There are many reasons why a business may decide to undertake an office refurbishment; it could be that their workspace has been in use for some time, they have reached a milestone such as an anniversary or a new round of funding and want to celebrate, they have a lease break or expiry looming or they simply want to give their work environment a facelift. Whatever the reason it is, having a clear understanding of what you are trying to achieve from your office refurbishment will make it a lot easier to identify and define exactly what your requirements are when discussing them with your chosen design and build partner.
A key element of any business is the image it portrays to customers and the outside world; having a drab and tired looking workplace can reflect negatively on this. It is a good opportunity to refresh your image and reflect this in the interior design of your offices, whether it’s introducing more colour or implementing a fresh new look.
The office can also play a huge role in attracting and retaining office fit outs staff; providing a workplace that both functions well for current employees and which appeals to prospective ones is important. This can be achieved through refurbishment by ensuring that your office design is aligned with the way your team works – for example open yet defined spaces, balanced acoustics and privacy booths to name just a few.
An office refurbishment can be a cost effective alternative to an office relocation, particularly if the company is happy with their location and have managed to negotiate a competitive lease renewal with the landlord. It also provides the chance to make better use of existing space rather than simply expanding into an empty area; for instance creating a meeting room from storage or utilising the extra space available in the building.
Another advantage of an office refurbishment is that it can often be completed faster than a full relocation due to the fact that Category A (Shell and Core) work has already been carried out; this means that less time needs to be spent on installing the mechanics and electrical components of the fit out. It can also be easier to keep the project within budget by being flexible in your initial scope and booking in additional work at a later date.
When choosing a design and build partner to carry out your office refurbishment it is important to do some due diligence, looking at the company’s portfolio of previous projects, customer reviews and accreditations. Ultimately, you will be entrusting your project to this person so it is crucial that they are trustworthy and have the financial strength to deliver on their promises.
The timing of the start, duration and finish of the office refurbishment will also need to be considered; working around busy periods of the year or holidays can help minimise any disruption to the business. In addition, the final handover should be carefully planned to ensure that any snags have been identified and rectified prior to letting your team loose in the brand new workspace.