When it comes to designing your office fitout, it’s important to carefully consider how your employees will interact and function within the space, how teams will be placed and of course how you can maximise the use of the floor space – while supporting productive and purposeful work. It’s about creating an environment that makes your employees feel comfortable and at ease and work efficiently.

There are a variety of different things that should be considered in your office fitout and interior design that can help to improve productivity. These include:

Provide ample natural light.

Being cooped up in a room where fluorescent lights are the main light source is proven to have a negative effect on a person’s performance level, as well as the quality of their work. It can also lead to eye strain, which affects the ability to work efficiently and can cause long term damage to the eyes.

Natural light on the other hand is shown to increase concentration and energy. Ensuring your office fitout design allows plenty of natural light to flow through the office can create a happier, healthier and more productive team. Even where the natural light is limited, an experienced interior designer will be able to help you choose office partitions and finishes that maximise the available light and allow it to flow through the office.  

Control the noise level.

It’s no secret that noises are a distraction that can impair people’s ability to focus and perform tasks well.

‘Loud’ environments, identified at 85 decibels and up (similar to the noise level of city traffic when you’re driving), have been shown to be seriously detrimental to one’s ability to concentrate and work effectively. While an average noise level of 70 decibels (as loud as normal conversation) has been shown to foster creativity.

If you’re wanting to design a workspace that helps people to focus, concentrate and work productively,  you should consider incorporating furnishings and fixtures that help to block or absorb noise – like acoustic ceiling tiles and carpets.

You may also want to consider designing an ‘activity based’ floor plan that provides a variety of different spaces – suited to different types of work. Where there are quiet rooms that people can move to when they need to focus or make phone calls.

Consider overall space.

Your office should have enough space for people to work, socialise and walk around. While you work to maximise and optimise the use of the floor space, don’t forget about the ceilings.

Higher ceilings can make a space feel much larger and more open, helping your employees to feel more relaxed and comfortable. They’ve also been shown to foster creative and abstract thinking – which is of value in all sectors.

Looking to revamp your workspace?

Whether you’re looking to fully refurbish your office interior design and fitout, or simply update your office partitions, Office Boy will have it done on time and on budget. Call us on 1300 858 176 or fill out the form here to request a quote today!

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But what does a good design entail? Aside from being functional and improving how people move within the workplace, the office design should also create a pleasant environment for staff, clients and customers. At the end of the day, your office is where your people spend most of their time. It has a direct influence on culture, productivity, morale and well-being.

Boosts employee productivity

Providing a workplace that caters to the needs of your employees has a direct impact on staff morale and affects productivity. Make sure that your office design provides the scope for employees to work flexibly and freely. That the floor plan ensures that teams or individuals who work together are nearby. And, ensure that there is space for people to collaborate, socialise and quiet zones where they can be free from distractions. 

Establishes brand and culture

Having an office design that accurately reflects what your business’ brand, values and cultural characteristics is essential in today’s day and age.  Incorporating elements that visually reinforce your visual brand identity and core values are important – not just for your employees, but also for your clients. A well designed, visually appealing and functional office will create a positive perception of your business.

Looking to renovate your office with a new fit out?

A well-designed, unique office fit out can help increase productivity in the workplace and propel your business forward. Taking care of the business means taking care of the employees, so it’s important that you provide an environment where they can work and thrive comfortably. 

Whether you’re looking to create or update your office partitions or completely redo your office interior design in Melbourne, Office Boy is the fit out company for you. We will have the project done on time and on budget.

Call us on 1300 858 176 or fill out the form here to request a quote today!

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Choosing the right fit out company to undertake your office fitout or refurbishment is essential. Not only will make the process a whole lot easier for you, but it will also help you avoid a lot of issues and complications. You see, when it comes to a commercial fitout or refurbishment, you need to engage a specialist commercial fitout company. Commercial fitouts are very different from other building projects and choosing an experienced commercial builder will save you time and money.

Here are some of the things to consider when selecting a fit out company for your office renovations.

Does the company have a good reputation?

