Office Furniture Reconfigurations | COMMERCIAL DESIGN CONTROL

Every office with time needs some changes in its design and layout. With reconfiguration you can actually improve the look and efficiency of a workplace.

Companies do reconfiguration due to the following main reasons.
1. Company size: Up –sizing or down sizing, what ever the case is the existing furniture needs to be reconfigured to work with the new environment of the company.

2. Relocation/Existing Furniture: There are times when companies move to a new location and the new place comes with existing furniture. You are stuck with a design and layout which perhaps was good for the company before but not that great for your companies’ workflow and efficiency. Reconfiguration can help turn this “new workspace” into “your workspace”.

3. Budgetary Constraints: Sometimes companies buy a new place or have an existing space but due to budgetary constraints they cannot purchase new furniture. This is when they benefit from reconfiguration.

4. Surplus Existing Furniture: Reconfiguration is a good choice when the company wishes to utilize their existing furniture so that it works with their current needs.

It’s best to hire a Space Planner and Designer who can create drawings /plans for the reconfiguration after analyzing the space and needs based on time. A good space planner will come up with a plan which involves the least amount of down time for the office yet makes sure that everything goes smoothly resulting is a more relaxed and productive workspace to meet the needs of all the employees.

Another important aspect of reconfiguration is to inventory your existing furniture to determine what can be used or if there is a requirement of additional new items to complete the reconfiguration.
Always look for a furniture installer who is knowledgeable about the product which is to be assembled and offers dismantling and moving any existing furniture to make space for the reconfiguration. They should also offer full inspection after completion to make sure everything is perfect. Correct installation is imperative to maximize productivity and reduce inefficiency and to stay on budget. A well established furniture dealer or company and its installers would always work closely with the facilities manager to over come any logistical complexities and to make sure that every job is finished satisfactorily.

It’s always best to do some research before buying furniture like cubicles and add on. Today’s modular furniture products have made reconfiguration a simple job. By adding a few new products to the existing cubicles you can change the look and meet the needs of the employees at the same time. Cubicle walls or separators are a crucial part of any reconfiguration. They come in different materials like wood, aluminum, or steel and covered with fabric or steel or cork board to achieve the final look; which makes it very easy to move and reconfigure. There are different wall styles available based on thickness and design. Thicker walls give more room for electrical wiring and look more permanent but heavier and harder to move. They are most suitable for Executive spaces and Conference areas. Standard office cubicles are made of thinner material so they are easy to move around and redesign. By adding height adjustable walls to an office or cubicle you can control the privacy preference of a space. If the need changes it’s easy to add another panel to increase or decrease the height.

Office furniture – Work Surfaces for your Office

Sometimes it’s hard to decide which surface is best suitable for your office? Understanding the positive and negative aspects of each texture and surface can help you to make the appropriate choices for your workspace. Here are some of the different options that are available in the market which can help you decide keeping your budget and needs in mind.

Laminate: There are two kinds of laminates in the market. Low Pressure and High Pressure. Low pressure laminate is sometimes also referred to “Melamine”. It is a thin single melamine paper bonded to a substrate board. High pressure laminate surface is composed of multiple layers of paper saturated with resin and finished with a printed surface. Over the years laminate has become popular and has been well received by the furniture buyers. Advanced quality and techniques have it made very hard for a common eye to distinguish between laminate and real wood veneer. Layers are pressed together under high heat and pressure creating a durable material which is scratch, water and heat resistant; the end result is an uncanny resemblance to solid wood. Laminates are highly durable, inexpensive and low maintenance. They are scratch, heat, chemical and moisture resistant. Some laminates have flame retardant properties and have good electrical isolation properties and antibacterial properties. Laminates have a good 15 year life span against wear and fading; hence making them very suitable for an office as they stand up to the daily demand of a busy office. Taking care of laminate surface is very easy just wipe it off with water and clean cloth and you are good to go. No need to wax or polish. An additional advantage of laminate surfaces or furniture is that they can be easily customized when it comes to special sizing of drawer and cabinet configuration and two tone coloring. Price is usually the most important factor when it comes to redoing or reconfiguring your office. Laminate furniture is less expensive than real wood hence less expensive to install. Sometimes you can self assemble the items which can be cost effective if you are on a tight budget.

Veneer Surfaces: If you like the look of “real wood” for your office then veneer surface is the way to go. Wood veneer furniture will add an image of class and stature to your office. Due to its particleboard substrate it is resistant against warping and moisture damage better than solid hardwood. Veneers benefits the environment; it can incorporate beautiful symmetric and consistent grain patterns as well as give you the opportunity to use rare wood such as rosewood as part of the design. Please keep in mind that over a period of time lighting can changes the color of wood. Natural veneer surface can be protected with polish containing natural ingredients using a soft lint free cloth. You should protect veneer surfaces from severe scratches by using accessories which have felt leather or cork padding. Try lifting objects rather than sliding when moving across the veneer surfaces.

Solid Wood: Solid wood is not “solid” as its name implies. It is constructed of narrow planks cut to be a desired width and laid side by side. 100% softwood and hardwood lumber. Such surfaces or furniture uses no veneers or particleboard fillers. The grain of the wood will be visible and the piece will likely feel heavier. It is not cost effective to carve an entire piece of furniture out of a single piece of wood. Solid wood furniture is extremely durable and can last a life time. It can be sanded, stained or refinished. It offers superior stability and reliability and is of higher quality.

In the end it’s a matter of your preference, budget and need. Who knows in the future we will have surfaces and furniture as durable as solid wood, environmental friendly and beautiful as wood veneer and affordable, and durable as laminate.