Formulating an Office Design Scheme

There are a number of typical steps in designing an office interior that applies to all projects. Some projects have specfic design actions for the type of project...office refurbishment, listed premises, office expansion etc., and the sub pages cover actions that are unique to these.

Design Life Expectancy Designing for an office interior starts with timescales...how long do you expect the office interior to function, and will it perform as well in the last year as it does in the first? An office fit-out that only exists for a 3 year lease will have much less investment, and so a simpler design, than an office planned for 20 years. The 10 year or 20 year office interior scheme will also be designed and specified to a quality standard viable for a long life...fittings and materials will be higher quality, the flexibility in-built to the design scheme will be greater.

Current Status Once a lifespan is defined, our office designers set to work understanding the current status..what is working, what isn't, and where the business is going in the future. Fusion act as a catalyst, asking questions and challenging accepted thinking to help an organisation view the future, rather than the past.

We'll establish the project timescale...when are concept designs needed, and when must work commence in order to meet the wider demands of the property actions or business needs. Any features that are a vital part of the project objectives, such as new ways of working, will be defined and agreed ready to inform the design scheme.

Concept Design Scheme With all this background, the office design scheme can start in detail. Work flow and proximities can be mapped, staff numbers, meeting rooms, service areas and shared spaces can be defined. Following the evaluation and survey of the new premises (or space to be refurbished) the building outline and the new requirements can be married up, creating first draft space plans. Building services (M&E) Fire regulations and client preferences can be fed into the plan, and aspects such as light and heat sources, external views, and visitor/delivery points, quantified.

Detailed Design Stage At this stage we have a thorough 'buildability' review...are there any practical limitations that will inhibit the design? Do Building Regs and Planning/Landlord approvals present any barriers? Will noise disturbance and air handling be an issue? Alongside these, the design scheme will be taking shape from the standpoint of human and corporate factors...how will the new design perform in terms of the working environment, how will it meet staff expectations, and will the scheme be the catalyst for business change that can be so important?

Design Presentation Running in tandem, our office designers will be considering the office interior appearance...the use of colour, texture and finishes, fixtures and furnishings...so that we can present a concept that is both appealing and practical, and reflects the business internally and externally. The whole process comes together in the form of space plans, elevation drawings, design visuals and finishes boards. Brochures and case studies are used to support particular features, and the objective is to impart an understanding of a new office interior.

It sounds involved, but with our experience, knowledge and understanding Fusion Office Design can readily create an office design that will deliver all your expectations. Contact Fusion for a free design consultation.

The Skills & Services page shows examples of the design visuals used in our office design and corporate interior design projects.