As part of our office design and fit out service we have extensive experience of office space planning throughout the London area, with a proud reputation which has been built up over more than 25 years.
With city centre properties at a premium it is especially important to undertake office space planning for London businesses in order to maximise productivity and minimise the need to move to bigger offices.
Office Space Planning Service
Space planning is an essential precursor to office design, ensuring that your workplace is laid out to fit the individual requirements of your business. Planning is a way to bridge the gap between your requirements and the design process, so that your office will not only look good, but also serve you well both now and in the future.
A starting point is to look at how your building’s space will be used, taking account of “what goes where” and how traffic will flow between different areas. If most of your office is open plan, we will agree with you the best locations for conference and meeting rooms, and we will also discuss with you the layout of desks, staff facilities and general planning of the area.
Space planning is the first stage of a project, carried out before we move on to computer-generated visualisation and 3D images. As office fitout specialists, Thames will plan out the whole space as a starting point, before generating an office design and then project-managing the whole process. We can deliver everything from start to finish during the office design and build, and take all worry out of your hands.
Regulatory and Legal Aspects
In office space planning, first and foremost, fire exits must be considered, to ensure premises comply with all necessary requirements. Also, building regulations must be borne in mind, which set standards for office design and construction work to ensure that buildings are safe and of high quality, including such aspects as stairways and access. It is equally important to adhere to general health and safety regulations, which set down aspects of office interiors such as minimum spaces between desks, the maximum occupancy for a given floor area and minimum width for walkways.
Business Needs
When carrying out office space planning in London, we will talk to you about the specific requirements of your operation to ensure that every area of the building is brought into optimum use. Aspects which need to be taken on board include the need for privacy, with conference and meeting rooms being located where required alongside open plan areas. We will also look at the best locations for specific facilities, such as a kitchen or eating area, and for storage of equipment and paperwork to give the best access to these.
Another aspect to consider is the nature of the office work and whether it is individual or team-based, ensuring that groups of employees who frequently need to work together are located near to one another.
Appearance
As well as thinking about how your workplace will be used, during the office space planning process we will also bear in mind how you want it to look. This could range from calm and steady to energetic or vibrant, depending on the type of work going on. If there are many clients or visitors coming to your office, you will want the appearance to make the right impression.
The office will also need to fit the brand and style of your company, whether this is classic and understated or colourful and bursting with innovation. Fitout contractors Thames have a wealth of experience of working with many different types of operation, and will draw up a plan geared to your individual business.
Benefits of Space Planning
A properly planned space can give significant time savings. A work space which reflects everyday requirements leads to better productivity, as staff do not constantly have to “make do” with a design that doesn’t really work, losing time as a result. Having easy access to necessary equipment and files will avoid time being lost in searching around for items which should be easily to hand.
Including facilities such as an in-house kitchen or eating area as part of your office fit out will give a boost to morale and mean staff do not always have to leave the office for breaks. This will in turn lead to more informal networking, which has been proven to produce better team bonding and relationships and can help to give a sense of company cohesion.
Proper provision of meeting rooms and private areas will allow essential business meetings to take place in private, such as client meetings and employee/manager meetings, and will also ensure less disruption to other staff when meetings are happening.
Another benefit of space planning is that using existing space efficiently through an office refit is more cost-effective and less disruptive than an office relocation.
Space planning can also prepare your business to look to the future, as we will consult with you not only over your current needs, but also over planned expansion and changes which you have in mind as you look ahead. Thames will work with you all the way and we will use our expertise and experience to ensure the results that you want.
Office Space Planning London – Find out more about working with London office space planning experts Thames Contracts.
For more information please call us on 020 8368 0045