This Design and Refurbishment project including supplying and fitting two steel beams to support the three floors above the shop, and to remove a structural wall and so needed some design work in order to carry out the refurbishment of the space.
The effective use of space was very difficult to achieve due to the small space in the office, however we still had to produce drawings to satisfy Building Control and to determine exact positions of voice, data and lighting positions. The project included electrical work, decorations, air conditioning, construction of step, flooring, lighting design and carrying out the work in 7 days. We had to carry out a complete design and refurbishment of the existing space.
Design and Refurbishment work
We spent some time working out what was needed in the space and what we could get in. The beam was calculated, as the back wall to the shop needed to come out to widen the office space, the issue was that the wall held up the 3 floors above. One of the main problems was that the main beam was 6 meters long and it took 4 people to lift it into the shop from the main high street. The delivery vehicle had to leave the beams on the pavement whilst everything was prepared.
Construction Photographs
Main support beams arrive
Beams going in
Beams in and walls being demolished
More demolition
Better detail of the beam
Walls finally out
Entrance platform construction
Walls nearly prepared
Decoration underway
Walls done
Flooring being laid
Helping out
Completion photographs.
General Refurbishment and Fit out Work
If you need any advice or are thinking of an office refurbishment project please give us a call, we would love to talk to you, on 01380 738844
Our client wanted a complete redesign refurbishment of the existing office space. The first task was to come up with some ideas and some colour schemes, the director wanted an adventurous new scheme, so we focused upon creating a more spacious effect through introducing new concepts of Lighting, Suspended Ceiling, Partitioning, new Air Conditioning systems, Flooring and Furniture in order to create a more relaxed office environment that mixes bold contemporary colour and natural materials.
Design and Drawing work
In working out what needs to be done, we need to know what is there. A detailed drawing showing positions of electrics and the walls was produced. The new layout required a few designs, and in particular the Director wanted to have a meeting end on his new desk, so we had to design a desk and get it made particularly for him.
Existing space had to be measured and drawn
A plan of the new design
Specially made desk for the Managing Director
Colour scheme / Design
As this area was a completely separate area from the upstairs directors suite, we thought that the whole scheme could be different. The room was completely separate from the rest of the building, so when you walked in, there was a different feel which was modern, had a blend of the traditional timber partitions, along with some stripy carpet, and the middle solid carpet was a very high quality cut pile carpet which felt soft and luxurious underfoot. One of the main requirements was that the Managing Director wanted a meeting end on his desk and it was not possible to get one to fit from standard product ranges. We therefore had to get one made..
Existing space
As you can see from the photographs the whole area needed completely stripping out and replacing.
Large meeting room with old colours
Nice pink walls and green carpet
Egg crate suspended ceiling grid
Green door frames
Lots of nice natural light though
Small cupboard with lots of stuff in it
Green doors frames, green floor tiles in places
Deep in thought
Wider view again
Table was nice but wrong size and colour
Old Mitsubushi units to be replaced (R22 gas)
Cabling had to be sorted !
Stripping out and building photographs
I always like this phase as the office transforms, from a very dull space to something new. We do get an immense level of satisfaction in carrying out office refurbishment projects for this reason.
Demolition was quick
New ceiling grid going in
Main materials delivered as well
On the phone!
Grid being fitted
We had to span this
Lots of pipes exposed
Head tracks fitted first
Block walls had to come out
New demountable partition frames going in
Walls tape and jointed
Other frames in
Other frames in
Holes filled
Decoration with expensive wall paper
Decoration with expensive wall paper
Door over panels fitted
Channeled power supplies in the floor
Final trims
Power cables sunk into floor
Walls taking shape
Fitting of wall boards
Window frames being built
Doors hung
Chairs arrived !
Carpeted ready for furniture
Carpeted ready for furniture
Carpeted ready for furniture
Waiting for glass installation
Final photographs
As you can see from the final photographs, Cre8tive were successful in carrying out a complete redesign and office refurbishment of the customers existing space.
Final photo
Bespoke MD’s desk
Bespoke MD’s desk
New sofas as well
Bespoke MD’s desk
Bespoke MD’s desk
MD’s new office
LED lighting throughout
Glazing with internal blinds
Why Demountable Office Partitions?
Demountable partitions are tax efficient in that they are seen as movable items and so can be treated differently in writing down allowances in the accounts, we can also lease elements of office refurbishments. Anything that can be moved.
We mainly lease Demountable Partitions as they are movable, this spreads the costs of having the work done as Demountable Partitions always cost more than customers think.
Leasing of movable items is very tax efficient and Cre8tive can provide illustrations, please contact us for further information.
Most landlords insist on demountable partitions in an office as it is much easier to take them out should the tenant renting the space leave for any reason. The benefit is that is saves making a huge amount of mess and destruction that would be need with a conventional stud and plasterboard constructed wall.
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Not sure what to do?
Please give us a call and we can help with any aspect of interior office fit out, along with space planning and design work.
