Your premier construction solutions provider - T1 Project Services

Tags: T1, T1 Project Services, Office, Fit-out, Importance of an office fit out, interior design, company growth

With mobility restrictions easing in the metro, more companies are transitioning to a hybrid work setup. Now that employees are returning to the office, businesses need to build a space in order to encourage employees to work on site and to prepare for company growth.

An office fitout is the process of creating an office space suitable for your business’ operations. The design and layout of your office space have a huge impact on its employees and visitors as it serves as a touchpoint that defines your company and its goals. Here are some reasons why having an office fitout is beneficial for your company.

RELATED: The Advantages of Hiring a Corporate Contractor for Office Fit-outs – T1 Project Services (t1projectmanagement.com)

Defines Your Company’s Identity

A strong brand identity is one of the key factors for a business to succeed. Your office space should communicate your company’s vision, goals, and identity. By having an office fitout incorporating these elements, you create a space that best represents your company towards clients and partners.

Maximizes space

As your business grows, more employees will start to work in the office, which at some point may crowd up and cramp up your office space. Regardless of office space size, it is possible to organize and maximize your space by having a fitout. Having an office fitout helps you layout your space and sort out equipment through creative solutions, thus ensuring that everyone in the workplace feels comfortable.

Morale and productivity booster

Now that more businesses are returning to the on-site work setup, it is important to design and layout your office in an attractive way to encourage and motivate employees to work on site. Having an office fitout that incorporates comfort and work-life balance into your office space helps employees work smarter and increase productivity, thus leads to better work satisfaction.

Keeps your workplace up to date

Having an office fitout is the opportunity to update your office space to suit how your business operates. Incorporating modern furniture, tech systems, or sustainable features into your office space can make processes easier and convenient for employees.

Need a fitout specialist? Get in touch with the T1 Project Services  team today! Contact us at: (+63) 2-7971-0238 or send an email to projects@t1projectservices.com. 

Tags: T1, T1 Project Services, Project, Project Management, Project Management Software, Procore, Construction, Construction Industry

Project management plays a key role in the success of a project. It is crucial for construction firms to keep track of schedules, budgets, and resources to avoid delays or financial or legal complications. For the longest period, the construction industry has relied on paper-based documentation, which can be tedious and is prone to human error. As a solution to this problem, the construction industry has started to adapt and integrate technology into its processes by using project management programs. 

Project management programs have been used in the business and tech sectors, and nowadays it is being used in the construction industry to easily keep track of a project’s progress, budget, resources, and documents. These programs also serve as a centralized system of communication for everyone involved to be updated. 

Here are some ways project management programs help the construction industry:

Real Time Coordination

Sudden changes can occur at any moment in the construction process, which is why effective communication is a crucial part that ensures the success and completion of a construction project. 

Project management programs can help serve as a centralized point of coordination and communication where teams and all stakeholders can be notified with real time updates about project updates or changes. 

Bird’s Eye View Management

Tracking the budget, resources, and documents of a project is a tedious task that can take a while if done manually. Most project management programs come with automated tracking features that can give you accurate information about how much finances and resources have been used for a project. Additionally, all the necessary documents can also be stored in a singular cloud drive, ensuring transparency among all stakeholders of the project. These features are extremely helpful to avoid any human error and problems that could delay the project. 

Ensures Workplace Safety

Employee safety is a high priority in construction projects given the nature of the environment of a construction project site. It is important to coordinate with workers and employees on-site regarding materials being delivered or used for a given task. Project management programs can serve as a centralized point of communication for all employees to be informed about tasks to be done on site, materials to be delivered, and more. By keeping everyone informed about what will happen in the construction site, the chances of dangerous situations happening will significantly decrease. 

Productivity Enhancer

It is important for construction firms to have a clear vision of the tasks that need to be done. Project management programs help sort out and streamline tasks that need to be completed. This makes it easier for each team or department to complete their tasks, effectively and efficiently speeding up the construction process. 

T1 recently partnered with Procore Technologies, a project management software that helps construction firms streamline their tasks, coordinate with teams and stakeholders, and keep track of finances, resources, and documents. With the help of Procore, T1 will be able to serve clients with better project management services. For project management services, Contact (+63) 2-7971-0238 or send an email to projects@t1projectservices.com today.

This article was published on: September 27th, 2022

Tags: construction, contractor, planning, project management, property, site inspection

Most of the time, a professional contractor is only brought in by the projects team towards the tail end of the site inspections. The norm in the Philippines is just to have professionals involved in the process after sites have been selected and contracts of lease or sale are about to be signed.

