Programming an office space? It sounds like what you do to your TV recording device, In a way it is!
What do you want to see?
What time is it on ?
How far in the future are you recording?
For programming your office, it is the same.
What do you want to see? - What functions need to be performed in your office?
When is the program on? – How many square feet do you occupy?
How far in the future are you planning?? Where will your company be in 3 - 5 years?
Gathering information to program an office space requires good questions.
Our first question was determining the number of people.
Quest # 2 is – How much space does each individual person/job description/task require in order to do the work?
Sometimes, a tape measure is needed to answer this question.
In a large corporation, each individual workstation has a square foot, a foot print – i.e. each person has a 6X8 cubicle. 48 aq. Ft. of space.
In a small company, - more likely it is a desk, a chair, two filing cabinets, a side chair, a storage cabinet. For this you need a tape measure is required – legal or letter filing, a desk from IKEA is a different size than a desk from Staples. Draw a small sketch of the space to account for the equipment and for people to access desks, chairs and filing cabinet.
For accessibility, measure how much space is needed to use the equipment. For instance, how much space do you need to pull the draw open of the filing cabinet plus the space of the person standing next to or in front of it. A 14” by 30” filing cabinet, requires almost 30” to pull the drawer open to reach the files in the back, plus the person working in the file drawer. 14”x 60” plus 24” for a person. The numbers start escalating.
For the "do it" yourselfers – sketch it out, draw a work station on graph paper for each person and work area.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Office space - how much?
Programming office space - Part 1
If you ask a potential client “how much space do you think you need?”, the answers are fun.
They range from “not much” to about the size of “this room”.
Doesn’t matter where you are sitting – the comparisons are always made to your current location.
As a designer, you carefully examine where you are and mentally calculate the square footage of your surroundings. Depending on the adjective used, you double the space, add half again as much or cut it in half. Your potential client, although thoughtfully looking around, doesn’t have a clue about the actual space being needed in their new environment.
How do we get to the real square feet?
Step one: Ask good questions – get you client thinking. They will soon be aware that they need you to convert all these questions in to the number of square feet of useable/ rentable space.they need
Question 1 – “How many people will be occupying the new space”. I love asking this question “.
12 people seems to be the mental anguish point. . Under twelve, the answers start physically. With one full hand open, the person responding often holds each individual finger while naming people.. It is as if each finger has a new name and title. As the fingers are consumed with names, a paper and pencil emerges.
It is curious that under 15 people the actual job function (job description) or job title is rarely mentioned.
At about 15 people, the organizational chart is pulled from a desk and job titles are discussed with numbers of people now and in the future. A workstation requirement for a person, who has a job function or title, is so much easier to determine.
There is an interesting management lesson to be learned by observing this scenario.
12 – 15 people can be managed with attention to the person, how they function and how they contribute to the overall department or company. A synergistic relationship.
Over 15 … it’s an accounting function. A necessary accounting function for large companies.
This in only part one.
If you ask a potential client “how much space do you think you need?”, the answers are fun.
They range from “not much” to about the size of “this room”.
Doesn’t matter where you are sitting – the comparisons are always made to your current location.
As a designer, you carefully examine where you are and mentally calculate the square footage of your surroundings. Depending on the adjective used, you double the space, add half again as much or cut it in half. Your potential client, although thoughtfully looking around, doesn’t have a clue about the actual space being needed in their new environment.
How do we get to the real square feet?
Step one: Ask good questions – get you client thinking. They will soon be aware that they need you to convert all these questions in to the number of square feet of useable/ rentable space.they need
Question 1 – “How many people will be occupying the new space”. I love asking this question “.
12 people seems to be the mental anguish point. . Under twelve, the answers start physically. With one full hand open, the person responding often holds each individual finger while naming people.. It is as if each finger has a new name and title. As the fingers are consumed with names, a paper and pencil emerges.
It is curious that under 15 people the actual job function (job description) or job title is rarely mentioned.
At about 15 people, the organizational chart is pulled from a desk and job titles are discussed with numbers of people now and in the future. A workstation requirement for a person, who has a job function or title, is so much easier to determine.
There is an interesting management lesson to be learned by observing this scenario.
12 – 15 people can be managed with attention to the person, how they function and how they contribute to the overall department or company. A synergistic relationship.
Over 15 … it’s an accounting function. A necessary accounting function for large companies.
This in only part one.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Trustworthy
Got off on a Trust tangent.
Commercial Real Estate/commercial furnishings is an industry as rampant with circling sharks as is the industry of Insurance. I referenced, Todd Welch and his effort to recognize and promote working with people you trust, in a recent blog.
Having the tools to do the job right and having a trust worthy team, will carry you thru to the end of your project safely. Safely defined as “being on time and with budget”. You too, can have a Smooth Move without being devoured by the sharks.
The “how tos” of a Smooth Move will continue as we delve into each task; giving you the information you need to make good, solid and wise choices.
Commercial Real Estate/commercial furnishings is an industry as rampant with circling sharks as is the industry of Insurance. I referenced, Todd Welch and his effort to recognize and promote working with people you trust, in a recent blog.
Having the tools to do the job right and having a trust worthy team, will carry you thru to the end of your project safely. Safely defined as “being on time and with budget”. You too, can have a Smooth Move without being devoured by the sharks.
The “how tos” of a Smooth Move will continue as we delve into each task; giving you the information you need to make good, solid and wise choices.
Friday, July 9, 2010
On time and within budget
Moving a commercial space is complex.
Here’s the challenge
• Must be On time - - Telephone, computers, furniture and equipment – all scheduled to be in place and working at 8:00 am. the Monday after the weekend move. (everything is tested a day or two before). The telephone cross over is always a challenge.
