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How Office Fitouts Help Your Business Grow

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.

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The Advantages of Hiring a Corporate Contractor for Office Fit-outs

corporate fit-out

An office fit-out can unlock many possibilities for your business. By doing so, operations can run more efficiently, employers can boost the morale of their employees, and significantly contribute to the increase of your company’s profitability.  
 
Professional commercial fit-outs can be overwhelming for many. The process involves a lot of logistics, time, effort, and research to ensure that everything will run smoothly and will not result in wasted expenses and costs.

One way to ensure your office fit-out will run and be done smoothly is by engaging with professional commercial contractors. Here are some advantages that you can expect:

Expert Project Management 

While the idea of DIY-ing an office fit-out may be exciting, the risks can outweigh the benefits most of the time. Managing individual contractors and workers can not only be tiring but also be too much to handle, especially if you are not used to being on top of similar projects. 

Hiring professional fit-out contractors is like having an organizer to find the best deals and ensure that everything is right on schedule and accounted for, even when you are away. Professional fit-out contractors will take care of all the details needed to suit your preferences and make sure that you get the office space you like and need in the end. 

Technical Expertise 

A commercial fit-out is not similar to redecorating your room or your home. A lot of technical aspects including electricity and plumbing should also be taken into consideration. Professionals with expert industry knowledge can make sure your office design is done properly, without taking from your design ideas and company branding. Professional fit-out companies demonstrate strong technical skills and offer a wider perspective in helping you from construction to interior design.

Professional Recommendations 

Taking your business’ vision and reflecting it into your workplace design and interior is only among the important considerations for a corporate fit-out. Professional fit-out contractors also prioritize your budget, time frame, and expansion plans when renovating your office space. Professionals can balance your priorities and devise the best solution for your workplace and recommend the best move to help you achieve it through space development. 

Right on Schedule 

One of the challenges of office fit-outs is time. Most of the time, companies who do it on their own end up not following their schedule and meet delays instead. Professional contractors ensure that everything is according to plan and is right on schedule. 

Value for Money

Acquiring the help of professional contractors in doing your office fit-out will give you the best value for your investment. More than excellent service, professionals have access to trusted vendors and suppliers of high-quality materials and furniture to be used and featured in your office. 

T1 Project Services is one of the leading professional contractors in the Philippines, dealing with commercial, corporate, industrial, and hospitality projects. Discover what we can do for your business today!

Get in touch with Michelle Amarnani at (+63) 917-897-7134 or send an email to michelle.amarnani@t1projectservices.com today!

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Workplace Guide: How To Maximize Spaces In Your Office

By: Kat Sarayba – Assistant Design Manager

The new normal workplace is constantly evolving. This is why upgrading or revamping your office becomes pivotal in your business adapting to the changing times. Before designing a space, it is important to determine the overall goal, purpose assigned to respective areas, and the occupants’ workflow. Whether it is a renovation, relocation or downsizing, maximizing your space will help make your business operations more efficient and keep workers productive.

Here are some important considerations to remember:

  • Migrate to a virtual/remote workspace.

One thing this pandemic has taught us is the importance of virtual databases and digital communication platforms. Initiatives pre-pandemic on going paperless and being open to having employees working remotely greatly helped some companies in adapting to on-and-off lockdowns and office restrictions.

Converting paper files to computer file formats and uploading them all to the Cloud. Using web-based programs such as GSuite or Office 365 allow all employees ease of access to company files as well as collaborate on one file together without needing to be physically in the same space.

  • Maximize what you already have.

Save costs and the environment by reusing existing office furniture, material finishes that are still intact, and lighting fixtures. Reupholstering wearing accent chairs and sofas, repainting/re-application of laminate for tables, and even repurposing finishes, can maximize existing items already available in the office.

Get creative with design professionals to help think of ways to make your office look modern while using existing furniture. Having a collaborative session will definitely shell out a fresh look for the space.

  • Consider open concept layouts with some enclosed multi-purpose rooms.

The open office layout is the latest office design trend for its flexiblility and how easy it is to create double or multi-purpose spaces in offices in this design. The traditional cubicle has been replaced with hot desks/shared desks, personal computers exchanged for portable devices like laptops.

Going virtual eases file-sharing and transfer of information while also allowing for flexible work arrangements. This reduces the need for a designated space for every employee, and allows your business to operate no matter the circumstances.

  • Prioritize utilities and storage spaces.