However, there are actually many advantages to bringing a contractor in much earlier prior to site selection that clients miss out on. Most clients are not aware of the value that professional contractors bring that early in the stage of site selection.

Here are the advantages of bringing a contractor in to do site inspections with your real estate broker: 

Initial Handover Condition Assessment 

Different buildings have different handover conditions, and a contractor can assess how much more you would be spending on fit-out depending on the unit turnover. In other words, a contractor will be able to provide you with insights into which units have less of a cost impact.

Building and Space Specifications 

A contractor can immediately assess the building specifications and would be able to evaluate if your office would be able to move in any special equipment you have with ease or with difficulty (i.e.: the need to reinforce floor loads, Electrical systems, furniture and fixtures, etc…). In addition, they can very quickly calculate if you have too much, or too little space based on your operational needs, and finally, they would be in a good position to assess the building characteristics and efficiency of the building design and layout.  

Pre-construction Planning 

A contractor could prepare a floor layout for you prior to site selection so it is much easier to see what you could do with the space, decide if you would need more space, or less space for your requirement. If you have a really good contractor, they’d throw in some renders as well so you can actually visualize what the space would look like so that you can make a more informed decision.  

Professional Advice for Free 

The best part, most contractors will offer this service at no cost to you. Having a contractor when looking into prospective spaces will maximize your cost savings and contractors can provide you with insights and advice assuring you that each step of the site selection process goes smoothly and according to your vision. 

Need a contractor to assess your prospective properties? T1 Project Services provides a complete range of services such as Project Management, Space Utilization Analysis, and more to complete your envisioned development.  For project management services, Contact (+63) 2-7971-0238 or send an email to projects@t1projectservices.com today.

This article was published on: January 20th, 2022

Tags: economy, employees, feature, industrial, logistics, Project Services, sustainability, T1, team

T1 is in for an exciting year as new key members join the team. Industry expert Kevin White joins the company as one of its senior project managers to specialize in the delivery of large-scale builds and spearhead projects in the industrial and logistics sector.

“Joining T1 was an easy decision for me. I have known Daniel Anderson, the company’s chairman, for long time, I know that T1 is second to none in the Philippines given his knowledge of the industry. That gave me the confidence to join the T1 family for a long-term career path,” he shared.

With his valuable experience of working with multinational companies through the years, Kevin noted that more than the familiarity of emerging trends, he believes that having a deep understanding and appreciation of the craft makes working with clients more effective and impactful.

“Having worked on four continents, the skills and understanding I have gathered over the past 15 years is immense, my understanding of cultures from around the world allows me to understand the end-users, as well as my team and colleagues which in turn allows me to build and mentor strong teams wherever I work,” Kevin noted.

“In today’s market and ever-evolving construction delivery methods, we must stay fluid and flexible to keep a customer-centric focus. Our customers, whether multinationals or local, whether billion-peso worth companies or not, all command and deserve the same level of project delivery, Customer-centricity, that’s the way forward,” he added.

PH Construction and Industrial Rebound

The Philippine construction industry is also expected to have an exceptional bounce back this year. According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the local industry is expected to grow by 16.1 percent in 2022, outpacing the growth of the overall economy.

“I feel for the next 5-10 years, the construction boom will continue as the Philippines is seen as a developing market for both local and overseas investment. The residential sector will continue to drive the market once the government’s infrastructure projects tail off, driven still by the remittances from the OFW community,” Kevin noted.

He believes that he joined the company at the perfect time as the country is also seeing a boom in its industrial and logistics industry. Aided by the increasing market demand and the shift in consumer behavior, warehouses, storage facilities, and manufacturing will keep the real estate market steady for the coming years.

Kevin also shared that he looks forward to being one of the frontrunners of integrating sustainability with the design and construction industry in the country. Sharing the same values with T1, an affiliate of the Philippine Green Building Council, he shared that he empathizes the importance of minimizing construction’s impact on the environment.

“Our latest project is probably the highest tech/specification and highest expectation of the environmental impact in the country today, this excites me immensely because the planet we live on is in trouble and we can be part of fixing that problem,” he said.

This article was published on: December 9th, 2021

Tags: design, design brief, fit out, interior design, layout, office design, office space, professional contractor, Project Services, renovation, revamp, T1, upgrade

By: Lana Natalia Kier 

Whether it be a renovation of your current office, migration into a new space, or an expansion to another floor, creating a comprehensive design brief will not only help you solidify your fit-out plans but would also provide a much clearer checklist for all your space requirements.

