One positive outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic is that there is a renewed sense of importance placed on office hygiene and safety that starts at the very beginning of the office design and construction process. Many industry experts are evaluating popular layouts like the Open Plan Office and figuring out how to make these layouts work safely and successfully in a post-COVID-19 workplace. Here are some ways in which our office contractors at BE Builds can construct a commercial office space that maximizes the health of your valued employees.
A Healthy Workplace – Old Concept, New Ideas First, it’s important to note that a healthy office is not anything new. Over the last decade at least, we’ve seen a significant emphasis on making wellness a focus for the workplace, from a biophilic design that keeps occupants in touch with the benefits of nature and the maximization of natural lighting to work in partnership with our circadian rhythms, to ergonomic furnishings and corporate programs that support physical and mental health. And it’s an approach that simply makes sense – healthier employees are happier, more satisfied, more engaged, take less time off for illness, and are more productive – making a healthy workplace a real investment with significant ROI1 . COVID-19 has simply fast-tracked and evolved an office design process that is already an important focus – transforming the workplace into a space that offers optimal efficiency and productivity through safety and wellness. Here’s how office construction post-COVID-19 looks. #1 – A Breath of Fresh Air Disease and health specialists2 agree that the best way to prevent the transmission of germs and viruses is to increase ventilation, and therefore the volume of air through our buildings. By bringing in more fresh, clean air more frequently, either through the installation of high-efficiency purifying HVAC systems or the simple act of opening up doors and windows (based on season and outdoor air pollution), the concentration of harmful elements in the air is greatly reduced. And this isn’t just sensible for our current times – it’s an effective way of reducing pollutants, allergens, and those pesky seasonal germs and viruses that steal away $10.4 billion3 in medical expenses and $9 billion4 in lost productivity each year. #2 – A Little Bit of Nature, Naturally As mentioned, biophilic5 design plays a significant role in mental and physical wellness – one that is more impressive than such a simple concept would first suggest. Essentially, it’s all about bringing nature into the workspace in a way that suits your brand, your office layout, and design. Elements such as living walls of oxygen-producing greenery, glass wall partitions that allow natural light to penetrate throughout a space, garden-based break spaces for informal meetings and lunch hours, and the use of raw natural materials all work together to create an environment primed for supporting health. Studies have demonstrated how more natural surroundings help reduce stress and high blood pressure, better control blood sugar levels, balance hormone activity, promote better sleep and serotonin levels, and boost the immune system, helping us work more efficiently, with more focus and fewer sick days. #3 – Reduced Cross-Contamination Touching a surface that others have touched is an established health risk, whether it’s sharing keyboards and furniture at hot-desking workstations or touching the same door handles repeatedly throughout the day. New office design concepts that bring together elements of flow and spacing, as well as innovative engineering help reduce this type of cross-contamination where germs and viruses can thrive. From easily sanitized furniture that can be wiped down quickly without damaging the materials and sanitizing stations to doorless bathrooms and touchless office entry systems, we can work to significantly reduce this risk throughout the workday. #4 – Flexible Design for Flexible Times Many businesses are reimagining how their office spaces will be used in a post-COVID world, weighing between the relatively low-health risk environment of working from home and the established benefits of team collaboration when working in an office environment. What makes the most sense is to create a successful hybrid. A flexible workspace is all about a conscious and thoughtfully designed office buildout that brings together the best of both worlds for employers and employees and involves a push towards another trend that was already gaining ground in many industries. This evolved hub-and-spoke design offers many employees a sense of autonomy, as well as a more effective work-life balance, which is better for individual health, wellbeing, and engagement. At the same time, it allows businesses to restructure to new locations, reduce office square footage and prioritize specific in-office functions and processes while supporting employee health and safety. Our office designs that focus on a flexible workplace include transitions to multiple smaller locations, designing spaces according to specific functions or processes (multi-use spaces, hotdesking spaces, and collaborative spaces), and designing specifically for the needs of the new hybrid workforce. Healthier Workspace Design for Post-COVID Productivity Health and safety in office construction have always been a priority, but COVID-19 has given it an entirely new focus – one that goes the extra mile to adapt to a new, flexible workforce and supports productivity and engagement on a holistic level. BE Builds offers an end-to-end design, furnishing, and office buildout service that focuses on what your business needs from a space in order to thrive. Contact us today or visit our website to find out how our team can deliver the exceptional for your business in New Jersey: https://bebuilds.com/ Originally posted at https://bebuilds.com/ways-to-maximize-health-in-your-office-buildout/
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Whether you’re opening a single office location or planning many, the cost of a commercial buildout is arguably the most critical concern to address when getting started. The cost of an office buildout will vary depending on the age and type of building systems, existing conditions of the space, the type of business occupying the space, local permitting requirements, the quality and types of materials being used, just to name a few. Here, we will take a look at the major cost factors to consider before construction begins on your new commercial office space.
