Description
The type and extent of a new office renovation drastically change depending on the office’s classification. Specifically, “shell and core” premises, prevalent in Class-A business centers, illustrate this point. These spaces are essentially bare shells, providing the fundamental structural elements like walls, floor, and ceiling.
This approach caters to high-end tenants who desire a highly customized workspace reflecting their brand identity and operational needs. In Class-A buildings, where prestige and functionality are paramount, tenants often invest significantly in elaborate renovations. This might include bespoke interior design, high-end finishes, advanced technology integration, and specialized infrastructure. The renovation becomes a crucial part of the tenant’s brand expression and employee experience.
Contrast this with renovations in Class-B or Class-C offices, where budgets and customization levels are often lower. Here, renovations might focus more on functional improvements and basic aesthetic updates. The emphasis shifts from creating a highly personalized space to optimizing existing layouts and addressing essential maintenance needs. Renovations might involve repainting, replacing worn carpets, upgrading lighting, and improving basic office amenities.
Therefore, the class of office dictates the scope and intensity of renovation. Shell and core spaces in Class-A buildings empower tenants to create truly unique and sophisticated environments, while renovations in lower-class offices prioritize functionality and cost-effectiveness. This distinction underscores the importance of understanding the office’s classification when planning a renovation project, as it significantly impacts the budget, timeline, and overall outcome.
When else does the office need a new renovation?
Physical space must evolve alongside organizational expansion. As a company’s workforce swells or its operations diversify, the existing office environment can quickly become a bottleneck, hindering productivity and employee morale. “New office renovation” becomes a strategic tool to address this challenge, transforming a static space into a dynamic, responsive environment.
When headcount rises, overcrowding becomes a pressing issue. Renovation allows for the optimization of existing square footage. This might involve reconfiguring layouts, introducing flexible workstations, or creating collaborative zones to maximize utilization. Furthermore, the creation of “additional work areas” directly tackles the problem of insufficient space. This could entail building new partitions, converting underutilized areas, or even expanding into adjacent spaces.
Beyond simply adding more desks, renovations facilitate the modernization of existing areas. This is crucial for businesses adapting to evolving technologies and work styles. Upgrading outdated infrastructure, installing advanced cabling, and integrating smart building systems are all examples of modernization. Moreover, renovations can improve the overall aesthetic and functionality of the office, creating a more inspiring and efficient workspace.
Essentially, a well-planned office renovation is an investment in future growth. It allows companies to proactively address the challenges of expansion, ensuring that their physical environment remains a catalyst for success, rather than an impediment. It’s about creating a workspace that not only accommodates current needs but also anticipates and supports the company’s trajectory.
Updating, improving, and transforming an existing office space
The “new office renovation” encompasses a range of activities aimed at updating, improving, and transforming an existing office space. It’s not simply about fixing what’s broken; it’s about creating a modern, functional, and inspiring work environment.
Updating and Modernizing office interiors
Work is changing. Technology is changing. The profile of the worker is changing. These three factors, which are closely related, make the remodeling and refurbishment of offices and work spaces increasingly necessary and require certain characteristics that allow them to respond to current needs.
For several decades now, with the rise of the Internet, work has been strongly focused on the digital world. Many tasks that were performed manually have been digitalized and many jobs have also disappeared. At the same time, technologies have been advancing. Today, we have an Internet connection in almost the entire world, and with just a mobile phone we can access the Internet and all the content shared there. These two factors have also made workers change and aspire to think about their work and workspaces in a different way.
The 5 keys to remodeling offices and workspaces
1. New office renovation adaptation to needs
Previously, offices revolved around computers, and people adapted to them, each at their desk.
Now it is different, the environment must be adapted to the people and the company. The computer is now portable and can be moved, the internet is now wireless and can be used from anywhere. That is why it is essential to know how the company and its workers work to design optimal and efficient spaces. How do people work in the company? How are they organized? What schedules do they have? These are some of the questions we ask ourselves at Wallpaper Kenya when we think about new office renovations.
2. Adaptation to the employee
Today the employee is a more dynamic person, who already knows how technology works and its possibilities. He is a worker who aspires to have movement, to be allowed to change the air inside the office, or even to work from home. This means that workplaces need different, pleasant, and comfortable environments that allow the worker to feel comfortable, and sheltered in his office and that help him to exploit his full potential. Places no longer have names and surnames; open and shared spaces are used.