Apart from the usual employee headcount and the ideal number of meeting rooms in the office, here are some important considerations when creating your design brief: 

1. Company Ethos – How do you want to be perceived? 

No two companies are the same. Even if they are from the same industry, their work style, mission and vision, and employee demographics could be entirely different. Your office design should reflect who you are as a company, and this goes beyond just choosing the paint on your walls.  

The design of your office reflects your company identity to visitors and reaffirms your culture to your employees. It is crucial to include your company ethos in your design brief to make sure that your branding and vision will be translated into your space. An office is an extension of your company’s collaterals for clients and visitors. Find a designer who will veer away from trends and instead design an office that embodies who you are as a company. 

2. Project Goals  

Is this a renovation to add more seats? Are you consolidating different business units into one space? Are you moving out from a shared office to finally have a space of your own? Or maybe you want an office that promotes employee wellness, but you are sure how to go about this?  

It is important to circle back to why you are upgrading or renovating in the first place. This should be clear to your designer for them to create a space that meets these goals. If you are not sure about the how’s of the project, this is where an experienced designer comes in. 

3. Building Restrictions

Before leasing a space, tenants must always check the building’s restrictions. You may find the perfect space in the best location only to find out that the office size is not ideal for your employee headcount. Taking on one whole floor? Ask if you can include the space allotted for common areas in your fit out-plan. Planning to have your own toilet and shower? Not all buildings allow or have provisions for this. 

You can discuss your building/space options with your designer to find out the best fit before signing a lease. 

4. Adjacencies and Workflow 

An effective floor layout should help your employees work smarter, not just harder. Understanding which teams often collaborate and which teams handle confidential documents would allow your design team to create an efficient layout that would eliminate unnecessary divisions and allow certain teams to have the privacy they require. Your designer should also ensure that teams have easy access to equipment and facilities that they regularly use. 

5. How your employees work 

Not all employees work the same way. While some employees thrive in an open place workplace, others find it too difficult to concentrate. It is recommended to provide different spaces for focused work, collaborative discussions, and places to unwind. Offices can be divided into spaces that will serve distinct functions depending on their location, furniture used, and design. An office should have dedicated spaces where they can focus, discuss, collaborate, learn, and socialize.  

Clients can also open a discussion with select employees to get feedback on their team’s work style and what facilities would allow them to work more effectively. 

6. Budget 

One of the first things clients ask us is, how much would it cost to fit out an office? Our answer is… it depends. Factors that could affect the cost would be: 

1. Layout
2. Design
3. Materials
4. Fixtures, Furniture, & Equipment

Your designer can guide you on how to achieve the office of your dreams at the right budget. Depending on your fit-out and design brief, your contractor can do an estimated cost for the project based on your discussion. 

7. Timeline 

Although we encourage our clients to engage their designers and contractors as early as possible, we understand that this is not always possible. For clients dealing with tight timelines, we try to manage their expectations that their options may be limited due to the availability of materials, furniture, and equipment. 

8. What doesn’t work and what don’t you like 

Oftentimes clients are unsure about what they want in a space but they are sure about what they don’t want. List down your pain points in your current office. What about it doesn’t work with your work style. What areas are unused and what is insufficient. Giving your designer this list will make the design process quicker and minimize revisions. A design brief is a crucial requirement for any fit-out and construction project. It will serve as a guide and scope for the specifications and inclusions of the project. Professional contractors work closely with the client to achieve their vision and goals for the space.

Need professional help in transforming your office space? Contact our team to learn what we can do for your business. Contact Lana Kier at (+63) 917-864-1415 or send an email to projects@t1projectservices.com today.

This article was published on: March 30th, 2021

Tags: ChooseToChallenge, construction, International Women Month, IWD2021, office fitout, project management, Project Services, renovation, T1, workplace

T1 Project Management’s attitude towards Women in Construction ensures a progressive mindset in the industry. T1 is a firm ally and supporter of eliminating gender inequality in the workplace, as women make up 48% of the team. T1’s women inspire and serve as role models in encouraging Filipinas to see that construction is not “a man’s world.”

Confidence and Empowerment

“I feel empowered because being a female professional in what was a traditionally male-dominated industry gives me a sense of satisfaction and strength that no matter where I am, I can always say that I made it,” Jessa Marie Cabajug, Data Controller, shared.

