required. This can lead | | | | fluorescent lighting, which can be quite harsh. Use |
| to frustration and a build up of resentment. Office | | | | individual desk lamps, track or pendant lighting |
| partitioning can rectify this situation by significantly | | | | instead, a good office refurbishment company |
| reducing the travel of noise throughout a building. | | | | should be able to supply these. |
| This will lead to a happier and more productive | | | | Colour: The effectiveness of colour should never |
| workforce as they will be able to go about their | | | | be underestimated. It is proven that a bright and |
| business free from distraction and increase their | | | | colourful, stimulating working environment leads to |
| output as a result. | | | | greater staff morale and performance. This is |
| Office Refurbishment: Things to Consider | | | | particularly true in the creative and sales arenas |
| Office Partitioning: Office partitioning offers the | | | | where the use of vivid design and primary colours |
| perfect solution for the division of space and the | | | | is not uncommon. |
| creation of privacy within an open plan office | | | | More soothing colours tend to be the choice of |
| situation. The partitioning can extend upwards | | | | accountants, solicitors and financial advisors. These |
| from half, to full room height with full height | | | | fact based businesses need to keep a steady |
| partitioning, effectively creating a separated room | | | | head and so tend to opt for the more |
| within the open plan environment. | | | | conservative colours of cream, beige, white and |
| This application is particularly useful if the | | | | subtle green. |
| segregation of an entire department is called for. | | | | Whatever your colour choice artworks can really |
| In many such cases, glazed partitioning is useful | | | | enliven an office interior and break up larger, |
| since this effectively separates the department, | | | | monotone wall spaces. Your office refurbishment |
| without leaving the employees feeling isolated. | | | | company should be able to advise on the use of |
| Glazed partitions also allow for the continued flow | | | | colour. |
| of natural light through a building, something that is | | | | Office Furniture: The use of stylish and |
| extremely beneficial for the health and well being | | | | comfortable office furniture will go a long way to |
| of employees. | | | | enhancing those all important first impressions, |
| When installing office partitioning, particular | | | | gleaned by your prospective clients. It will also |
| attention should be paid to the lie of telephone | | | | improve and increase the productivity and |
| and computer cabling and if full height partitioning | | | | performance of your workforce. |
| is to be installed, then the subsequent limitations | | | | Choosing an Office Refurbishment Company |
| on interdepartmental communication need to be | | | | 1. Contact an office refurbishment company and |
| considered. | | | | arrange an on-site consultation with them. Costs |
| To enhance privacy, window blinds can be fitted in | | | | vary tremendously, depending on scale and |
| a range of styles and colours or manifestation can | | | | specification of the work, so it is best to locate a |
| be applied. This is available in a number of | | | | company that offers its clients a free no-obligation |
| standard designs and many companies can also | | | | site visit and a free no-obligation quotation. |
| produce manifestation to your own design, | | | | 2. Locate a company that offers the complete |
| featuring logos and corporate colours. This is a | | | | service from space planning to implementation |
| great way to reinforce your corporate message. | | | | and who can supply testimonials and references |
| Glass partitioning can be supplied in both clear and | | | | for work they have carried out previously and |
| frosted glass options and can be double glazed for | | | | look for one that guarantees their workmanship |
| added soundproofing. With the double-glazed units | | | | too. |
| you have the option of an integrated window blind | | | | 3. Since you may not have an exact idea of how |
| for added privacy and protection from sunlight. | | | | you want your offices to look, or even be fully |
| Space Planning: An essential part of the office | | | | aware of all the possibilities, look for a pro active |
| partitioning process is space planning. With detailed | | | | office design specialist that can provide help and |
| space planning which takes into account the | | | | guidance on planning aspects, different |
| specific roles, functions, movements and any | | | | specifications, interior design and decoration. |
| co-dependence of each department, a plan can be | | | | 4. Gain commitment from them that they will |
| drawn up that will utilise the available space | | | | remain in close personal touch with you |
| properly. This will ensure that your partitioned | | | | throughout the entire refurbishment process. This |
| office space works as efficiently as possible, | | | | is particularly important if the refurbishment |
| making full use of the available accommodation, in | | | | requires that you be off-site for any length of |
| the most cost effective and productive way. | | | | time. |