#1 – Building Space Type The first factor to consider is the building and space you are planning to remodel. These are generally categorized into two types by the office construction services industry – second-generation (second-gen) spaces and shell spaces. Second-gen spaces are the most common, as they’re spaces that have been used for business before by a previous tenant. Typically, these spaces are more affordable to build out because the basic structure of the space is already suitable, and work mostly focuses on updating older features, implementing visual changes to make it reflect your brand more accurately, and some updates to plumbing, communications, and electrical systems. One factor that can increase these costs significantly is the age and condition of the building itself, with prices and project scope increasing according to how out-of-date the building is. Shell spaces tend to be more costly to build out, as they are new spaces that haven’t been utilized before. While you have the advantage of being the first tenants and setting up everything exactly how you like it, the project itself is usually more complex and time-intensive. Also called capital improvement projects, building out a shell space involves major aesthetic, structural and infrastructure changes in order to create a completely custom space. #2 – The Size of the Commercial Space Bigger spaces are usually more costly to create, although you do gain the benefits of economy of scale by leveraging wholesale buying of materials, furniture, and so forth. In larger-scale projects, it is important to work with a partner who can properly manage this, balancing fixed costs like labor against discounts for bulk supplies to lower the project’s cost per square foot. #3 – Layout, Amenities, and Intended Use The more complexity and customization in your design concept, the more expensive the buildout is going to be – and the sky’s the limit here. While the amenities of, say, the Google campus are renowned as an exceptional workplace, it’s simply not achievable for the vast majority of businesses. This is where prioritizing certain aspects of a project becomes key in controlling and managing costs effectively, while delivering a space that is enjoyable to use, functional and impressive to clients. For example, a high-end café and break space for employees is going to carry significant costs in terms of equipment, furnishings, and design, as will a state-of-the-art conferencing space. Office layout can also affect price, with private office spaces costing more per square foot than open-concept spaces. Your office construction services partner is invaluable not only in terms of laying out the costs per square foot of your project, but also in developing more flexible, creative, and cost-effective solutions that can deliver a completed space. One that matches your brand’s values and goals without overreaching on budget. #4 – Quality of Materials Quality comes at a price, and it’s up to each client to decide where their value point lies. However, it’s important to evaluate different materials and furnishings thoroughly to find those that are functional, aesthetically pleasing, and durable for your space – the aim is to land on great value, not cheapness. Simply choosing the materials that cost the least is not going to save as much as many people think. Not only can it result in a space that doesn’t present business accurately to clients and employees, but it also tends to wear faster, break more often and have a shorter lifetime, costing you more in the long run. General Estimates for NJ Commercial Office Buildouts by BE Builds As you can see, many different factors influence the ultimate cost of an office buildout. As a general guideline, however, you can expect to budget for your buildout as follows:
As an experienced office construction services provider, BE Builds understands the challenges today’s businesses face in terms of designing and creating a functional, brand-centric commercial space that supports business growth. With decades of industry experience behind us and an end-to-end offering that takes each project from design through construction, we leverage our resources to ensure every client gets a custom office design that works for their business, industry, and budget. To find out more about our commercial office buildout services, contact us today or visit our website at: https://bebuilds.com/ Originally posted at bebuilds.com/cost-factors-to-consider-for-your-commercial-office-buildout/ |
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