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Design is something of an art form. It allows people to create something that goes beyond the old and familiar to introduce unique and interesting concepts. Designing commercial office spaces can also be an exciting endeavor.
Sticking to the tried and true may feel safe, but if there is room for creativity, it can be worth going the extra mile in terms of office design.
The design obviously precedes construction, and knowing what aspects to keep in mind can help you during the building process. In this article, we will look at three key elements when it comes to the design and function of the construction of commercial office space.
1. Space Planning and Layout
One of the most important things to keep in mind when building a commercial office is knowing how to manage the space that you have. Space management has significant implications for the productivity and efficiency of any business.
The fast food chain Mcdonalds’ is one of the best examples of space management layouts. Each activity has its own space, and the layout is designed in such a way that each person can get to where they need to go without bumping into someone else or slowing down.
The layout gave them the advantage of finishing orders at record times that were never seen before in the restaurant business. And it revolutionized the way many restaurants work.
The same ideas apply to most types of commercial enterprises. If you are a conventional office, you don’t have to go with the old cubicles that lock your employees away. It’s perfectly fine to want to change things up as long as things remain functional and practical.
2. Hiring the Right Contractors
The price of space significantly affects your design options and what you can do. Cities like San Antonio enjoy prices for commercial real estate prices that are considerably lower than Los Angeles or New York.
As a result, building an office in such cities gives you a lot more room to play with. Planning out your layout can involve assessing your current business needs, the type of environment you wish to create (formal or casual), the scale of individual versus group working spaces, and keeping in mind future growth.
Once you know what you are looking for, you want to find and meet reputable designers and contractors who can verify if it is possible to create what you have in mind based on your budget, space, and time to complete requirements.
If you choose to have your office in Texas (like a lot of companies are doing these days), remember that it is perfectly okay to get multiple opinions from different commercial general contractors in San Antonio.
San Antonio is known for being affordable, and its contractors have a lot of experience and generally know what they are doing. MPS Construction and Design is a common option for a lot of business owners here. They serve the greater San Antonio area, as well as Austin, Houston, and several other cities in the southern Texas region.
Hiring a contractor with a good reputation saves you a lot of money, as they are less likely to scam you with misleading cost quotes. They are less likely to make costly mistakes and will have the experience to identify potential issues before they even occur. The benefits of investing in the right contractors can’t be overstated.
Cutting corners with contractors often leads to a lot of unexpected problems, such as discovering that the project fails to meet important building codes and zoning laws and regulations.
3. Lighting and Furniture
You can have the swankiest office space with an extremely modern design and layout, but it would all be for nothing if critical aspects such as lighting and furniture don’t fit in well.
Lighting plays a crucial role in an office and has the potential to impact productivity. You need to strike a fine balance between aesthetics and practicality. Dim, cozy, and warm lighting may look appealing to customers, but for employees spending several hours at the workplace, it can cause headaches, eye strain, and fatigue.
Similarly, the sort of furniture you choose to equip your office with can serve multiple purposes. Furniture by itself is a great visual asset but is also critical to the health of your employees. Try to select furniture that is not only aesthetic but also ergonomic and comfortable for long hours of work.
You can also replace traditional desks with modular, adjustable ones that can be adjusted to be standing desks, which is all the rage in a lot of office spaces these days.
Conclusion
From the first steps of design, where you evaluate your business needs to the purchasing of appropriate lighting and furniture, designing a commercial office space can be an intense experience. You are bound to require help in different areas, so be sure to speak to enough experts before you make any final call.
Additionally, since it is your employees who will be spending most of the time in the office, it makes sense to get their input as well (if possible). They will be able to point out features that would greatly enhance their experience, which you might have overlooked otherwise.