Factors to Consider in Office Renovation
The following are the factors that, through our years of experiences, we consider important ingredients to a successful office renovation:
A) What is the level of physical engagement?
- First of all, it is important to consider workspaces as a business tool. The office environment reflects a company’s core values. The placement of teams and design approach demonstrates its brand, culture, and values. If this is what you have in mind.
B) Wall
- Try to paint walls with neutral colours as this generally helps with improving employee morale. Avoid colours with a strong hue as this may not fit well with everyone.
C) Plants
- In Singapore, although it is already a garden city, our work hours seldom allow us to spend meaningful time in natural environments. So what’s the next best antidote?Introducing greenery in the office space. Green represent plants and forests, but plants grow in soil, which means brown could be used as a colour whether in furnishing or interior design for the plants to complement it.
In considering the kind of office layout to suit its business, a simple table will provide a rough guide:
| Description | High / Yes / Big | Low / No / Small |
|---|---|---|
| Number of meetings in a day | Consider many small meeting rooms which have movable panels that could make into a bigger room. | Consider a few small meeting rooms which have movable panels that could make into a bigger room. |
| Number of meetings | If meetings are mainly between teams, workstations could be flexible such that 2-4 workstations can be converted into a discussion table. This is on the basis of an existing flexible space work environment. Privacy screens can be used. | The same approach can be applied here. Alternatively, there can be sofas with small tables where innovative discussions can be held. |
| Size of meetings in general | Consider bigger meeting rooms | Consider a few small meeting rooms which have movable panels that could make into a bigger room. |
| Number of skype meetings in a day | Consider a few 1-person rooms with transparent glasses | Small meeting rooms can fulfill this need. |
| Amount of work by individual employees which requires concentration | It can be an open concept since most employees engage in individual work. | Open concept is recommended, but can consider a few 1-person closed spaces with transparent glasses |
| Do you need complete control on your organisation? | Open space concept | Closed spaces or high separating cubicles recommended |
| Business is service centric? (Otherwise assumed as product Centric) | Canvas prints can be used along any walls or corridors to showcase your services. | Product cabinets should be available for customers to experience and feel. However it does not need to be in one place. Showing customers products while walking around the office premise helps to showcase the company’s office design and branding. |
| Flexible work arrangements - employees often work from home? | Workstations can be designed as a shared concept. Stationeries are available in every workstation, but employees who are working in office can utilise any workstation on a first-come, first-serve basis. | Shared workstations can still be implemented, especially for employees who travel overseas often. However there should be enough “innovative spaces“ where small discussion areas with sofas, or 1-person rooms with transparent glasses. |
| Does the office space has a lack of windows looking out? | Rooms usually take up the most expensive real estate in an office space. Consider having the room in the middle, so pantry space can be placed near the window as a place for relaxation. | Planning is more flexible. |
| Do you have plans to expand your business in the near term? | Is your current space enough to fit future expansion? If not, current renovation may not have to be extensive since once your office lease is up, you may want to move to a bigger space and renovation is to bedone again. | |
| Are there usually many personal belongings of employees and offices are often visited by outside parties? | Consider installing lockers for employees to remove clutter. A clean environment is a good work environment for your team. | Pedestals may be enough for each workstation, but it may be more economical to install lockers, provided there is ample real estate space. |