5 Tips to Complete Your Office Renovation Project
5 Tips to Complete Your Office Renovation Project
An office renovation demands flexibility. The last thing a business owner needs is an interruption to workflow amidst the disruptions already caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The reduced workforce prompted by the health crisis might, however, provide a timely opportunity to renovate an office.
Here are some tips on how to complete the renovation project.
1. Develop a Strategy
Firstly, it is important to devise a renovation strategy. Develop a renovation budget to guide the project from the planning stage through completion. Evaluate the costs of construction, materials, labor and extras. Surprise costs are not uncommon, so budget to accommodate unanticipated expenses.
An office renovation is likely to disrupt workflow. Consider where to put employees, provided staff still work onsite. If the office is nearly empty as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, repositioning existing personnel during the renovation will be less problematic.
When crafting an office renovation design, keep in mind important factors that will affect operations. Evaluate the potential for future growth, advancements in technology, functionality, employee work preferences and the number of office staff. Business owners may consider current office design trends.
A proposed timeline will be extremely beneficial to ensure a smooth renovation. In Chicagoland, the office building may be exposed to harsh winter weather. Certain phases of the renovation may be affected by snow and ice. Factor in delays due to inclement weather to avoid unexpected costs.
2. Communicate
Keep lines of communication open with all the people involved in the office renovation project. These professionals include the design team, general contractor, office staff, landlord and stakeholders. Everyone should be informed about the anticipated work schedule and project plans.
Send out a proposed work schedule to everyone involved, and ensure it is updated whenever changes occur. Involve employees by holding a virtual meeting (due to COVID-19 concerns) and ask them to voice their concerns and design preferences before construction even starts.
3. Maintain Productivity
An office renovation can temporarily disrupt employee productivity, even when staff work remotely. Avoid a drop in productivity for office employees who continue to work onsite by communicating often, minimizing construction noise, and ensuring adequate artificial or natural light are available.
The current pandemic has forced many office staff to work from home. An office with minimal employees onsite is ideal for starting and finishing construction work. If staff still work onsite, schedule contractors in the late evening hours when employees are gone.
4. Build Health Safety Features
The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced drastic changes to businesses. As lockdown measures encourage remote workforces, business owners may consider subdividing existing office space. The resulting smaller units make better use of the decreased employee footprint upon which businesses now rely.
Office floorplans must be altered in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Social distancing will continue, and the office must accommodate public health safety measures. Place workstations farther apart, and build cubicle dividers high enough to prevent respiratory droplets from reaching other staff.
If cubicles are too pricey for the budget or do not complement the office layout, install sneeze guards instead. Plastic or glass shields protect employees from respiratory droplets emitted through sneezing and coughing. Sneeze guards may be portable or permanent and are affordable.
Proper ventilation is critical in the coronavirus era, especially in offices with moderate- and high-risk exposure. Clean, fresh air (without re-circulation) is necessary inside offices. During the renovation, increase ventilation in the office via natural or artificial means. Clean air filters regularly, too.
5. Capitalize on Strengths
Most office buildings have strengths. Focus on what features made the building attractive when it was brand-new. The building might have solid structure. If so, consider taking down some walls to allow more natural light into the interior space. Or, open the space to increase the property’s value.
Update the property with finishes and graphics. Consider freshening up the signage, which is a cost-effective measure. The goal is to enhance the building’s curb appeal to create a positive first impression. Keep in mind that younger generation employees seek more daylight and open spacing.
Install environmentally friendly features during the office renovation. When designing or installing new electrical fixtures, plan on using technologies that save energy, such as long-lasting, low-energy light bulbs. Add sensors or time switches to lighting to prevent a waste of energy.
Build out the office using locally sourced recycled, refurbished and sustainable materials. Encourage efficient waste policies by adding centrally located recycling areas. Donate outdated furniture instead of discarding them in the trash. Environmentally friendly companies are more attractive to customers.
Once the office has been successfully renovated, employees who temporarily work remotely will return. Rather than expect them to jump in, introduce staff to the changes. Train employees on the new technologies and the space in which they will work. Provide tours and video training, too.
Commercial Moving Services
Commercial contractors are considered essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Locating a suitable contractor to begin renovations will require an investment of time and resources. When you’ve settled on a reliable contractor, you’ll require the commercial moving services of Chicago Office Movers.
An office renovation requires the physical ability to move all the desks, filing cabinets, chairs and equipment. Chicago Office Movers provides the manpower companies need to clear space for a renovation project. Our commercial movers are also available to disassemble equipment.
Chicago Office Movers are trained to skillfully and carefully pack, label and move office goods to an offsite storage facility or another building. Our office movers load all boxes into our secure moving truck. Our teams also dispose of or donate old office furniture.
Moving crews from Chicago Office Movers will unpack and reassemble any equipment and furniture once the renovation is complete. We also unpack small office supplies, plants and decorations so that your commercial space is usable immediately after the office renovation.
Contact Us
Chicago Office Movers takes every precaution during the turbulent pandemic. We clean and disinfect moving trucks and practice social distancing.
When your Chicago, Illinois, office will be renovated in the near future, consult Chicago Office Movers at 312-244-2246 or through a contact form for expert handling of your office goods. We provide free estimates.