3. Furniture and technology
Furniture must be suitable for this new worker who needs to be constantly connected to the Internet, who needs easy access to power to charge his mobile devices, and who wants to feel comfortable when working. Spaces must be created with comfortable and technology-friendly furniture. Take advantage of advances in terms of materials and design to create the desired environments.
4. Natural light and colors
Taking advantage of natural light is necessary for two fundamental reasons: it helps create warmer spaces and allows for energy savings. Natural light makes people happier.
When renovating offices, one must aim to make the most of natural light. To do so, it is also important to analyze which colors should be chosen to create brighter and more pleasant environments.
5. Sustainability
This trend is also a necessity. Environmental care has already reached all our professional and personal spheres. Companies must remodel their workspaces to transform them into sustainable and environmentally friendly places. Therefore, at Wallpaper Kenya, when we work on office remodeling, we take into account energy savings, the use of sustainable materials, the placement of plants and natural environments, and all the measures within the company’s reach to reduce pollution as much as possible.
Does the type of office renovation affect the rental rate?
If the owner rents out office space, then, usually, the rental rate is agreed upon without reference to the condition of the premises.
If the premises are without finishing (shell & core), then rent holidays are provided when renting an office, which allows finishing works to be carried out and partially compensates the costs of their implementation. In the future, the rental rate assumes the market value. For offices with standard finishing, holidays are not provided or are provided very minimally for the time of moving and adaptation of the premises.
For the format of ready-made designer premises, the question of the rate is very individual. On the one hand, this is a completely ready-to-move-in premises, but on the other hand, in any case, the space needs to be adapted to the needs of the new tenant. Here, everything depends on the results of negotiations between the landlord and the tenant.
How to choose to finish a new office renovation
The decision of whether to adapt to an existing office space or invest in a new bespoke “dream office renovation” is a pivotal one. And directly impacts a company’s culture, productivity, and financial strategy. The current market presents a plethora of choices, empowering tenants to tailor their workspaces to their specific needs.
Prioritizing company objectives is paramount. A company focused on rapid expansion or cost-efficiency might opt for a pre-existing office, adapting its operations to the existing layout. This approach minimizes upfront investment and allows for quicker occupancy, crucial for businesses with immediate needs. However, it may require compromises on design and functionality, potentially hindering long-term efficiency and employee satisfaction.
Conversely, a company prioritizing brand identity, employee well-being, and long-term growth may choose to invest in a new custom-designed office renovation. This option allows for meticulous planning, incorporating ergonomic designs, advanced technologies, and bespoke aesthetics that reflect the company’s values. While requiring a significant financial commitment and longer lead times, this approach fosters a highly productive and engaging work environment, attracting and retaining top talent.
The tenant’s ability to choose a new office renovation is a significant advantage in today’s market. With diverse options ranging from shell and core premises in Class-A buildings to fully furnished spaces in Class-B or C buildings, tenants can align their office space with their strategic goals and financial capabilities. This freedom of choice underscores the importance of careful planning and a clear understanding of the company’s priorities before embarking on an office renovation or relocation project.
Office kitchen renovation
Not every office has a kitchen, big or small. But where there is one, the company’s business is much more successful. And all because its employees can have a snack in comfortable conditions, and communicate in an informal setting. A little rest stimulates thought processes, therefore, interesting ideas and ways to implement them will “cover” everyone.
But how to make a kitchen special, multifunctional and practical? With the help of professionals from the company “Wallpaper Kenya”!
A kitchen in a commercial space is not a home. It should be practical, functional, and ergonomic. That is why the peculiarity of the renovation lies not only in finishing the walls/floor with high-quality materials, but also in the choice of household appliances, to which all necessary communications should be connected.
Stages in the kitchen in the office renovation
Kitchen in an office renovation includes the following stages:
- creation of a design project (taking into account competent zoning of space, locations for supplying communications, selection of household appliances);
- calculation and purchase of building materials;
- preparatory work: removal of furniture/equipment, dismantling of tiles/linoleum/parquet;
- installation of windows/doors;
- wiring of communications;
- rough/finishing work;
- installation of furniture, equipment (and connection).
The volume of work is significant and it is difficult to cope with the task on your own. Do not waste time and effort, just invite those who have been engaged in office repairs of varying complexity since 2017.