The fit out company you choose should have a good reputation in the industry. Commercial builders and fit out companies with plenty of experience in the field know all the requirements and regulations that apply to commercial fitouts. They have experience tackling problems that are unique to commercial properties, know what permits are required and how to secure them and will ultimately help you avoid some of the traps that can come with an office fitout or refurbishment project. They will be able to guide you through the planning process, offer ideas and suggestions and ensure timelines and budgets meet your requirements.

Check what their past clients have to say about them, and if possible, look at the final output too. Some key considerations include:

• Have they managed projects similar in scale or nature to yours? For instance, if you’re looking to undertake a dental fitout or medical fitout you want to make sure they have experience successfully delivering healthcare fitouts.
• How long has the company been operating?
• Do they have project case studies available for your perusal?
• Do they have a solid track record of delivering on time and within budget?

What are the company’s ideas or concepts?

When thinking of renovating or refurbishing your office space, your likely to have some ideas and a vision of what you want to achieve. But, you want to make sure that the fitout company you select is also bringing ideas and suggestions to the table.  Their input, experience and creativity can significantly improve the final result. It will help you make the most of the space available and ensure that it provides the scope and flexibility for your business to grow and evolve.

Can the fitout company work to YOUR budget?

Of course, one of the most important factors to consider in any commercial building project is the budget. Most fit out companies will only be able to provide a quote after an initial site inspection and discussion about your requirements and what you want to achieve. Providing your budget is adequate, they should also offer suggestions or ideas to help you make the most of it – ensuring every dollar you spend is spent well.

Before you engage them, make sure that you understand the pricing arrangement and ensure that the project has been fully scoped. In any building project there can be curveballs, but you want to be sure that the fitout company has allowed for all foreseeable works.

Looking to revamp your workspace?

Whether you’re looking to create or update your office partitions or completely renovate or refurbish your office interior design in Melbourne, Office Boy will have it done on time and on budget. Call us on 1300 858 176 or fill out the form here to request a quote today!

The post What To Look For In An Office Fit-out Company appeared first on Office Boy Work Environments | Melbourne.

Biophilic & sustainable designs

Biophilia and sustainability are two concepts that are irrevocably intertwined in design. On one hand, biophilia incorporates elements from nature into the design with the goal of enriching and benefitting human health and well-being. On the other hand, sustainability focuses on using green building materials and reducing harmful emissions and carbon footprints in a bid to protect the environment.

For 2020 office fitout designs, incorporate natural elements into office features, using materials such as wood, stone and fibre. Using earthy tones and a neutral colour palette can help enhance the office landscape. Putting plants and water fountains is also a good idea; you can even have a moss wall installed for a richer, natural vibe. 

Natural lighting from the sun can be worked into the office through modern floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Not only would your office be well-lit but your employees can also benefit from Vitamin D. Natural light is proven to help improve concentration as well, making people more productive.

Agile office designs

Agile office designs are all about providing an environment wherein employees can work flexibly and freely. The principle behind agile office designs is simple: to create spaces that can meet the employees’ needs no matter what it is, from a collaborative space to a quiet zone. An agile space should be able to support both individuals and teams. Through agile spaces, employees are given a choice of where to perform their tasks, freeing them from being tied to their desks all day. They can also escape from distractions by moving to a quieter zone and be free from the normal drone in the office. 

For your 2020 office, you can create an agile design by providing a wide-open central space where there are desks for everyone. Smaller rooms or booths can branch out from this space. There should be a breakout space dedicated to group meetings or conference calls, and extra rooms such as pantries and even nap rooms.

Smart offices

Smart office designs make use of technology in making the space work efficiently and effectively. They also play a part in making the office more sustainable; smart lighting and temperature control systems help in reducing energy consumption. 

For 2020, you can make your office smarter by utilising technology to make your work processes smoother and more efficient. 

Need help with your commercial office fit out?

Whether you’re looking to create or update your office partitions or completely redo your office interior design in Melbourne, Office Boy will have it done on time and on budget. Call us on 1300 858 176 or fill out the form here to request a quote today!

The post Office Fitout Trends To Watch Out For In 2020 appeared first on Office Boy Work Environments | Melbourne.

