Improving Your Office With New Mezzanine Floors, Suspended Ceilings and Office Partitions

December 5th, 2011 by admin

Updating and altering the office environment can be necessary for a number of reasons including changes in staffing / staffing levels, changes in business strategy and direction, changes in ownership / new premises, re-branding, or simply because it’s something that is long overdue, and has been planned for. The type and quality of working environment can have a big impact on for example, communications (helping or hindering), staff morale, staff comfort, business processes and their effectiveness, efficiency and energy costs. When an office environment for example is updated or improved the refurbishment work and its extent obviously relates closely to the specified needs of that particular organisation. There are however some popular services that office refurbishment companies provide, and this article looks at 3 of these.

Mezzanine Floors

It is often the case that the basic solid structure of the permanent walls and floors can’t be changed for a number of good reasons e.g. conditions of the office occupancy / ownership, safety, difficulty or potential inconvenience, cost etc. Most businesses need to make the most of the space that they have within those structures. Mezzanine Floors are essentially an extra floor (with stairs to it) between 2 floors which doesn’t extend completely across i.e. the Mezzanine Floor, and the real floor below it both share the same ceiling. This is obviously only practical where there is enough vertical space to allow it. These structures are sometimes semi-permanent. They are typically constructed of steel, aluminium and / or fibreglass and often have decking structure with a practical and aesthetic flooring covering on the top that is consistent with the floor covering on the real floors e.g. wood / wood pattern flooring. These areas create extra space than can be used for everything from staff work station areas to storage.

Suspended Ceilings

As the name suggests suspended ceilings are attached / suspended beneath the solid structure of the underside of the floor above i.e. the real solid ceiling area. In many office environments a framework is fitted into which is slotted many removable square tiles. The tile / solid material of the suspended ceiling is often made of mineral fibre or mineral wool. This is because these materials are relatively easy to work with and install, and they provide the right levels of acoustic insulation, and thermal insulation i.e. they can save energy costs over time. These materials also have a good level of fire resistance as well as being resistant to humidity and different temperature changes e.g. when heating systems are turned off and on – humidity can warp and damage other materials. Plaster board suspended ceilings can be sued where more versatility and a more seamless appearance is required. Metal ceilings can also be fitted for example where cleanliness and hygiene are of uppermost importance. Generally office suspended ceilings also provide an aesthetically pleasing surface which also reflects light well thus keeping energy costs down and making the environment easier to work in.

Office Partitions

Installing office partitions (like Mezzanine Floors) is another way to make the best use of the space within the actual solid structure of the building. Corridors, office, reception areas and meeting rooms can all be created using a variety of modern materials, finishes and colours. Glass, sliding and folding, and aluminium and steel framed partitions with varied panels and glazed areas can all be designed and installed to exactly fit the space, function and existing design schemes. Toughened 10 mm and 12mm glass partitions set into strong aluminium tracks with clear silicone or gaskets joints, and glass doors can be used to create practical, impressive looking and flexible spaces. Artistic films and manifestation films can be used to add a visually pleasing and a safety aspect to these partitioned areas. Although these partitions are fitted safely and solidly in place they are obviously more flexible and allow for more changes than e.g. sold brick / block walls.

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How To Create the Perfect Glass Office

December 1st, 2011 by admin

The last 3 decades have seen a rise in the increased and more imaginative use of glass to make up the majority of the outer surface area of new office buildings. This can create a spectacular effect, and advances in the strength, tinting and colouring of external glass means that privacy and design possibilities are not compromised. The use of glass, particularly in the last decade has been extended to the office interior. There has been a quest to create a division of office space for specific functions and roles but not to compromise the benefits offered by an open plan look and feel to the office interior. Toughened glass has proved to be an ideal medium to help achieve the balance between aesthetics, safety, robust functionality, and affordability for the end buyer. What sort of features therefore make up the perfect glass internal office?

Clever Use of Partitions

Creating this type of internal office effectively involves the imaginative use of glass office partitions. These are generally made of 10mm or 12mm toughened glass panels and doors. Doors made of other materials such as wooden veneered doors can also be combined with the panels if required. For particularly clean lines, and to create a completely clear look to the office frameless glass doors can be fitted.

The transparency, aesthetics and clear lines of the glass partitions can be enhanced by the use of clear silicone or a clear glazing gasket between the panels. Also the whole structure can be made to blend more softly in with its surroundings by the use subtle and unobtrusive slim tracks at the top and bottom. Since these are aluminium they have the advantage of being able to take colours. These colours can be matched to any BS or other recognised colours and thus can be made to fit in perfectly with their surroundings, and perhaps to provide a soft blending of the edges of the partitions with the solid walls that they are attached to.

Advanced modern architectural glass art techniques are now used in the creation of office partitions e.g. through the use of film on glass. Film can be added to incorporate pictures, designs, logos, scenes, and to create all manner of decorative, branding, and frosting effects. Manifestation film also serves a serious safety purpose by making sure that people notice that there is glass panel there, thus preventing anybody from walking into the panel and injuring themselves. The thickness and toughened nature of the panels also serve to maintain safety standards.

Creating the perfect glass office is now a realistic and affordable possibility for many organisations through the intelligent use of glass office partitions and doors.

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The Birth Place Of Office Partitions In The 1960′s

November 30th, 2011 by admin

Offices in the 1960s were very different in some ways, although there are still some common elements. The first 2 post war decades saw a large focus on psychological research of all kinds in the U.S. and the ‘office worker’ was no exception. This research however did lead to some lasting change in the physical office environment and formed the beginnings of today’s office partitions.

Research

The Herman Miller Research Corporation in 1960 studied how offices functioned with the research being led mainly by a man called Robert Propst. At that point in time many offices were using a purely open layout – many rows of desks in an open space with everybody able to see, and able to be seen by everybody else. There was a standardised appearance to everything. Propst’s research findings however indicates that in the modern office there was a lot more information for the individual to deal with than there had been in the past, and the open design wasn’t totally conducive to facilitating the handling and understanding of this information. The research findings indicated that people needed privacy and also need to personalise their workspace to an extent. They also needed a good degree of freedom of movement and what position they sat in to best fit the task they were trying to complete, and so they didn’t suffer physically from sitting in the same position all day long. Coupled with these findings it appeared important that workers individual movements didn’t distract others, and those workers weren’t distracted by those around them. The result towards the mid 1960s was the use of multi-sided mini divisions of office space to create what could be termed as work stations or cubicles. As well as contributing to more productive employees these also allowed the company to make the best use of the large floor space. Although the cubicle environment has had its critics over the years, it did legitimise and lead to the popularisation of its successor the office partition.

The Office Today

The office of today mixes the pre and post 1960s ideas. For example there has been a move to a more open plan environment again, with the main difference being that people are generally allowed more individuality and freedom of movement within it. Office partitions can now take on many forms right from the solid office look – corridors, walls and doors – right down to clear glass walled spaces. Advances on the economic production and use of toughened glass as a legitimate internal furnishing has created some spectacular and aesthetically pleasing partition structures. Film on the glass can incorporate virtually any design, brand or picture, and although these partitions divide the space well, they provide fantastic insulation (temperature and acoustic) while ensuring that plenty of light can flow though the office.

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