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Workplace design has never been more important!
MD Business Interiors based in Exeter are the leading office furniture supplier and office refurbishment fit out contractor in Devon. We strive for excellence and customer satisfaction.
It used to be fairly easy to define space standards for offices. We could use linear equations based on the number of people occupying the building, their job function, status, access to meeting rooms, need for paper storage and so on. Things are a lot more complicated these days as the office not only serves a technologically empowered mobile workforce but also increasingly incorporates a wide range of spaces to allow people to move around the building and work in new and dynamic ways. One of the consequences of this is that the amount of space dedicated to each person has been falling for some time.
The British Council for Offices in 2014 published its Occupier Density Study, which informs the space standards laid out in its latest Specification Guide. What it revealed was the average density of workplaces in the UK today is 10.9 sq. m. per workstation compared to 11.8 sq. m. as reported in the previous survey in 2008. This is not only a marked drop in short space of time it is part of a long term trend that has seen average office densities increase across the UK from 16.6 sq. m. in 1997, a change of over a third.
The main drivers for this change, according to the report, is the development of new ways of working which have driven changes to the way space and budgets within buildings are allocated. While at one time a typical space budget might have consisted of 80 percent fixed workplaces, 15 percent meeting space and 5 percent other space, the average office today is likely to have a greater variety of work settings, with fixed workplaces accounting for a smaller proportion of the overall space budget. The report found that this is particularly the case for the corporate, technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) and professional services sectors which have average densities of 13.1 sq. m., 12.3 sq. m. and 10.5 sq. m. compared to 9.7 sq. m. for the financial services sector.
However the report also indicates that the UK may be approaching the point beyond which we cannot shrink space standards any further. The BCO claims that while the main drivers of change remain , not least economic pressure and the growth of flexible working as well as the generalised push for more efficiency, this latest figure represents a slowdown in the rate of increase. We might be getting to the point at which we cannot reduce space standards further.
The report also highlighted the regional disparities that exist in space standards across the UK. So London and the South East of England have some of the most spacious workplaces in the UK, in spite of the fact that London has some of the most expensive office space on Earth. The research found that the South West has the highest density at 8.6 sq. m. per workstation while London (11.3 sq. m.) and the South East (12.7 sq. m.) have lower densities than all UK regions apart from Wales (11.4 sq. m.).
The upshot is that when somebody asks nowadays the ideal space standard for an office, the answer is that it all depends. It’s not that simple and a lot of questions need to be asked first before decisions about workplace design can be taken to achieve the most effective and efficient results.
The major complicating factor here is how to square off a relatively fixed resource like a building with the demands of its occupants which can change from day to day. Add in the need to keep costs down and you are left with a heady mix that drives organisations to sweat more out of their assets. But within limits, because the past few years have seen structural changes in the way firms design and manage their workplaces, away from a simple model towards something far more sophisticated. Time is no longer a fixed element that determines the way we use space. It has become a variable and that has changed everything.
As always, it is technology that has been the catalyst. The mobile workforce is a consequence of the mobile technology it uses. Even for office based employees, something as mundane as flat screens have been a force for change by shrinking workstation footprints by around a fifth. The most obvious manifestation of this has been the dominance of the bench desk as the core element of an installation as well as the increased use of third spaces which include breakout areas, cafes and informal meeting rooms.
But increasing the occupational density of a building is not just an interior design issue. One of the major implications of change is the impact it has on a building’s infrastructure. When you increase the number of people in a given space it inevitably has a major effect on the specification of the building. Toilets have to be specified accordingly, environmental systems, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical systems, escape routes, all must be dealt with intelligently.
The important thing is to understand the nature of the building, the organisation that inhabits it and the people who work there. There may no longer be a simple answer to the question of space standards, but we have opportunities to achieve more with workplace design than was the case when the world was a simpler place.
(original article by Paul Goodchild, Fresh Office 2017)
Excel at office reception design!
3D rendered reception desk
Your business only gets one chance to make a good first impression. You’re office furniture and office reception IS that first impression and although that might sound like a bit of a cliche, it doesn’t mean it isn’t true. First impressions are vitally important for a business, particularly if you’re looking to secure work, and as the office furniture in the reception area is going to be the first point of contact for any visitor, you will want want to do everything you can to ensure it’s both welcoming and professional.
Here we’ve highlighted ten key ways your office furniture reception can make the perfect first impression.
THE RIGHT LAYOUT
Whether you have a large or small reception area, you have to consider your available space. The reception area is going to get a lot of traffic throughout the day; and it is important to create the optimum layout to allow for this movement of people. Make sure that the desk is your focal point, as you want it to be the first thing visitors see. By simply studying the physical layout of the space, you should be able to select a suitable desk for your reception space.
