You’ve got a great location. Staff can walk to work, and customers know where you are without having to consult Google. Essentially, you’re happy at your current premises and you would like to keep it that way. The problem is, you’re running out of space. You’ve considered renting storage space but that’s an expense you’d rather not have eating away at your bottom line.
So what to do? Read the office fit out guide. We’ve got 5 tips to help you make the most of what you’ve got.
1. The Objective
Grab a cuppa, take a seat, and make a list. An office is a complex environment. One, seemingly innocuous change can have unexpected effects. Therefore, it makes sense to map everything to make sure no one is overlooked. Cross-reference with a staff list if you think you might have forgotten someone.
Here’s a few questions to get you started:
- How many staff do you need to accommodate?
- What volume of office equipment do you have for each staff member?
- What operations and processes take place throughout the day?
You should have a good idea of where you are now. So, it’s time to think about where you want to go. The big question is, how many staff do you expect to have in the next 5 or 10 years? From this, you can scale office storage and equipment requirements accordingly.
The workplace is changing. A combination of hybrid working, new technology, Millennials working their way up the hierarchy, and Gen Z – the future workforce – could very well influence how you think about your future office. If you were to commission an office fit out, right now, what would it look like?
Here are some office fit out essentials to get you started:
- Open plan, private offices, or both?
- Office furniture – seating and desking
- Office storage needs – we can’t all go paperless
- Staff facilities – first aid, refreshments, lockers
- Private meeting spaces
- Reception area
- Collaborative or break-out areas
2. What’s Your Problem?
This is the bit where everyone puts in their two-cents. It might sound like a fate worse than death but understanding where the problems lie is the only way to ensure your office fit out delivers on expectations. One-to-one or group discussions are a great way to encourage staff to consider where the pinch points, problems, and plus points are.
All the insights gathered will feed into your office fit out plan. When it comes to the design process, you get out what you put in. If the brief you provide to the office fit out contractors is light on information, they will not be able to factor in all your needs during the design process.
3. Space Planning
This might not sound very exciting, but space planning is the most crucial element of an office fit out. Poor space utilisation may well be the reason you’re at this point. So, let’s ace it.
Here, you want to design your space around the people who will be spending a good 8 hours a day in the office, their processes, and equipment. Factor all the essentials in here. Office fit out companies use computer aided design software to plan space utilisation. While you probably don’t have this at your disposal, a good old whiteboard never goes out of style.
Next, it’s the nice to have’s. Do you want to encourage collaboration? Do you want to blend an open plan office with private meeting areas? Do you want to impress visitors? Do you want to nurture your staff with best-in-class workplace facilities? Are you keen to attract up-and-coming talent? Discover the answers to these questions and you will be well on your way to that office fit out.
4. Take a Seat
Next up, it’s office storage and furniture. Your staff, processes, and equipment list will be your first port of call. If you’re tight on space, clever office storage and desk design will help you make sure every square inch of available space works hard for you.
The main objective here is to minimise the footprint of office furniture wherever possible. The best way to do this, is to make full use of vertical space. Contemporary wall storage systems, for instance, are proving a popular solution to build upwards.
It is widely accepted that a clear space equals a clear mind. Clutter is distracting for staff and makes a poor impression on visitors. When making your office furniture shopping list, look for designs which hide clutter but provide staff with a sense of space. Finish and colour can help with this. Look for natural wood grain or pale colours with an aesthetically pleasing finish.
5. Nuts and Bolts
So, how much can you do in-house with a whiteboard and furniture catalogue? That all depends on what you want to achieve and the resources you have available. An office fit out can be a disruptive process, if not planned and executed with precision.
Again, make a list. Document every action that needs to happen in order to make your office fit out plan a reality. We’ve also made a list as there is a lot to consider here:
- Floors coverings
- Wall and ceiling decoration
- M&E (mechanical and electrical)
- Plumbing and heating
- Office furniture construction
- Partitions and screening
- Fire-rated materials.
Need a hand? You’ve come to the right place.
Not only do Prodek have a highly experienced team of engineers known for the quality of their work, but they also have a dedicated team of designers at your disposal.
We are the space planning experts. However small or large your office space, we will make sure every square inch works hard for you and your team. With a range of office furniture to suit every budget, you can rely on us to deliver the right office fit out solution for you.