Kat Sarayba, T1’s Assistant Manager for Design, challenged herself to be confident and happy in her career. “It honestly took me some time to build confidence. All-in-all though, I do really enjoy the career path I chose and the industry I’m in. At the end of the day, I think that matters most.”

“I feel empowered to be living in an age where you can find women excelling in previously male-dominated industries. Proving that women belong in the boardroom, on construction sites, in I.T. – in whatever career they choose,” Lana Kier, the company’s Business Development Manager added.

In the Philippines, the idea of women working in the construction industry is becoming normalized. More and more fit-out companies, contractors, design and architectural firms are made up of highly skilled and driven women employees who work on-site and behind the scenes. While the construction industry is moving in the right direction, women share that there is still a need to address the challenges in eradicating stereotypes.

T1’s Interior Designer Rose Ruelan shared, “Especially in the field of architecture, some underestimate us, that we know less about technicalities, and focus more on the aesthetics. Though women access the same education and training available to men, so we deserve to be respected as equal.”

Working Together

Women in the construction industry take on many challenges as individuals as an opportunity to excel and mark milestones in their career and in their field. Cyrelle Brillante, one of T1’s Project Managers, focuses on communication and coordination. She said, “working in harmony with the rest of the team creates a much better environment, especially in construction.”

Though it may seem difficult at first, every challenge can be overcome. Angel Falquerabao T1s Business Assistant shares, “After overcoming all the things that I thought I couldn’t do, I realized it wasn’t as daunting as I imagined it would be.”

Richelle Reyes another of T1’s Project Managers added, “I realized that in order to change the pace, you have to be amenable to endure what is beyond your comfort zone. Embrace what you are passionate about, even if it’s not what the norm dictates.”

A Cultivating Space for Women

T1 is a progressive design, construction and project management company in the Philippines. By providing equal opportunities for men and women and hiring based on skills, talents, and dedication, the company creates a safe space where gender-based prejudice and discrimination do not exist, whilst building the most dynamic, professional and skilled team in the market.

“I feel extremely lucky just to be a part of a strong, determined, passionate, flexible, and talented team, gender is not even a consideration,” Jen Panganiban, the company’s Business Manager expressed. “I think what I feel is very much similar to all of my hard-working colleagues regardless of the gender.”

The business landscape, no matter what industry, is ripe for a change. It takes movers and visionaries to ensure the development and evolution of these fields will continue. As proven by every successful leader, it is important to foster a working environment that allows for equality and celebrates competence beyond the discussion of gender.Join the T1 team and be a leader in the industry. For job vacancies, visit https://t1projectmanagement.com/careers or send us an email at info@tone.management.

This article was published on: September 1st, 2020

Tags: architecture, corporate, hospitality, Iloilo, management, project management, quantity design and build, regional operations, T1, Visayas

“Construction, project, and people management have always been my passion since I was little,” T1’s Iloilo Team Head Dovie Ancheta shares. “Earning people’s trust and respect, by advocating and sharing professionalism and passion to a high standard work quality is a small but satisfying return that I will never get tired of.”

Being assigned to spearhead a team away from the head office is a balance of excitement, opportunity, and struggle for Dovie who is a licensed architect. Iloilo is known as one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines and one of the emerging next wave cities in the country. She spearheads a remote team in the province which primarily handles corporate and hospitality projects for firms, multinational companies, hotels, and resorts in Visayas.

“It’s like an all-expense-paid vacation! Accommodation, transportation, and food are all included,” Dovie joked when asked about the best part of her work. “But kidding aside, it is always a good experience to be assigned elsewhere, meeting and managing new people we end up being friends with who are potential assets to myself and the company.”

Dovie acknowledges that it takes a lot of responsibility, dedication, and skills to lead a remote team. Representing T1 in Iloilo, she shares that more than creating connections, she aims to “establish mutual trust and respect between the team and people we work with.”

“Not only within the T1 team, but also to the people we mingle with daily – from our clients, vendors, and contractors to our drivers, guards, and local construction workers,” Dovie said. “For me, our field is not only delivering the project in a quality and timely manner, but it is also keeping our peers/network intact with mutual trust and good relationship upon each and every closeout.”

In contrast with the competitive, fast-paced, almost 24/7 working time in Manila and Metro Cebu, Dovie shared that their approach is ‘gentler’, adapting to the local cultureof their clients in Iloilo. “Locals are very ‘malambing’ (sweet) and ‘matampuhin’ (sensitive)’,” she shared. “Language barrier can be difficult as well, but it is always good to expand our vocabulary skills.”