If you want to create the ideal workplace for you and your team, keep in mind the following essential tips. 

Utilise the space well.

An empty space can look bigger than it is. Once you start putting in cupboards, cabinets and partitions, it will shrink dramatically, and it might even seem cramped. Plotting your furniture wisely can prevent this from happening.

Additionally, consider how each team or person is going to use the space, and adjust accordingly. For instance, if you have a graphics team, it may be wise to give them a space with different lighting, more conducive to their tasks. Different zones across the office can be set up differently too, with an open collaborative space for your creatives and enclosed rooms for private client meetings.

Also, take into account your projected growth in the coming months or years. You might be getting new teammates and even more clients, which may require a bigger conference room for meetings.

Adhere to ergonomics.

Ergonomics deals with not only how your office furniture looks but also how safe and efficient they are when people use them. Providing a safe environment for your team limits and avoids accidents as well as boost their trust and morale.

Ensure that there’s plenty of space to manoeuver their chairs without bumping and that people can move freely around.  

Aside from ergonomics, it’s also incredibly important to focus on the overall safety of the workplace, as well as inclusions for people with disabilities. Something as simple as adding acoustic battening to the walls or ceilings can go a long way to help the hearing-impaired, for instance. 

Involve your staff in decision-making.

At the end of the day, it’s not just you that will benefit from a well-fitted office. Your team members, who spend a lot of time in the office, understand what they need out of the space and which design can best help them optimise their performance. Get their input and work together to create a fresh, stylish and functional office fitout that can make everyone happy and productive.

Looking to revamp your workspace?

Whether you’re looking to create or update your office partitions or completely redo your office interior design in Melbourne, Office Boy will have it done on time and on budget. Call us on 1300 858 176 or fill out the form here to request a quote today!

The post Essential Tips for a New Office Fitout appeared first on Office Boy Work Environments | Melbourne.

Custom Designs for Individualised Needs

Every business has a different workflow and management style. Some want offices that are more informal and relaxed, while others prefer a more corporate, formal setting and traditional office spaces. A good office fit out design will take into account your businesses unique culture, workflows and processes, brand identity and plans for the future.

An office fit out may include changes to the layout of your workspaces or a complete transformation and renovation of the entire office. The goal is to create an environment that meets the needs of your staff, aids productivity and workflows, and aligns with your culture and brand identity .

An experienced office fit out design team will help maximize your existing space and find ways to improve efficiency and productivity. The most common types of office layouts include cubicles, half partitions, open floor plans, and activity-based designs. Each layout brings its own advantages and disadvantages.

Adopting an Activity-Based Office Design

Activity-based working is a concept that originated in the 1970s that has seen a recent resurgence in popularity. An activity-based office fitout design includes multiple work areas with different layouts or design elements. The traditional meeting rooms, offices, and designated desks are eliminated.

The purpose of an activity-based office fit out is to create different work areas that are best suited to different tasks. There may be a central location with an open floor plan to make it easier for staff members to communicate and collaborate, along with break out spaces and areas that offer a little more privacy for informal meetings.

Utilising Open Spaces for Collaboration

While an activity-based office fitout may incorporate an open design, the activity-based design is not the only option for open spaces. You can still utilize the traditional setup of assigned desks and workspaces with an open floor plan.

Open spaces are well-suited for collaboration. Instead of separating employees into cubicles or separate offices, the open design allows them to easily communicate and share ideas. Employees do not need to physically get up and travel to another office or cubicle. This often works well in team-oriented settings.

Choose a Design That Works for You

The innovative office fitout design options discussed may not work well for every business. If your staff requires privacy, they may thrive in a traditional office and cubicle environment. The cubicles help reduce external noise levels, acting as a sound barrier and allowing staff members to remain focused on their work.

You may also choose a balance between openness and privacy with your office fit out by installing half partitions. With half partitions, your employees still enjoy their own space without feeling completely shut off from their co-workers.

In the end, the design you choose depends on the unique needs of your business and staff. Activity-based designs and open floor plans are often used to improve collaboration and communication and maximise the use of floorspace. These options are great for offices where staff members work closely together on projects. Keep these details in mind if you are planning on renovating your office or setting up a new office space. Contact an expert team member at Office Boy to discuss your Office Fit Out needs.