• Must be Within Budget – after the movers, desks, chairs, carpet, wall coverings, paint, minor items and Murphy, are all accounted and within the planned expense, you're good!
There is no budget for wandering workers without a workspace.
Hope is not a strategy! Hire a design firm to increase productivity, profitability, and experience in your type of business.
Plan the work … work the plan, and the new space will work for you.
Here’s the challenge
• Must be On time - - Telephone, computers, furniture and equipment – all scheduled to be in place and working at 8:00 am. the Monday after the weekend move. (everything is tested a day or two before). The telephone cross over is always a challenge.
• Must be Within Budget – after the movers, desks, chairs, carpet, wall coverings, paint, minor items and Murphy, are all accounted and within the planned expense, you're good!
There is no budget for wandering workers without a workspace.
Hope is not a strategy! Hire a design firm to increase productivity, profitability, and experience in your type of business.
Plan the work … work the plan, and the new space will work for you.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Carpet care
I love this! Bigelow is basically telling you that if you take good care of your carpet you won’t have to purchase new carpeting for years. Not a good business strategy, people need to buy more carpet. it keeps the economy moving.
From a customer appreciation standpoint ... brilliant.
When I worked at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NJ, the carpet specification standard was Bigelow. That’s when I became a fan! The carpeting in the elevator lobby looked fabulous and it was installed 20 years before.
Here are their 5 tips to take care of your carpet. Check out the link, the specifics are there.
1. Dirt is everywhere, keeping it out of the building is easier and less expensive than removing it.
2. Vacuuming regularly is part of any maintenance program (how to’s included)
3. Spots are inevitable but they don’t have to be permanent (how to’s included)
4. Interim Cleaning - Scheduled pile lifting, vacuuming, spot removal and low moisture cleaning can help the carpet retain appearance and improve performance
5. Restorative Deep Cleaning. .No matter how conscientiously you work at it regularly scheduled maintenance will still leave some soil behind. Periodic deep cleaning, using hot water extraction, is most effective at removing any embedded abrasive soil.
Bigelow’s Commercial Carpet Care and Maintenance Guide is simple and elegant. A good reminder. It is available free on line at
http://www.themohawkgroup.com/sitefiles/PDFs/carpet_care.pdf
Thank you Bigelow!
From a customer appreciation standpoint ... brilliant.
When I worked at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NJ, the carpet specification standard was Bigelow. That’s when I became a fan! The carpeting in the elevator lobby looked fabulous and it was installed 20 years before.
Here are their 5 tips to take care of your carpet. Check out the link, the specifics are there.
1. Dirt is everywhere, keeping it out of the building is easier and less expensive than removing it.
2. Vacuuming regularly is part of any maintenance program (how to’s included)
3. Spots are inevitable but they don’t have to be permanent (how to’s included)
4. Interim Cleaning - Scheduled pile lifting, vacuuming, spot removal and low moisture cleaning can help the carpet retain appearance and improve performance
5. Restorative Deep Cleaning. .No matter how conscientiously you work at it regularly scheduled maintenance will still leave some soil behind. Periodic deep cleaning, using hot water extraction, is most effective at removing any embedded abrasive soil.
Bigelow’s Commercial Carpet Care and Maintenance Guide is simple and elegant. A good reminder. It is available free on line at
http://www.themohawkgroup.com/sitefiles/PDFs/carpet_care.pdf
Thank you Bigelow!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Keeping it green
Keeping it green doesn't take as much work as we thought.
http://www.interiordesign.net/blog/Design_Green/34485-Tandus_and_Antron_Old_Is_Green.php
http://www.interiordesign.net/blog/Design_Green/34485-Tandus_and_Antron_Old_Is_Green.php
Friday, July 2, 2010
Office Flooring Standards
Floor finishes - perfect to be standardized for workspaces.
By taking the decision making our of floor finishes for a new office, you save time and money.
The objective is to relocate people into new or renovated space and not have it be a series of major decision again. A decision about branding your company and space, or who likes what color, or which carpet will show the least amount of dirt is very time consuming.
Standardizing is about getting the new locations up and running, as quickly as possible, with the least amount of effort.
Relocation comes with enough barriers to success, keeping floor finishes out of the mix every single time you relocate your office or department adds a stability to the process and to your organization.
The floor finish decisions should be made during the initial branding/image of your building or your office space. Decisions about color, pattern, weight, durability, warranties and availability are complex issues with financial consequences. Select the product that most reflects your need in terms of use. When one of these criteria change, a new decision about flooring needs to be made. If you have set the standards, the decision making is easier.
Establishing the standards for your business, as early as possible as you grow and change, the ready information will save you time and money.
By taking the decision making our of floor finishes for a new office, you save time and money.
The objective is to relocate people into new or renovated space and not have it be a series of major decision again. A decision about branding your company and space, or who likes what color, or which carpet will show the least amount of dirt is very time consuming.
Standardizing is about getting the new locations up and running, as quickly as possible, with the least amount of effort.
Relocation comes with enough barriers to success, keeping floor finishes out of the mix every single time you relocate your office or department adds a stability to the process and to your organization.
The floor finish decisions should be made during the initial branding/image of your building or your office space. Decisions about color, pattern, weight, durability, warranties and availability are complex issues with financial consequences. Select the product that most reflects your need in terms of use. When one of these criteria change, a new decision about flooring needs to be made. If you have set the standards, the decision making is easier.
Establishing the standards for your business, as early as possible as you grow and change, the ready information will save you time and money.
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