However, this change in leadership style and work culture does not diminish T1’s commitment to delivering quality projects and builds. “We maintain the company’s standards in delivering quality work harmoniously.” Working amid the pandemic opened a greater challenge for Dovie and the team. “It was like a bomb, but we dared to continue working with extreme caution,” she shared. “Despite the pandemic, the team agreed to report on-site to set an example and display the sense of urgency and continuity to the project overall—strictly following health protocol and measures.”

Dovie takes pride in practicing a standard throughout every work or task she is assigned to. “I am proud of managing people and earning respect and trust, not only from the team internally but most especially from our clients.” She also feels most proud of starting up a project and setting up a standard system.

“I personally am grateful to learn something new in the process, including understanding how to deal with different types of people we work with,” she shared. “While I am an architect by profession, my passion is inclined to project and people management.”

T1’s ideals and company values inspire Dovie to be a great leader and example to her team. “T1 will always stand out by maintaining and meeting our network’s crucial expectations with utmost importance.”

For Dovie, the best reward in her line of work is the satisfaction of delivering beyond the client’s requirements and standards. “I literally got a random “tight hug” from our client’s CEO after a high-level meeting. Everyone had an “awe” face after that. It sounds funny, but her way of showing appreciation (in front of her company’s directors and chairman), made it unexpected and very memorable to me.”

Aside from delivering quality results, T1 inspires their people to do what they love and enjoy what they do. “I’ll share what I recall from our company chairman, who used to ask us one by one in the office before: “Are you happy? Because that’s also very important”. This same question made me realize that our team values and ethics are not only about delivering quality output and meeting demands, it is also about ensuring our people are well managed. It’s never the quantity, but always the quality of our work.”

This article was published on: August 27th, 2020

Tags: collaboration, health, layout, office, physical health, psychosocial health, set up, well-being, wellness, workplace design, workplace strategy, workstation

While office trends may be dynamic, its impact on the health and well-being of the employees should always be one of the priorities of its design. A healthy workplace is an ideal place to work in. According to some research on employee behavior, one of the top three factors that employees look for in a job is a company’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of its employees. This is given more emphasis as the world transitions to the new normal, giving a deeper definition of what a healthy workplace should look like.

The physical space where employees spend the majority of their time daily has a very significant impact on the overall physical and mental well-being of people. An ideal and ‘healthy’ workplace is a space that leads to a less stressful and more productive atmosphere. Companies can provide a healthy workplace by ensuring that the physical work environment is set to the highest industry standards and criteria. An ideal physical work environment ensures that the design and layout of the workplace are optimal for the comfort, productivity, and motivation of its employees.

The design of an office can greatly influence the overall health of its occupants. Architects, engineers, and designers should consider many factors when building a healthy workplace such as:

• Materials used from construction – green materials should be considered to avoid the hazardous gasses (VOCs) that most carpet, paint, and other materials emit years after construction is complete
• Furniture selection – correct ergonomics in furniture that promote good posture will allow your employees to work more effectively
• Indoor air quality – a good air filtration system prevents viruses from being passed from one employee to another
• Light quality – work areas should well distributed general lighting with little to no glare for an ideal work environment
• Reverb control – the ideal sound level in an office is around 55 decibels. This is can be achieved by installing sound regulating materials in the walls, ceilings, or floors of your office
• Integration of speech privacy detailing – provide areas for your employees to have private conversations such as phonebooths and huddle rooms

Workplace design should also prioritize the psychosocial health of the employees. A healthy workplace should go beyond physical modifications and provide greater support to employees to their social needs in the office. The open office layout that supports collaboration and fosters communication within teams inside the workplace is found to be more ideal for employees. The

workplace design should center on versatility, spatial choreography, effective detailing, and design ingenuity. According to experts in workplace design and strategy, to support this well-being aspect, spaces should be experiential for employees.

Emphasizing the importance of promoting health and wellness has never been more important. As the globe continues to battle the pandemic, office buildings and workplaces have been implementing stricter measures to ensure their occupiers’ safety and security. Offices are even identified as one of the locations where viruses spread quickly in a matter of hours given the amount of time employees spend inside these shared spaces.

Designing a ‘healthy’ workplace should not only focus on disease prevention but should also upgrade the lifestyle and general wellness of its employees—facing a pandemic or not.