For any commercial refurbishment project, there is a vast array of options in design, style and decor to be chosen from. In fact, while business owners tend to have a general idea of what they want, a final decision can actually take a while. Ideas are not always easily settled on particularly when it comes to concepts and designs.
Generally speaking, office space planning deals in making full use of the space that is available to the designer, and ensuring that all of the necessary facilities fit within it. That can be a difficult task in itself, but the added need to arrange and view an office fit out only increases the complexity of the project, with some colour schemes, furniture styles and carpeting, tiling and wall papering options all needing to come together to form an overall finished design.
This is where 3D preview capabilities are of particular value. It works expertly well for both client and designer, with the client wishing to see how the new office could actually look and the designer able to show a range of proposed designs. It is also a very convenient method, with laptop presentations able to be made simply, quickly and at any venue. From the point of view of the client, there are three main areas where viewing a 3D presentation of a proposed design, or even the desired design, can help in the decision making process. Firstly, it serves to give a visual reassurance regarding the project, with the client able to see clearly what the new office will look like before any physical work is done.
This method also results in costs staying low, and savings being made, because no construction work is actually done, no fixtures or fittings are installed and no furniture is purchased. Any changes of mind, additions or alterations can also be accommodated easily and without extra expense, making viewing a 3D presentation the most financially viable method available.
From the point of view of the designer, having the ability to see their own work clearly on screen makes it easier to place and replace aspects of the overall project. For example, a colour scheme may be agreed upon but suitably applying the scheme can be a difficult task, requiring a certain amount of trial and error. Typically, the designer is faced with a multitude of requests and challenges, with the type of office requiring differing approaches.
General offices can have differing needs depending on the actual work being done there. For example, a decision on the size of the work stations or individual work desks in the office, can be influenced heavily by the needs of the worker. If the worker is generally involved in paper orientated tasks, such as an accountant would be, then desks need to have plenty of room.
If, however, the office is populated by professionals that are only at their desks two or three hours per day, and make full use of their own laptops, there is no need for large desks. Typically, media journalists, for example, do much of their work in the field, and return to the office for a limited time. Therefore, a narrow workstation stretching along an office wall, with a number of stools under it, is a practical solution in terms of professional and spacial needs.
In executive offices, meanwhile, similar issues exist with the frequency that the occupant would be in the office playing at part in deciding on the office fit out. A smaller desk for executives with low attendance hours daily is all that is needed, with a larger one necessary for those who are to more frequently present.
Other considerations with carrying out office space planning for the executive is the use of sofas and coffee tables for a casual meeting area in the office, and whether there is a need to accommodate extra people for larger meetings that might be held there.
Even a personal touch, where the ideas can be endorsed by the clients, who can add or take away features according to their personal preferences. Since a commercial refurbishment project is a try and test process, seeing and changing through a 3D screen presentation is clearly invaluable. Decisions made faster speed up the planning stage, and ultimately shortens the duration of the project.
Sarah Shore writes articles for Interaction, who are an experienced company providing commercial refurbishment and office design services to businesses of any size throughout the UK. Interaction have provided office fit out services to many offices of companies in the UK including Admiral insurance, the Forestry Commission and BBC Audiobooks. Utilising office space planning, Interaction are able to refurbish company offices of any size and type.
0 comments:
Post a Comment