Merlin Entertainments have been a long term customer of BT Office Furniture and have moved expanded rapidly over the past few years.

The main head office is situated in Poole, and occupies all four floors of Dolphin House near the Quay. Over the past few years the space has been constantly evolving to accommodate more staff and new departments, which has presented a number of space planning challenges – all of which seem to have worked with great success!

Around three years ago, the corporate department of Merlin relocated to separate offices locally and took over two wings of one floor at Latimer House, later taking another two wings on the floor above. The corporate department has now grown to such an extent again, that relocation is the only solution.

We have used the following approach on several new customer’s office moves as well as existing customer’s relocations and reworking of existing work spaces:

As Merlin have already purchased a large amount of a high quality range of office furniture, it makes perfect sense to take the existing furniture with them to their new offices – this creates a number of logistical issues: will each member of staff have the exact furniture they have been working on for a number of years, will there be enough space to have the same amount of storage each person is used to, will they be sat next to the same person, how far away are they from the kitchen/W.C. etc. etc.

The only way to produce an initial space plan of the new office layout is to take a full inventory of all existing furniture and storage, listing each person individually and making full and accurate notes of everything that they use. The next step is to number each person and create a spread sheet of their furniture and storage and group them in their respective departments. Any new members of staff or potential spare desks also need to be added into the spread sheet at this time.

Once the full list is prepared the first space plan can be created showing all existing furniture with each cupboard and desk numbered to correspond with the members of staff listed in the spread sheet. All existing furniture will also be given a specific colour on the plan. (i.e. all existing furniture would be shaded blue) Once the existing staff have been positioned on the plan, the furniture for any new staff can be shown and now shaded in a new colour, for example red.

In order to produce an accurate quotation, the spreadsheet can now be updated with the new furniture required and a quotation can be generated. This has now created the starting point for Merlin to experiment with the locations of individual members of staff and departments.

At this stage, sometimes sooner, sometimes when the completed space plan has been achieved and sometimes it is not even required, the customer may ask for a 3D visualization of the space. For Merlin, we prepared some 3D visualisations early on in the project in order for them to understand other elements of their new offices i.e. the floor finishes, style of partitioning etc.

The new offices will be completed in early 2009 and all new furniture orders have now been placed.

Read the original space planning article.

AMH Office Interiors | Office Design Walk Through | www.amhoffice.co.uk Specialists in Office Refurbishment, Fit-Out and Relocation of commercial premises, including interior design and space planning requirements for clients in the UK. office interior,office relocation,office partition,office interior design,office space planning,space planning,corporate office interior design,office space planning uk,commercial interior space planning,office interior designer,office refurbishment and space planning,

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First-time buyers of systems furniture, whether for a new office facility or an upgrade, must look beyond design and pricing when selecting vendors to receive their request for proposals. “Outfitting an office is a complex undertaking involving hundreds if not thousands of components that must come together in an orderly manner, and the coordination of several skilled trades,” says Mark Bassil, co-founder and vice president of MAiSPACE, a Mt. Olive, NJ, based manufacturer of modular office furniture systems. “Attractive designs at a good price are not hard to find, but buyers must prepare themselves for serious problems if they overlook the service and support – or lack of it – offered by their systems furniture supplier.” Established in 1993, MAiSPACE has built its success on outstanding design, superior construction and extremely competitive pricing while setting the standard in customer service that leads to repeat business. “Once a contract is signed, the quality of a vendor`s support service makes the difference between a smoothly running installation and outright frustration,” Bassil says. “Our organizational setup recognizes this from component manufacturing through completing the installation. Indeed, our supply chain structure is so efficient we can complete an installation in as little as 4 to 6 weeks from receiving a signed contract. ” A Service Check List Several activities are undertaken between the signing of a contract and move in. “From the beginning,” Bassil says, “we assign from our nationwide network of resources the various contractors who are responsible for move management, inventory assessment, warehousing as needed and the removal and disposal of old furniture. While not all these services are required by all clients, they put the onus on MAiSPACE rather than on the client to get the vital jobs done.” The company`s in-house design team is available to clients who do not engage an independent design consultant. “These experts produce the best and most cost-effective layout to satisfy our clients` current needs and help them plan ahead,” Bassil explains. “They help clients select from our wide range of fabrics and finishes to turn an empty workplace into stunning workspaces including single-occupancy cubicles, teaming areas, conference rooms, executive offices, reception areas and other facilities that support their business.” Poorly designed floor plans can be a major problem and more often than not will put the project behind schedule and over budget. “Vendors who discover that their system elements won`t fit only after they arrive at the project site do a serious disservice to their client and to the contract furniture industry in general,” Bassil comments. “While last-minute changes are a fact of the business, there is no excuse for poor space planning from the beginning.” MAiSPACE makes move-ins virtually fault-free through the use of modern design software. “As an example,” says Bassil, “GIZA software lets us design layouts and typical workstations, conceptualize clients` ideas and make three dimensional presentations. It facilitates changes, provides drawings and documentation while integrating with CAD and other specification software to achieve quality results that help us close the sale while assuring clients that the office furnishing components will fit as planned.” Concurrent with these activities, MAiSPACE project managers work with clients to address logistics issues and mitigate risks associated with employee downtime that may occur between the removal of old furniture and the installation of the new. “When installation time arrives, MAiSPACE implements its coordinated delivery and installation process to manage activities from the receiving dock forward,” Bassil says. “Product is received, uncrated and inspected prior to being transported to the client`s space. Professional furniture installers move into action, erecting framing components in an orderly manner across the floor plan in accordance with the approved design. These are accompanied by licensed telecommunications specialists that handle the initial placement of the facility`s local area network (LAN) comprised of the MAiSPACE plug-and-play voice, data and power cabling system.” Cabling is laid in the framing rather than being bundled and fished through framing elements, which simplifies initial installation and greatly simplifies cable management during future moves adds and changes to the office floor plan. Once the modular framework is in place, installers snap on the panels, position desks, files, bins and shelving per the master plan, place seating elements and other detached components such as tables and storage files, and otherwise complete the project as ordered. “All debris associated with the project is removed, systems are tested and only then turned over to the client,” Bassil says. Employee Orientation “Systems furniture vendors whose service stops at the receiving dock provide one example of poor service,” says Bassil. “At the other end are vendors who assume clients` employees know all about the product, so tip their hat and say goodbye once the installation is in place. We believe,” he says, “that client orientation is an important part of a service package. An example is explaining the simplicity of our cabling system – to the extent that personnel can manage cable rerouting without hiring outside professionals during floor plan reconfiguration. We also provide training on ergonomic seating, storage and filing systems, and workstation components. “Summing it up,” Bassil concludes, “buying new office furniture involves more than a visit to an office supply house. While bargains may be found, our ability to completely furnish offices starting at $12 – $15 per square foot while delivering a complete menu of support services, a lifetime warranty and guarantee against obsolescence makes a strong case for the importance of checking into supplier services.”

