The novel coronavirus has caused massive societal upheavals, deaths in the hundreds of thousands and illness in over 15 million people worldwide. The public health crisis has an uncertain future. One thing is definite: social distancing helps to curb the spread of COVID-19.

About COVID-19

Remaining at least six feet apart from people in public places has been shown to reduce transmission rates of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Ample distance ensures that potentially infected human respiratory droplets do not reach the respiratory systems of others and cause illness.

Talking, coughing, and sneezing emit respiratory droplets and allow the particles to linger in the air for up to three hours. If the individual is sick with COVID-19, the infectious particles can invade the respiratory system of a person in close proximity and lead to mild or severe infection.

As a result, social distancing has become the norm, at least for now. Until a cure or effective treatment for COVID-19 is developed, social distancing mandates will continue throughout societies nationwide and worldwide. Social distancing will have a profound effect on public and private events.

How Event Venues Accommodate Social Distancing

Maintaining social distance is not an easy task. Event attendees are accustomed to packed stadiums and concert halls. These venues are undergoing drastic changes. Weddings and private ceremonies held in community centers, churches, or banquet halls, will also be different during the COVID-19 era.

Sports Arenas

Sports arenas will no longer be filled to maximum capacity. Stadiums limit capacity to 17 to 20 percent of what the arena is built to hold. Dire reductions in capacity will have an adverse effect on stadium revenue since incoming funds offset the costs of operational debt and retaining employees.

If the COVID-19 pandemic exceeds a year, sports teams will be forced to consider making permanent changes to fan seating. Long-lasting adjustments can affect capital investments. A fixed solution, such as removing seats, however, would allow for adequate social distancing.

A short-term approach would be to temporarily take out the seats. Modifying arenas using this tactic is cost-efficient and practical. Loge box seating, which is where four seats are separated from surrounding ones by six feet, would follow social distancing rules.

In addition to changing seating arrangements to accommodate social distancing, sports arenas are implementing cashless payments and online concessions ordering. Hygiene practices are receiving an overhaul, as arenas install touchless doors and automated technology to prevent person-to-person contact between fans and staff.

Movie Theaters

Movie theaters are responding to the coronavirus outbreak by showing movies on the same night and on multiple screens. Capacities are limited inside movie theaters to ensure moviegoers maintain proper social distancing. The safety of customers and staff is the number one priority.

AMC, Regal and Cinemark, which are among the nation’s largest theater chains, have closed in response to governmental advice and the coronavirus pandemic. But movies have been around for decades, and the current health crisis will not stop people from enjoying shows on the silver screen.

The resurgence of drive-in theaters demonstrates just how resilient moviegoers are. Drive-in theaters give film buffs the opportunity to be entertained while remaining more than six feet apart and avoiding the slightest possibility of microbial transmission. Bargain ticket prices make drive-in theaters even more enjoyable.

People who have never visited a drive-in are flocking to the outdoor movies. Drive-in moviegoers wear masks and queue up at proper distances at the snack bars. Drive-in theaters are one surefire way to escape being stuck at home and give businesses a chance to turn a profit.

Music Venues

Music venues are resorting to guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to review operational plans. In venues that can hold a maximum capacity of 300, only 75 people are allowed inside for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bands that play to huge crowds may now open to groups of no more than 50. Virtual entertainment is taking center stage for the time being, as the coronavirus makes safe social gatherings impossible. Virtual events include live streaming of local concerts and even the much-needed comedic shows.

While the majority of event venues are closed due to the COVID-19 health crisis, some are taking advantage of the situation. Renovations are being done behind closed doors. Repainting, replacing chairs, adding drop ceilings, and replacing lighting are efforts to help improve event venues.

The coronavirus pandemic will not last forever, and entertainment venues are looking forward to the day when they can welcome back sports fans, movie buffs, concert attendees and theater goers. Those renovating hope to make their space more welcoming and user-friendly for patrons upon their return.

Help with Renovations

If you are among business owners who choose to renovate while your event venue is closed to the public, look to Chicago Office Movers. As an office mover, we provide a range of comprehensive services to assist with all aspects of office renovation and remodeling.

Crews from Chicago Office Movers are available to temporarily move large furniture around through our decommissioning services while your renovations are underway. Our team members are capable of lifting heavy goods with the help of advanced moving equipment. We also move furniture of all sizes.

Business owners place full trust in the professional moving crews at Chicago Office Movers, since each member of our team is background checked, licensed, and experienced. We are also union movers. When you need a hand before or during your renovation, Chicago Office Movers is ready to help.

Most importantly, Chicago Office Movers is careful to practice safety measures to protect our clients and team during the coronavirus outbreak. We clean and disinfect moving trucks daily, our moving crews practice social distancing to avoid contact, and restrict sick personnel from working.

Get a Free Estimate

Choose Chicago Office Movers when you are ready to renovate or remodel. You can expect competitive pricing, efficient service, and safe practices. As a commercial mover, we also provide reliable commercial relocation services.

Call our friendly representatives at 312-244-2246 for a free estimate.

