Should You Stay or Go . . . Office Refurbishment in Focus

It’s a New Year with new projects, planning and events on the go, for many businesses it’s also a time of anticipation and revaluation – should you spruce up your space, or look further afield to new premises?

Budgets, schedules, people and facilities all impact a decision to make-over or move. However, a successful redesign or location change can boost staff morale, business performance and work environment – and it may be just the ticket to kick-start the year ahead.

“Sometimes a premise just won’t meet a company’s future needs,” explains James Smith of Outline Design. “Businesses develop, staff numbers increase and money spent on a new refurbishment now, might not be the best decision if three years down the track the space just cannot accommodate growth.”

So where to start? If you are swaying towards relocating premises, question:

• Are you paying too much for your existing location?
• Can your business afford the move or a higher rent? Having a top-notch location won’t always do justice to your bottom dollar.
• Can your existing office cope with an expansion? Sometimes simply making more efficient use of the space you’re in can do wonders.

Staying put? Refurbishing your current office can provide plenty of opportunities for growth in facilities and maximise the relationship between space and people. However, knowing where to begin can be unnerving, so starting points to consider include:

• Which areas do we want to change/rework, and how many people do we need to accommodate?
• What sort of timeframe do we need to complete the refurbishment in? Can it be worked in and around office hours?
• How will your company culture be reflected in the redesign? Future-proof your design efforts with your company’s long-term growth and wellbeing in mind, not current trends or fads.
• Consider everyone and every corner. Creating spaces within your office that incorporate a mixture of shared and individual spaces, open and quiet zones, breakout areas and conference rooms, ensures better support and productivity all round.

“I think the first port of call when making decisions around relocating or refurbishing is to speak to a specialist designer right from the get-go,” suggests James. “For example at Outline Design we provide a sight feasibility analysis – taking our clients through the process of moving versus refurbishing, take space measurements, looking at the specifics of each option.”

The lead-in time for a project can be 12-18mths, explains James. “So having a designer to guide you through each step – space planning, location choices, design concepts, furniture options – is essential time-wise and for staying on budget.”

For further inspiration and information on space planning options and ideas, download the Perfect Space Guide.