——————
Articles are copyrighted

First-time buyers of systems furniture, whether for a new office facility or an upgrade, must look beyond design and pricing when selecting vendors to receive their request for proposals. “Outfitting an office is a complex undertaking involving hundreds if not thousands of components that must come together in an orderly manner, and the coordination of several skilled trades,” says Mark Bassil, co-founder and vice president of MAiSPACE, a Mt. Olive, NJ, based manufacturer of modular office furniture systems. “Attractive designs at a good price are not hard to find, but buyers must prepare themselves for serious problems if they overlook the service and support – or lack of it – offered by their systems furniture supplier.” Established in 1993, MAiSPACE has built its success on outstanding design, superior construction and extremely competitive pricing while setting the standard in customer service that leads to repeat business. “Once a contract is signed, the quality of a vendor`s support service makes the difference between a smoothly running installation and outright frustration,” Bassil says. “Our organizational setup recognizes this from component manufacturing through completing the installation. Indeed, our supply chain structure is so efficient we can complete an installation in as little as 4 to 6 weeks from receiving a signed contract. ” A Service Check List Several activities are undertaken between the signing of a contract and move in. “From the beginning,” Bassil says, “we assign from our nationwide network of resources the various contractors who are responsible for move management, inventory assessment, warehousing as needed and the removal and disposal of old furniture. While not all these services are required by all clients, they put the onus on MAiSPACE rather than on the client to get the vital jobs done.” The company`s in-house design team is available to clients who do not engage an independent design consultant. “These experts produce the best and most cost-effective layout to satisfy our clients` current needs and help them plan ahead,” Bassil explains. “They help clients select from our wide range of fabrics and finishes to turn an empty workplace into stunning workspaces including single-occupancy cubicles, teaming areas, conference rooms, executive offices, reception areas and other facilities that support their business.” Poorly designed floor plans can be a major problem and more often than not will put the project behind schedule and over budget. “Vendors who discover that their system elements won`t fit only after they arrive at the project site do a serious disservice to their client and to the contract furniture industry in general,” Bassil comments. “While last-minute changes are a fact of the business, there is no excuse for poor space planning from the beginning.” MAiSPACE makes move-ins virtually fault-free through the use of modern design software. “As an example,” says Bassil, “GIZA software lets us design layouts and typical workstations, conceptualize clients` ideas and make three dimensional presentations. It facilitates changes, provides drawings and documentation while integrating with CAD and other specification software to achieve quality results that help us close the sale while assuring clients that the office furnishing components will fit as planned.” Concurrent with these activities, MAiSPACE project managers work with clients to address logistics issues and mitigate risks associated with employee downtime that may occur between the removal of old furniture and the installation of the new. “When installation time arrives, MAiSPACE implements its coordinated delivery and installation process to manage activities from the receiving dock forward,” Bassil says. “Product is received, uncrated and inspected prior to being transported to the client`s space. Professional furniture installers move into action, erecting framing components in an orderly manner across the floor plan in accordance with the approved design. These are accompanied by licensed telecommunications specialists that handle the initial placement of the facility`s local area network (LAN) comprised of the MAiSPACE plug-and-play voice, data and power cabling system.” Cabling is laid in the framing rather than being bundled and fished through framing elements, which simplifies initial installation and greatly simplifies cable management during future moves adds and changes to the office floor plan. Once the modular framework is in place, installers snap on the panels, position desks, files, bins and shelving per the master plan, place seating elements and other detached components such as tables and storage files, and otherwise complete the project as ordered. “All debris associated with the project is removed, systems are tested and only then turned over to the client,” Bassil says. Employee Orientation “Systems furniture vendors whose service stops at the receiving dock provide one example of poor service,” says Bassil. “At the other end are vendors who assume clients` employees know all about the product, so tip their hat and say goodbye once the installation is in place. We believe,” he says, “that client orientation is an important part of a service package. An example is explaining the simplicity of our cabling system – to the extent that personnel can manage cable rerouting without hiring outside professionals during floor plan reconfiguration. We also provide training on ergonomic seating, storage and filing systems, and workstation components. “Summing it up,” Bassil concludes, “buying new office furniture involves more than a visit to an office supply house. While bargains may be found, our ability to completely furnish offices starting at $12 – $15 per square foot while delivering a complete menu of support services, a lifetime warranty and guarantee against obsolescence makes a strong case for the importance of checking into supplier services.”

——————
Articles are copyrighted