COMFORTABLE SEATING
Having enough seats for everyone to sit is hugely important. The reception is a busy area, constantly filled with people who are coming in for interviews, meetings, training sessions and more. Ensuring everyone has a comfortable seat to wait in should be high on your list of priorities. It is important to make sure your reception seating is smart throughout and, shabby chairs or sofas, as comfortable as they may be, are not going to make your business look professional.
THE LITTLE THINGS
How many receptions have you been to that have out of date magazines or newspapers on the table? Keeping your magazines up to date requires little effort and could end up making a big difference. Relevant industry magazines are a good idea too, particularly if prospective investors could potentially be spending time in your reception. Another way to make a good impression could be by giving away branded stationery such as pens. If a guest visits the reception desk asking for a pen, make sure it’s a branded item as that way you’re staying in their mind after they’ve left the building.
GREENERY
This is a simple tactic but one that is very effective. By adding some bright plants to your reception space, you can add a touch of colour to your reception and make people happier. Plants are inexpensive and can show visitors that you value appearance, and don’t forget that having plenty of healthy plants around shows that you can take care of things.
First impressions!
THE RECEPTION DESK
We already know that the reception desk needs to be the focal point, but you need to consider what type of impression you want to give. Different reception desks give different impressions, so make sure you select the right one for your business and that it enhances the overall aesthetic of your reception. It has to be practical too, as not having enough storage behind the desk could result in the surface looking cluttered and unprofessional. Finally, the desk has to be the right height, having a desk that’s too high can appear intimidating and imposing.
NATURAL LIGHT
Natural lighting is another way you can provide a positive impression without having to make any big changes. Having cold, industrial lighting may look harsh and doesn’t tend to work too well within a reception area. A soft, natural light however could give people a sense of calm and make the items you have on display seem more appealing.
REFRESHMENTS
A good reception should always cater to the needs of a visitor. From having comfortable reception furniture and plenty of literature for them to read, to having a selection of refreshments on hand. If a visitor has been given a cup of tea or coffee, they’re far more likely to have a positive impression of the business than if they’re left to go thirsty.
PERSONALITY
Having a bland reception area isn’t a great start if you want to stay in the minds of your visitors, so why not give it a bit of personality. If you’re a creative company, bright and bold colours should work well. If you work within finance, a clean and neutral colour scheme could be the way to go. Consider the personality you would like the space to have, and don’t be afraid to give it the human touch by showing off your achievements or charity work.
EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY
Everyone has some of the latest technology at their fingertips these days, so it’s important that you recognise that in your reception. Clearly display the Wi-Fi details so your guests don’t have to continually ask the receptionist, have TV screens so your visitors have something to watch and make sure that you provide them with electrical sockets so they can charge their devices. These simple additions will make your guests feel at home and go a long way to creating that great first impression you’re after.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Is your company on social media? One great way to add followers is by encouraging the people who enter your office to follow you. Displaying your social media accounts in your reception area is a great way to do this. If you’ve got an active twitter feed for example, a simple message that says ‘stay up to date by following us on twitter’ followed by your twitter handle could result in a constant stream of new followers. It’s also another great way to stay in your visitor’s mind once they’ve left the office.
(Credit to original article by Southern Office Furniture Oct 17)
CAT5e or CAT6 cables for your office refurbishment project?
If you are reading this article, then you are already the beneficiary of Cat5 and Cat6 cables. Although these cables are used for a variety of purposes, they are most commonly used as network cables, i.e. they connect computers and servers to modems and (ultimately) ISPs. Like virtually everything else in the technology sector, these cables have undergone significant development over the years, and the newest cables are capable of significantly greater performance than previous cables. The difference between a Cat5 vs Cat6 cable is not only higher speeds but reduced “crosstalk”.
What is Crosstalk?
Unsurprisingly, electronic equipment (including cat cables) emit electromagnetic signals. When lots of cables are near one another, these cables can interfere with one another. This interference is referred to as “crosstalk”. Crosstalk increases errors and lost packets (among other issues). Newer versions of cat cables (i.e. Cat6 and Cat6A cables) reduce the impact of crosstalk through a variety of methods, including improved shielding and twisted cable design.
Similarities Between Cat5 vs Cat6 Cables
It is worth noting that both Cat5 vs Cat6 cables utilize the same end piece, i.e. they can “plug in” to the same ports. The differences between each of these cables are in their capabilities, as well as the methods and materials used to create them. The “end” that all the cables have in common is known as RJ-45, and it is capable of plugging into any Ethernet jack on a computer, router, or another similar device. Nobody in the industry expects this to change anytime soon.
Cat5 Cable
Cat5 cable is broken into two separate categories: Cat5 and Cat5E cables. Cat5 has become obsolete in recent years, due to its limitations compared to Cat5E and Cat6 cables. Although the Cat5 cable can handle up to 10/100 Mbps at a 100MHz bandwidth (which was once considered quite efficient), the newer versions of Cat cables are significantly faster.