Auxiliary spaces, such as, utility rooms, data centers/IT rooms and storage space are often overlooked and is one of the major changes needed in the office. Data centers are essentially the backbones of a workplace as they contain the most critical assets of a company Movable furniture, using operable walls to subdivide large rooms, and breakout spaces for large gatherings are becoming the norm in several newly renovated offices. Open spaces like these allow for essentially smaller offices and could also help adjust to changes in employees’ work shifts if need be.

However, it is important to be mindful of noise levels in this kind of layout as it might impede concentration and productivity. Apart from adding acoustic fixtures on high noise level areas, a hybrid model that pairs open layouts with some enclosed focus rooms and meeting rooms can make your workspace foster high performance and productivity.

An appropriately designed workplace does not happen overnight. It takes collaboration, clearly set out goals, and trusted experts that will ensure that you have a cost-effective, beautiful, and functional space to occupy.

Interested to refresh your space? Contact us Lana Kier at lana.kier@kmcmaggroup.com or call us at 0917-860-6400 for a consultation.

Katrina Sarayba is one of T1’s creative minds. As an assistant design manager, she is at the helm of creating spaces that embody the culture and identity of each client.

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Office Fit Out 101: Terms you need to know

Having an office fit out may be overwhelming for many, especially to those who are doing it for the first time. Business owners are often encouraged consider office fit outs as an investment in their company’s growth and success. According to a recent study, 88% of companies believe that office fit outs had a positive impact on employees. Hence, you can say that a successful office fit out can boost the productivity of your employees and improve business.

While many people confuse it with renovation, office fit out refers to the process of making an interior space ready for occupation and use. As a common practice in commercial establishments and real estate, the spaces inside a building are left bare for the occupants to be able to modify it according to their needs and requirements. In essence, office fit outs involve taking an empty space and transforming it to a usable office set up depending on a company’s preference and goals.

Fit out Inclusions

Office fit outs usually include putting up architectural features like different kinds of partitions, window placements, door fittings, plumbing, and ventilation. In contrast to renovation which commonly focuses on the design aspect and revamping the space for aesthetics, fit outs highlight the changes and customization of the space for functionality. Generally, an office fit out takes longer than a simple renovation process.

Different Types of Fit Outs:

Similar with other improvement projects, there are also two types of fit outs depending on its inclusions.

Category A – Functional

Category A is the basic fit out and includes all the processes like electrical and mechanical installations. It also covers suspended ceilings, fire systems and alarms, lighting systems, and air conditioning systems. This produces is a basic functional unit with some utilities such as electrical wirings and plumbing fixtures already in place. This type of fit out also covers internal surface finishes, fitted lights, and blinds.

Usually, a Category A fit out will involve installing features such as:

  • Electrical and Data
  • Raised access floors
  • HVAC systems
  • Fire protection systems
  • Toilets

Category B – Aesthetic

Category B covers the final changes and the modifications to help an office transform into a company’s preferred look and design. This type of fit out involves installing features and other systems that were not covered in Category A fit out. Essentially, Category B fit outs cover the aesthetic design fit out phase where the space is made to be more specific to the business’ branding and style.

This phase may involve window treatment, adding furniture, installing the lighting, adding some flooring, partitioning, painting, and branding. Category B fit out highlights the individuality and identity of businesses. Processes in this category should be derived from the company’s culture, work ethics, and team size with the goal of creating a compelling brand image.

Category B fit outs also modify the space further by adding and modifying spaces into private workspaces, reception areas, common rooms, pantry, and meeting rooms. Floor finishes, door installations, and adding of furniture is also included in a category B fit out.

Turnkey Office Fit Out

A turnkey office fit out sometimes also referred to as a design and build fit out is where the developer or tenant of the workspace makes sure that the current build is ready to be occupied. This involves a full and integrated line of service by a contractor to deliver a space from being bare to fully completed. A turnkey office fit out project involves the contractors from the design conceptualization to construction and finally turning over the space to the client ready for use.

Some clients prefer a turnkey office fit out for them to coordinate with a single point person, making the process more concise, efficient, and smoother. This is especially appealing for clients who may not be knowledgeable about the construction process.

Need assistance in your first office fit out? Contact us today and let us discuss your options. T1 is one of the leading project services providers in the Philippines. It specializes in office, hospitality, and commercial projects that deliver nothing but excellent results.

Reach out to Lana Kier at lana.kier@kmcmaggroup.com or call us at (+63) 2-7971-0238.