PLANNING TO DOWNSIZE YOUR PREMISES?
11 DESIGN TIPS TO CONSIDER…
Downsizing your office space? You’re asking yourself the question, “What are our options?” Diane Sumner lists 11 tips to help you get started.
By Diane K. Sumner, B. Interior Design, U of Manitoba. Member of DINZ
You have 2 options. Stay where you are or relocate to smaller premises.
Both will need planning and managing.
Talk to your landlord. They may be willing to upgrade your space or help you relocate within the building to keep you as a tenant.
Review the current space you have. It may be under under-utilized and with a bit of planning allow you to provide much needed resources that you didn’t think you had the room for.
Consider staying where you are but sublet. Even minor alterations and an internal shift will be less expensive than relocating.
Merge two subsidiary companies into one location. This is using the available space efficiently and sharing facilities such as meeting rooms and reception and services makes good economic sense.
Use your premises as a business tool rather than an overhead. With good space planning you can maximize how the space is used and improve communication between the teams.
Consider moving to a newer energy efficient building. This will mean lower on-going operating costs and a healthier & secure work environment for staff.
Think outside the square rather than just repeating what you’ve already got. By reducing the number of offices and going to open plan this can reduce the amount of space you need to rent.
Make your space work better for your business. You can make huge savings on your rental cost by investing in technology, hot desking and smaller workstations.
Consider the level of storage you need. So many offices are cluttered. There are many space saving systems that available. This can allow you more room for extra staff or facilities.
Having to put more people in less space? Consider the impact on staff morale. Solving the noise & privacy issues will be critical to keep them productive and motivated.
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Malcolm & Sumner have developed a series of discussion papers. These are available free on requested in person or from our website. Two of our most popular are:
ARE YOU LEASING THE RIGHT SPACE?
7 KEY POINTS TO CONSIDER…
…A detailed discussion paper looks at 7 keys categories to help you evaluate new premises.
DESIGNING YOUR WORKPLACE?
31 KEY QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK…
…A detailed discussion paper listing 31 key questions to consider when planning your office environment.
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Malcolm & Sumner Design
T: 09 916 5187
E: ms@malcolmsumner.co.nz
W: www.malcolmsumner.co.nz
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