Cat5E cable (which stands for “Cat5 Enhanced”) became the standard cable about 15 years ago and offers significantly improved performance over the old Cat5 cable, including up to 10 times faster speeds and a significantly greater ability to traverse distances without being impacted by crosstalk.
Cat6 Cable
Cat6 cables have been around for only a few years less than Cat5E cables. However, they have primarily been used as the backbone to networks, instead of being run to workstations themselves. The reason for this (beyond cost) is the fact that, while Cat6 cables can handle up to 10 Gigabits of data, that bandwidth is limited to 164 feet — anything beyond that will rapidly decay to only 1 Gigabit (the same as Cat5E).
Cat6A is the newest iteration and utilizes an exceptionally thick plastic casing that helps further reduce crosstalk. The biggest distinguishing difference between Cat6 and Cat6A cables is that Cat6A can maintain 10 Gigabit speeds for the full 328 feet of Ethernet cable.
Ultimately, those who want to have the most “future proofed” cable will want to go with Cat6A. However, for most resident and commercial purposes, Cat5E and Cat6 cables should be more than sufficient.
For a free quotation or just a chat call 01392 834980 or email our office via this link.
(article courtesy of FIREFOLD-NC 2017 – https://www.firefold.com)
OFFICE FURNITURE DESIGN HISTORY.
OFFICE FURNITURE DESIGN HISTORY.
We are fascinated by history! Office furniture experts MD Business Interiors of Exeter have written an article on just that.
Over the last 20 years there have been big changes in the general design of office furniture and office desks in particular. For many years before this, not a lot had changed. Technology had improved the design and finish of office furniture whilst manufacturing costs had reduced. This was mainly due to the larger number of office desks which were needed.
The standard office desk was still essentially a rectangular work surface, supported by 4 legs and with some under desk storage attached.
Before the advent of computers, there was very little need for anything more than this. A ‘secretary’ could join a return desk to the main desk for a typewriter. An executive could join two rectangular desks together to produce a larger desk layout.
When computers started appearing, initially there was a dedicated computer desk in the office. This was because technology was very basic and PC’s were so expensive there was generally one per office or department. It was years before business and technology made it such that all staff would need a computer all the time. When economies of scale allowed and when the software developed, the prices of PC’s tumbled and then offices started to gear up so that every desk would have one.
Then it was obvious that the traditional 3 foot deep desks were just not deep enough for a large monitors of the time. Soon, Health and Safety directives were issued about monitor positioning, and soon manufacturers had developed a desk top shape to allow the user enough space to position the monitor far enough away but still allowed the planners to design layouts which were as efficient in terms of space as the old rectangular desks.
This was the advent of the radial desk, also known as a crescent or hockey stick shaped desk. This shape stayed with us for over twenty years, and in fact is still the most common desk around.
However, with flat screen monitors being cheap and plentiful nowadays, office desks don’t need to be deeper than 800mm, so we are seeing more rectangular and wave desks.
To take advantage of our office design and space planning call 01392 834980.
Divide your office quickly and easily and still look good!
Open plan with privacy.
Based on Marsh Barton in Exeter, MD Business Interiors are pleased to share with you FABRIKS office wall system. Fabricks is unique in its versatility and performance. As a class A absorber it can be used effectively for the control of reverberation within a space, however, it is also an effective screen against noise and has good sound attenuation properties, which means it can be used to improve both speech and visual privacy. Due to its easily reconfigurable nature, the end user or installing contractor can adjust the size and shape of Fabricks to create spaces of different levels of acoustic privacy.
Fabricks are super acoustic bricks made from acoustic foam and wool fabric, designed to look fabulous, divide space and reduce noise. Quickly configured and reconfigured, Fabricks offer the flexibility to change spaces in the modern open plan workplace by creating walls for meeting spaces and individual work areas; the dynamic of a space and even the location of power can be altered in moments.
With great acoustic credentials, Fabricks combats the increased noise levels and visual distractions that lead to reduced productivity. Fabricks are tested to ISO 10053 and BS EN ISO 354:2003 achieving Class A sound absorption and fantastic sound attenuation results.
Fabricks is a modular system of extremely light weight bricks, a simple steel base and extruded aluminium posts; it is easy to specify and easy to build. The ‘house brick’ style gives interlocking rigidity to the design. The extruded aluminium posts also accommodate power and data cables and can be combined retrospectively to alter the height of walls.
Quick to install.
A range of colours.
Walls can be created with traditional 2D flat face bricks, or 3D sculptured face, offering a beautiful textured finish. The fabric colour options and pixelated nature of the bricks allow you to match decor, or even create pictures, logos or messages.
Fabricks’ offers great acoustic and visual privacy without building permanent floor to ceiling rooms, so expensive mechanical reconfigurations can be avoided and air will flow across the open plan area. Everything has been designed for simple, quick installation and reconfiguration.
If you would like to know more contact mark@mdinteriorsdevon.com.