Home office renovation
If you have your place, perhaps one of the most important zones there is your home office. In addition to serving its primary purpose and being a workspace when you’re working from home, your home office can also be that quiet space where you engage in your favourite hobbies or interests or accomplish day-to-day tasks, like settling your bills, without any distractions.
That said, you certainly don’t want your home office to just be some drab room in the house—how else would you be inspired to work there? It would be great for you to strike a balance between form and function when designing how your home office will look. And to personalise the space so that it truly reflects who you are and the kind of life you want to live.
Dress up the walls
One of the simplest, yet most effective ways to renovate your home office is to make additions to its walls. Don’t limit yourself to just neutral tones in an attempt to make your home office look “professional”. If you’re not accountable to anyone else, you can choose which colours, textures, and designs to feature here. Take advantage of this space being yours and decorate your walls so that they embody your interests and preferences.
For instance, if you’re into particular sports, hang some skateboard wall art or other sports memorabilia on your wall. That way, it will be easy to recall what you love about sport. Like the adrenaline rush, the happiness upon meeting an important goal, or the joy of working with others—and use those insights to fuel your productivity.
On the other hand, if you’re more of a bookworm, set up new shelves stocked with your current book collection and leave space for other items you want to access during your work shift. In this sense, shelves will be both a functional and aesthetically pleasing addition to your walls.
Lastly, you can keep it simple with wallpapers, contemporary art posters, or art prints that come in appealing designs. Take advantage of the fact that your home office is just another part of your house and not a commercial space whose rules you have to follow to the letter.
2) Add Some Indoor Plants
As you’re hard at work in your home office, chances are, there may be times when your eyes will grow weary from staring too long at your computer screen or from going through dozens of documents. What better way to ease your exhaustion than to train your eye on nature instead? A few indoor plants in your home office can improve the space’s overall aesthetics and uplift your mood.
Even if you don’t consider yourself as someone with a green thumb, there are many low-maintenance indoor plants you can choose from that will look great in your home office. Some examples are snake plants, succulents, lucky bamboo plants, pothos, monstera plants, and philodendrons. The plants’ placement is also important, so try to keep them somewhere within eye level from where you usually sit.
3) Maximise Your Home Office Space with the Right Accessories
Is your home office on the smaller side? If so, don’t worry, because you can still up the style factor even with limited space.
Start with a goal of making your home office less cramped to look at. For example, don’t keep all your things cluttered up on your desk. Instead, utilise vertical organisation by hanging floating shelves where you can set ornaments or smaller pieces of office equipment when the latter aren’t in use.
You can also place vertical file organisers on flat surfaces and use these to sort your paper documents. These will help you free up space and thus keep your home office looking both updated and organised.
Another way to mix form and function in your home office is to put up a cork board to pin important notes and reminders, instead of letting these stack up in untidy piles on your desk. Your cork board can also serve as a scrapbook of sorts, where photos of your loved ones and other mementos are displayed. Simply looking at your board can make you feel both more productive and more motivated at the same time.
4) Choose a Great Desk and Chair Combo
A great work desk and work chair will serve as both pragmatic and stylish updates to your home office. They’ll be worthwhile investments for how comfortable they’ll help you feel as you do your work, reducing backaches and other forms of physical strain from long hours spent working.
In addition, your desk-and-chair combo can also be a good centrepiece for the room. A solid wood desk partnered with a leather office chair, for example, can add an elegant and professional touch. Meanwhile, if you prefer a more laid-back look, opt for lighter shades or pastels that can look soft on the eyes, paired with metal accents for a more artsy and contemporary feel.
5) Keep Cables, Cords, and Peripherals Organised
Your home office most likely contains various gadgets, such as your desktop computer, laptop, or printer, among other things. Make sure to organise all the cables, cords, and peripherals that come with these, since they can otherwise easily make your workspace look cluttered and messy.
You can hide certain accessories behind your computer or under your desk so that they won’t be in full view. It’s also an option to invest in cable organisers, cord covers, and hooks to make your home office space a neat and appealing one to work in.
There are few limits to how you can spruce up your home office, and what works depends on your personal preferences, the nature of your work, and what’s effective at motivating you to bring your best self to your job. Don’t be afraid to experiment and think outside the box when decorating your home office space—remember, it’s yours and yours alone.
