Is your office or reception space looking a little tired and dated? Are your staff suffering from an over crowded, dis-organised or even a drab working environment?
If so, then it may be time to consider an office refurbishment project! There are many things to consider and plan before you start thinking about moving your furniture and getting the paint brushes out – it makes sense to get the job right at the first time of asking and making a good job of the refit. Spending time and money on your refurbishment will result in a great job and with that come the potential benefits of a happier, more productive workforce, clients that are impressed by your company’s image and a brighter future.
We list here some of the key things that should be considered when you begin to plan your office refurb, feel free to use the points as a checklist, once you have ticked each item you will be ready to call in the tradesmen and get the project started.
Refurb vs Relocate
The first question to ask of your company is, where will you be in 12-24 months time? It is essential to allow room for growth in your plans. A refurbishment project should have benefits for a suitable length of time and not end up being a temporary fix to office overcrowding. If your current location does not allow for future expansion you may need to ask yourself if you are in the right premises. If you are, then great, if not, it may be time to look for other office locations. Either way the next steps will apply.
Interior Design & Organisational Structure
The first thing to consider when refitting an existing office space or when planning the use of a new building is to consider the structure of your organisation and to plan the use of your available space according to team dynamics, customer interface requirements and management supervision. Using computer software or artists impressions to picture your various layout options is often a great way to help with this process.
Building Structure
This may not apply if you have restrictions placed on you by a landlord, office management or building company, however, if you are the owner of your building you should seriously consider making structural changes to your environment. This may include creating a more open plan office space, or on the other hand it may be that you need to create a series of partitioned areas or smaller offices. Such a decision is best made according to the nature of your business and on the dynamics between different people and teams within your organisation.
Communications & Other Infrastructure Essentials
There are many features of an office that lie hidden beneath floors or in ceilings and without them the office would not be able to exist. Make sure you consider things such as; electrical power, telephone and computer cabling, suitable lighting, air conditioning and heating. Each workstation, reception desk, conference room or refreshment area will have its own requirements.
Office Furniture
You may choose to make use of your existing office furniture, especially if the budget or your refurbishment project is limited, however, if you do have the option to purchase new desks, cupboards etc. make sure you consider items that will fit into you new environment. Choose ergonomically sound desks and always consider the health and safety aspect of shelving and cupboard space.
Health & Safety and Regulation
A new office should be a safe, well considered office. When planning your refit you should always review the health and safety aspects to your working environment. Especially if you are undergoing structural changes to your building, think about; fire precautions (including evacuation procedures), mechanical & electrical safety, safety signs, accident management and recording.
Implementation Management
Perhaps key to all of the above considerations is the coordination and management of the process. After all your company cannot afford to close down whilst building works are undertaken, or communications are fixed. Be sure to plan carefully and avoid down time as much as possible.
By taking each of the above items into consideration and thinking about each in detail will help your office refurbishment (or relocation) go smoothly. The end result will be an attractive workspace for you and your employees, promoting greater efficiency and a more productive business.
We are pleased to announce the launch of our latest service – our Concept and Visualisation service. The idea behind this service is to give our clients full value for money and peace of mind, by providing an idea of how your completed renovation or refurbishment project will look – before you make expensive commitments.
We have already piloted the service on several projects, including; office refurbs, education sector refurbishments & also some in the retail sector.
Smallman & Son have just completed a office refurbishment in central Leicester. Works included new lights fittings and suspended ceiling. Small power was upgraded a long with new A/C. Due to water damage new stud work and plastering had to be installed and applied including decoration throughout.
Joinery works included a new kitchen, office doors, architraves and skirting. The area including the outside of the building had a full chemical clean.
Smallman & Son Ltd have been awared another contract at British Gypsum which includes alterations and refurbishment of the first floor shift managers office. The project requires the forming of new structural openings, forming of new stud partition walls and new suspended ceiling. The project requires strip out of all existing services prior to installing new kitchen units, flooring, electical and mechancial fittings. New joinery items such as doors and skirting are included along with full decorations throughout. Smallman & Son specilaise in all types of refurbishment projects within the commercial and public sectors.
Smallman & Son continue to build there reputation and relationship with Loughborough College. The most recent project completed was the refurbishement of the student canteen.Works included were to construct a new servery, and wash up area, items included in the refurbishment were new suspended ceilings, upgrade of lighting and power , and refurbishment existing hardwood flooring.
Smallman & Son Ltd have been awarded an additional contract at British Gypsum based at Barrow upon Soar for the provision of an office refurbishment. Works consist of enlarging door openings, make good plaster prior to fitting new doors and skirting boards. There will new decorations throughout and the existing floor is to be uplifted, the sub floor to be prepared prior to fitting new carpet tiles. In addition the existing suspended ceiling will be removed prior to the new ceiling being installed.
Smallman & Son Ltd are due to complete their third project for Kiers construction within HMP Long Lartin. The first project was to complete the refurbishment of the dog handing unit within the prison.The project had to be phased to allow the dog handlers to use the unit throughout the works. The works comprised of new shower and toilet areas, including washroom cubicles, new heating and lighting. Installation of non slip vinyl was installed, decorations throughout and bespoke joinery.
Additional projects were then given to Smallman & Son Ltd which comprised of forming new structural openings, temporary propping, installing new steels, doors and frames, concrete ramps, decorations and making good of the exterior.
Smallman & Son have completed another refurbishment project in Leicester. The project involved a full refurbishment of the 1st Aid room and toilets. Initially we were to strip out the existing sanitaryware door sets, flooring and all existing fixtures and fittings.
The location of the project was within a “clean room environment” therefore great care had to be taken throughout the schedule of works to ensure dust was kept to a minimum. New works included over-boarding to the existing ceilings, dry line walls; and apply skim coat finish to all surfaces.
Other items included the supply and fit of new doors complete with ironmongery, also supply and fit softwood skirting boards and architraves throughout
6nr windows were removed and replaced including MDF window boards. The project required the fitting of new sanitary ware, radiators, and vanity units for the toilet areas. Other joinery items were to box in all internal pipe work within the 1st Aid and staff toilets.
The existing lighting and extraction was stripped out and renewed with an improved cost effective lighting layout. All floor areas were prepared ready for latex screed and new safety vinyl fitted. All rooms received new decoration throughout required
Call us today on
0116
269 4096 to
discuss your requirements.
Smallman & Son Ltd have been awared another contract at British Gypsum which includes alterations and refurbishment of the first floor shift managers office. The project requires the forming of new structural openings, forming of new stud partition walls and new suspended ceiling. The project requires strip out of all existing services prior to installing new kitchen units, flooring, electical and mechancial fittings. New joinery items such as doors and skirting are included along with full decorations throughout. Smallman & Son specilaise in all types of refurbishment projects within the commercial and public sectors.
