Costing Office Fit-out for Activity-based Working

Without an IT infrastructure that enables people to share information and communicate wherever they are in the building, activity-based working may struggle to gain traction. Getting the audio-visual (AV) installation right is critical. Minor outages in support systems such as Wi-Fi or room booking systems may lead to a loss of faith in the workplace strategy. Retrofitted staircases are becoming popular to encourage the vertical movement of people. These features will need structural works to form the openings, and can potentially require enclosure in fire-rated materials or the installation of smoke curtains. A building alone will not change behaviour or drive productivity. Change management and employee engagement are essential for successful transition to activity-based working. Preparing people for the space is just as Officeworks important as preparing the space for the people. Fit-out contractors are frequently being asked to tender on a single-stage design and build basis, with risk being transferred to them. Clients need to understand the implications of this form of procurement for fit-out projects, which are fast moving and prone to change in line with business requirements.

A third type, a ‘turnkey’ project, includes all of the above to fit-out the property ready for the tenant to literally turn the key in the door, walk and start work immediately. There are many reasons why an office fit-out may take place. It could be to create an office that is fit for purpose for conducting day-to-day business. An office fit-out may be conducted voluntarily because the business wants to change the office layout to make the best use of available space and improve working practices. However, sometimes the fit-out is imposed on the business because the business are having to lease a new office that isn’t currently suitable. What are the benefits of an office fit-out? Once an office has undergone a fit-out, a fit for purpose work environment is created meaning daily business can be conducted efficiently. Workplace values and norms can be more enforced through a well designed environment, creating a new and improved workplace culture for all staff.

You’ve found the ideal office space - it’s in the perfect location, has ideal facilities and is exactly the right size for your business. Now, all you need to do is turn it from a blank canvas into a welcoming office. So, the office fit out process begins. What Is an Office Fit-Out? An office fit-out is the process of making an office suitable for use by a new tenant. Depending on the state of the premises, it can entail anything from months of building work to plastering walls to simply equipping the space with desks and computers. The scale of the office fit out you’ll have to undertake will also depend on whether you’ve purchased your office space or are leasing it, as most building owners will ensure at least a basic fit out has been completed before letting out an office. A fit-out is generally undertaken to make an office space suitable for its new tenant, or to change what a commercial space can be used for - like converting a D2 leisure space from a bowling alley into a cinema.

The environment in which you work can have significant implications on productivity and can also affect the health and wellbeing of staff. Efficient lighting, correctly fitted and adequate telecommunication data cabling, office wiring, TV points, power points, Internet data outlets, temperature control: heating and cooling and safe exit signage all need to be addressed. During the shop and office fitout or business relocation, the most important parts are the installation and uninstallation of office wiring and office cabling. A professional office electrician can easily take down the entire office wiring without any trouble and hassles. Similarly, care needs to be taken during all office fitout installations. Our electricians at Prolux Electrical Contractors can accommodate to your building’s requirements, for complex wiring procedures in all sized office buildings throughout Melbourne and Brisbane. Do you require new office workstations to be set-up fast with limited space? In February 2104, Prolux Electrical Contractors were contracted by PSP Corporation to complete an office fit-out for them on Level 12, 50 Queen Street, Melbourne. PSP Corporation did not have the time to arrange quotes from builders and furniture contractors to create a workable space; the whole process was managed internally within days. New data cabling and power outlets had to be wired and installed, along with existing points to be tested. Prolux Electrical Contractors, the base building contractor were asked by the tenant to install a complete data network and power solution to the workstations they were having installed. The challenge was that it needed to be completed prior to their new staff commencing. This gave Prolux two days (one day for preparing the project and ordering all required parts and one day for installing and testing all components). All workstations on Level 12 had data outlets, sufficient cabling and designated power points installed.

Ellen Mazur Thomson, author of Origins of Graphic Design in America (1997), determined that professional status is achieved through education, self-imposed standards and professional gate-keeping organizations. Having achieved this, interior design became an accepted profession. Interior design is the art and science of understanding people's behavior to create functional spaces, that are aesthetically pleasing, within a building. Decoration is the furnishing or adorning of a space with decorative elements, sometimes complemented by advice and practical assistance. In short, interior designers may decorate, but decorators do not design. Interior designer implies that there is more of an emphasis on planning, functional design and the effective use of space, as compared to interior decorating. An interior designer in fine line design can undertake projects that include arranging the basic layout of spaces within a building as well as projects that require an understanding of technical issues such as window and door positioning, acoustics, and lighting.