When it’s time for an office renovation, redesign and buildout options are plentiful. With all the choices available, often a good place to begin the planning is with the input of productive team members. A few helpful employee suggestions can put your office buildout on the path to achieve increased productivity, enhanced moral, and even greater employee recruitment and retention within your business. It makes sense, since your employees will be the end users of your office buildout once completed.
A successful office buildout featuring quality office design can mean the difference between disgruntled sluggish employees and lower productivity and happy satisfied employees and high production. Studies conducted among full-time employees have identified the correlation between exceptional office design and a company’s bottom line further encouraging employee input during the planning process of your buildout. Two common problems often cause issues in the buildout planning process. The first occurs when there are too many individuals offering input, thus losing sight of actual employee needs. The second occurs when the design fails to address employee functionality. To avoid these issues, Perillo Construction offers these tips for a successful office buildout.
- Call on a Few Key Employees to Engage in the Buildout Planning Process. Your planning can begin with a simple survey of all employees regarding any issues with the current office and what they’d like to see in the new office. While you might get some crazy input, you’ll also glean a real understanding of your employees’ needs and wants. With all the employees’ input in hand, reach out to your department heads, reviewing concerns and gaining more in depth input, including which employees are the most productive in each department. As you prioritize concerns and concepts during the design phase, consider a brainstorming session with your department heads and/or a selection of your most productive team members to align your objectives and your employees’ needs for the buildout.
- Remember that site discovery is an essential part of buildout planning. Many times, demolition day reveals some unexpected surprises, and while you can’t prepare for every unforeseen issue, you can be better prepared and not watch your budget and schedule fall apart. A site survey of your prospective property will aid in planning a successful office buildout and avoid added expense and unwanted delays. There are a few ways your design team and building contractor can help during the planning phase:
- The contractor should examine the floors, in an effort to determine what lies beneath and be better able to estimate costs for demo, prep, and new flooring.
- Overhead, the contractor should remove ceiling tiles, noting if electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or other issues will need to be replaced, moved, otherwise add costs to your project.
- If your initial plan calls for walls to be demolished, moved, or replaced, your contractor should take a peek behind the existing drywall to determine any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical issues that may need relocation to achieve the look and function you desire.
- Finally, your contractor should examine the property for hazardous materials – lead, asbestos, or other hazards – to avoid this unexpected surprise just as your buildout gets started. If there are any suspects, an environmental specialist can help with a demolition plan which avoids untimely delays.
- As your buildout project is being planned, consider the proper furnishings which will add the final touches to your successful office buildout. Often in the buildout process, furnishings are only considered as an afterthought. Don’t fall short! Stylish, functional furnishings should be a part of your office buildout plan. The right furniture is key to completing your buildout objective of an ideal workplace where employees can thrive happily, ultimately increasing productivity and the bottom line. With the proper furnishings, your office buildout’s final touches will help to make your overall office buildout a success.