The post How Can an Office Fit Out Help Boost Staff Morale and Productivity? appeared first on Office Boy Work Environments | Melbourne.

Infographic: How to Build an Environmentally Friendly Office

Invest In LEDs

Lighting is an obvious place to start when thinking about how to make sure that your new office fitout is eco friendly. You should make sure that you are buying LEDs for your office and there is a number of reasons why this is a smart move. Firstly, LEDs last for hundreds of thousands of hours and will continue to light your office nearly twice as long as the typical incandescent bulb. As well as this, standard lighting uses eighty percent of the energy for heat and only twenty percent for light. LEDs reverse this and instead use eighty percent of the energy for light and still only a fraction of the power needed for another type of bulb. As such, you do want to make sure that the lights in your new office are LEDs.

You might also want to consider investing in smart lighting. With smart lighting, you have complete control over the level of lighting in your office environment. Since you are in complete control, you will use far less energy because you won’t constantly be using the full power of the lighting in the office. As such, your energy bills will be significantly lower.

If you don’t want to invest in smart lighting, do consider using light sensors. These will make sure the lights are turned off automatically when they are not in use. As well as this, you may want to think about using natural lighting for the office as much as possible. This can be accomplished by positioning work desks near large, office windows.

Getting Furniture Locally

It is worth thinking about purchasing your furniture for the office fitout from a local Australian source. By doing this, you can make sure that you are using and indeed supporting local sources. On top of this, you will be using less energy because you won’t need to bring in the products that you’re purchasing from hundreds of miles away or even from across the ocean. You should also make sure that you are checking with suppliers to make sure that the products they are providing have been made in a way that is eco-friendly. Indeed, one of the easiest ways to keep your office fitout green would be to make sure you are using green suppliers.

Keeping Things Cool

One of the mistakes business owners make when planning their office fitouts is to use the smallest AC units possible. The idea being that a small unit will use a fraction of the energy. The problem is that a small unit still needs to cool a massive office area. That’s why it’s actually better and more ecofriendly to invest in a larger AC unit. It can be run at a far lower power level and still provide the cool air you need in your office to keep things comfortable. On top of this, you’ll find that a larger unit will run for longer without need for maintenance or replacements.

Reusable Partitioning

Does your office need partitioning? Partitioning is a great, easy way to separate your office into different areas and make sure that there are separate work spaces for different requirements. If you are using partitioning, it is advised that you do consider options that are both reusable and flexible. It is unlikely that you will keep the same design for your office for the total amount of time that you work there. With a demountable partition system, you’ll be able to move the system around without the need to invest in new partitions and avoid filling up landfills with old ones.

Buy The Right Tech

If technology is part of your office fitout, you do need to think about the type of tech that you should be investing in. A lot of business owners think that it’s best to save money by purchasing second hand, older technology but this is actually a mistake. Older tech creates more issues than it solves because it uses far more energy and therefore will cost a fortune in bills. It’s far more effective to think about purchasing the latest tech on the market and paying a larger amount upfront so that you can save more over a longer period.

If you are unsure what tech to invest in, just look for the computers and display systems with the best energy ratings.

As well as this, you can consider whether you need to invest in certain pieces of tech at all. In the past, a fax machine would have been an essential piece of equipment for a new office. These days, faxes can be transferred and received digitally, straight to email accounts. As such this could be an energy expensive, unnecessary purchase.

Think About Waste

You should also be thinking about how you deal with waste in your business office. Ideally, you should have an area for recycling set up in your business. This will help you reduce the carbon footprint of your company massively and make sure that you are not contributing to the overuse of landfills. Make sure that a recycling area is part of the plans for your office fitout. Even just including a recycling bin in your office design could help a lot.

Plan Your Environmentally Friendly Office Fit Out with Office Boy

We hope you find this advice useful and see that there are lots of different ways to make sure that your new office fit out is completely environmentally friendly. To discuss your environmentally friendly office fit out plans with Office Boy, contact us and get a free office fit out consultation

Download this infographic.

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