Attracting new clientele, enhancing productivity and simply working in a pleasing, aesthetic environment are all legitimate reasons to renovate an office space. When given the opportunity, most business owners will jump at the chance to improve the look and design of their workplace. The big question property owners must ask themselves is, how much do renovations cost?

The location of an office plays a major role in determining the cost to renovate. An office in New York will require higher labor costs than a space in Arizona. Silicon Valley, California, has the highest office build out costs in the country, while Washington, DC, has the lowest.

Consider the Square Footage

Property owners should also consider the size of the office space that will undergo renovations. For instance, an office with a square footage of 5,100 will require far less upfront costs to renovate than one that takes up 110,00 square feet in a six-story building.

For comparison’s sake, a smaller office space, let’s say 5,100 square feet, can average $450,000 in renovation costs and include enhancements like new skylights. The larger 110,000 square feet building can cost around $9 million to renovate, which includes both interior and exterior renovations.

Given the potentially skyrocketing costs, how do property owners budget for a renovation? Factors that should be considered in any renovation include the professional services of architects and labor, plus lighting, finishes, walls, floors, bathrooms, kitchen, fire protection and HVAC.

Architects or Designers – 20 Percent

Bringing in a design professional, such as an architect to lay out the office space and ensure it will serve its dual purpose of functionality and comfort for employees and customers, will be the initial expense. Architects and designers consume about 20 percent of the total renovation budget.

Architects are instrumental to renovation projects. The benefit of hiring an architect is that the professional follows specifications that meet building codes. Plus, employees and customers who are handicapped will easily enter and exit the property when the space is designed to be handicap accessible.

Labor – 10 Percent

Union labor is significantly more expensive than non-union labor. When hiring union labor in Chicago, a 20 percent premium is applied to contracted work. Cities like Chicago and New York City have long-standing practices where hiring union labor to work on union buildings is mandated.

Additionally, as mentioned earlier, the location of the building being renovated has a major impact on labor costs. Labor costs in New York City climb to 70 percent above the national average. Since Washington, DC, has a plethora of available spaces, renovating an office there is the least costly.

Kitchen – 25 Percent

Employees are likely to retreat to the office kitchen during coffee breaks. When an office kitchen renovation is planned, expect the task to take up about a quarter of the budget. A kitchenette may be simple, with just cabinetry, or elaborate, with a combination of a microwave, sink, and fridge.

The renovator’s job is easier when the kitchen and bathroom are in close proximity. The shared plumbing reduces the overall renovation price. Depending on how complex the kitchen and plumbing will be, business owners can expect an office kitchen renovation to be around $4000 of a $16,000 job.

Windows – $5,000

New sky lights, integrated windows with specialized low-e glass and minimizing UV radiation from windows are all options to consider when renovating the office. Energy saving windows are pricey upfront but saving on heating and cooling costs are recouped over the next several years.

Fire Sprinklers – $5,000 to $10,000

Installing a new fire sprinkler in a small- or medium-sized office averages $5,000 to $10,000. Each sprinkler head costs about $200. Costs for permits, inspections and plans soar to $2,000. If existing fire sprinklers are in place, scheduling an inspection costs a few hundred dollars.

Lighting – $250+

If the office space welcomes customers, investing in high-quality lighting is key to presenting an optimal environment. LED lights are the preferred choice when it comes to cost-efficient lighting in office spaces. Basic lighting costs start at $250 per point and increase with the various types of lighting options.

The type of office environment plays a big part in lighting. An open ceiling office, for example, requires suspended light fixtures. Drywall ceilings do well with linear wrap lighting fixtures. Commercial lighting options suitable for drop ceilings include recessed office lighting, which is both energy efficient and attractive.

Floors – $2 to $7 Per Square Foot

Depending on whether the renovation space is a warehouse or an upscale office, costs for flooring differ markedly. Concrete flooring is the least expensive, at $2 per square foot. Vinyl tile starts at $4 per square foot. In a 5,100 square foot office, wood flooring averages $7 per square foot.

Work with a Commercial Mover

If you are planning an office renovation, temporarily moving the existing desks, chairs, and equipment will be necessary to allow plenty of room for the exciting project to begin. Count on Chicago Office Movers to handle the task of moving all office property efficiently and carefully through decommissioning services.

Whether your office space is staffed by hundreds of employees or limited to just a couple, Chicago Office Movers is prepared to handle the moving job with skill and timeliness. We also offer short-term storage facilities to house office property until the renovations are complete.

Our team of union movers are licensed and background checked to give business owners maximum peace of mind. The skilled movers at Chicago Office Movers are experienced in successfully moving all types of office property, including lab equipment, major electronics, machinery (such as HVAC equipment and assembly lines), large inventory and even libraries.

Chicago Office Movers is headquartered in the Windy City, but we cater to businesses across the country. If you are renovating a commercial space or relocating an office to or from Chicago, make the best choice and contact Chicago Office Movers. Take the stress out of renovations or office relocation by giving Chicago Office Movers a call.

Contact Us

To get a free estimate on your next commercial move, contact Chicago Office Movers at 312-244-2246.