Improve your workplace with office refurbishment

It may seem like an extravagance, but refurbishing your office can make a big difference to your business; good office design can boost staff morale, increase productivity and impress visitors.

An office refurbishment company can
help you to transform your office
C: Wili Hybrid on Flickr

Although times may be hard, spending money on office improvements will bring with it great benefits. Martyn Wragg, from Millar West Office Interiors in Norfolk, says that a major benefit of having your office refurbished is: “Winning the hearts and minds of employees – better working conditions can improve output efficiency.”

So where to start? Deciding how to design your office may seem like a daunting task, so it is best to consult an office refurbishment company who will be able to help with this. Martyn explains: “As in any area, expertise and understanding is required. If (refurbished) correctly, efficiency can be improved and valuable floor space can be utilised.”

Arranging a consultation with an office design specialist is usually the first step in the process. Tony Barnes, from McFeggan Brown Office Interiors, Bristol, says:

“Most people don’t have a definite idea of how they want their offices designed; they are looking for advice from us. I go round and see the client and we have a checklist of questions to ask them, such as ‘how many people are there in the office?’ The corporate identity needs to be reflected in the design too. For instance, an advertising agency would be looking for a design that was a bit different and eye-catching.”

There are all kinds of things that need to be considered when refurbishing an office including: regulations, your budget, what kind of business you are, how many staff you employ and the size and shape of your office space.

Pat Lewis, who owns Source One Consulting in Ipswich, comments: “When we start asking questions, the client usually finds that the process is a lot more involved than they thought. We recently did some work for a leading independent travel agents. Their staff work in a call centre environment taking bookings for cruises. The client wanted their staff to have lots of workspace to ensure they were happy.”

Most companies will use design programmes to show you how your office will look once it has been refurbished. “We use a computer programme called AutoCAD, which produces designs in 2D and 3D of how the office space could be used,” says Tony.

Here are some areas to consider when refurbishing your office:

Refurbishing your office can boost staff morale
C: Wili Hybrid on Flickr

Office ceilings - Suspended ceilings are popular in offices and can hide wires and pipes effectively as well saving heat. Pat, who runs his own office furniture and consultation company, explains: “Suspended ceilings are cost effective and can improve the look of the office. Power and data can be serviced directly from the ceiling if they cannot be easily accessed from the floor.”

Office partitions – Partitions can be used to create meetings rooms or leisure spaces and are a good way of creating privacy in an open-plan office

Office furniture – According to the Health and Safety Executives (HSE) Officewise report, work stations must be at least 11 cubic meters in size. Workstations should also be organised to ensure that employees do not strain their backs, necks or wrists. Furniture needs to be comfortable, so look at different fabrics and styles.

Office storage – “One of the two main issues we get when refurbishing offices is that our clients require lots of storage space for files, etc,” Pat says. The amount and type of storage in an office needs to be carefully considered to maximise space.

Office equipment – In most offices there is a vast amount of electrical equipment; computers, photocopiers, telephones and faxes. So wiring needs to be correctly installed and workstations placed near power outlets.

Office lighting – Natural light helps to motivate people and if utilised, can reduce the need to spend money on artificial lighting. So knocking down walls could be an option. Light reflecting panels on suspended ceilings or partitions can also help maximise sunlight, reflecting it around the office. However, Pat warns: “We usually find that offices do need artificial lighting put in as well.”

Office temperature - The HSE say that the temperature should be at least 16 degrees Celsius in an office where people work sitting down. So, different types of heating, ventilation and air conditioning need to be considered.

Sustainable office improvements – Office refurbishment expert Tony says: “People are starting to enquire about sustainable improvements, it’s becoming more common. Mostly people are interested in our recycling programme.” It is worth asking your refurbishment company about sustainable and energy efficient office improvements. This will save money and the environment in the long run.

How much does office refurbishment cost?

Prices for office improvements vary depending on the specifics of the project. Tony, who works on office interiors says: “The costing differs for each client; it depends on what they want and what’s already there, for example, whether there is already carpet there or if it needs to be put in.”

AB