An office refurbishment in Weston Super Mare was requested by John Hodge Solicitors. They had recently purchased a video store just out of the town center. At the same time they purchased another building at Morston Court, separate project. This building was the customer facing part of the business so the old store needed to represent the corporate identity but also be practical.
One of the first problems was that the whole internal space needed stripping out. They also needed a reception areas, some client meeting rooms near the reception and an admin area close by. Upstairs there was also a requirement for office space.
As the building use was going to be for public access, see clients from the general public, disabled access doors and a disabled toilet needed to be considered, as well as the car park out the front, with a slope, handrail and markings.
Initial site Photographs
The old choices video store
Nice windows at the front
Inside is a bit challenging
All of the flooring needed to replaced.
Nice shiny signs inside
Old serving counter to come out
Roller shutter also had to come out
Several ceiling heights and steps to sort out
Many walls needed treatment
As well as windows opening up
Old R22 gas a/c units needed replacing
These toilets had to be widened for disabled access
More damaged ceilings
Carpet in good condition going upstairs
Ceilings and lights needing replacement
Generally just a bit dark in all rooms
Generally just a bit dark in all rooms
Kitchen upstairs
Needed ripping out and staring again
Needed ripping out and staring again
Toilet also needed refurbishing
Drawings and design work.
Work out the existing space
Workout some layouts, this one the overall with furniture
Then some detail, this one ceiling and electrical
Construction photographs
Some walls had to come out
Builders work
Work to the toilets
Work to the toilets
Lots of ceiling tiles delivered!
Ceiling in still much to do
Wall opening for new doorway
Wall to be boaded
More materials arrived
mmm. what next..
Work on making a disabled access slope
Work on making a disabled access slope
Walls taped ready for painting
Offices getting ready
Offices getting ready
Painting of window ledges
New ceilings
Walls decorated behind reception
Waiting for doors and frames
Back offices
Furniture arrived
Offices nearly done
New suspended ceiling
Waiting for lights
Upstairs ceilings in
Upstairs walls done
Overhead door heater
Car park and Front
Old steps very slippery and broken
I like diggers
I like diggers
I like diggers
I like diggers
detail of the steps
Front steps
Our sign!
New non slip tiles
Painting of frames half done
Window frames painted
Disabled handrail
nice new tarmac
And painting
New sign makes a great difference
Inside frames were painted as well.
Detail of the slope
New automatic disabled doors
Better view of the ramp
And car park place
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Completion photos
Small mat details
John Hodge Solicitors finished reception
Different view
Reception desk
Finished offices
Finished offices
Window frames painted
New sign makes a great difference
Finished back offices
Another view of reception
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Office Refurbishment Project?
We would love to talk to you. We get a real kick of seeing some really run down properties, working out what can be done with a vision, carry out the work to transform the property.
If you have a similar property, or want to try and re-work your offices then please do not hesitate to contact us.
We were invited by this customer to have a look at their existing office space as it needed an office refurbishment in Milton Keynes and the customer did not know where to start. They found us on the internet and liked our website as it showed real photos of actual projects rather than nice photo shopped images.
Out of the few that they contact we were the only ones to respond to their enquiry within a day.
When we first visited the client it was very obvious that the while area needed stripping out and starting again. What was surprising, although in reality we are not surprised, was that the existing partitions and mezzanine floor were not fire rated. We recognised the system below the mezzanine as a 50mm wide demountable partition system which has no fire rating at all. None of the exit routes out of the building were 30 minute protected and the mezzanine floor had a suspended ceiling fitted but it was not fire rated. The staff were working in a death trap. If there was any problem in the building then there would be a lot of trouble. The customer specialises in fire detection equipment, so for them to be in a building that was a potential death trap as it was not properly fire protected was nonsense.
Building Regulations
There were three different mezzanine floors installed at various times at different heights, and no paperwork to show that they had been passed Building Regulations, so from a fairly straightforward requirement to refurbish the offices there was a need to look at the whole building, design and specify it properly and get Building Regulation Approval. In the design we had to consider:
Fire protection of the mezzanine floors using the correct grade of suspended ceiling tile and support column encasement
Correct design of protected fire exit routes throughout the building, checking of escape distances and signage
Full electrical design to suit.
New fire rated partitions where needed to meet Building Regulations
Supplementary fresh air systems to enclosed offices
Changes to air condition systems
Heating were needed.
CDM
There was no doubt that we were going to be on site for more than a month, and have more than 5 people on site, the whole project was quite a bit of work and so the work comes under the Construction Design and Management Regulations. The purpose of the regulations is to protect the employee and employer in making sure that a construction project is run safely. If you do not notify the Health and Safety Executive that the project is being carried out and there is a problem then directors of the company where the work is being done can go to jail.
Where do we start?
The first step is to measure everything and take lots of photos to see exactly what has been fitted. The next was to understand from the customer how they wanted to work in the space, so this included some basic functional block drawings identifying where they wanted Sales, Accounts and Technical. Once the broad locations were identified then the detail layouts were carried out identifying voice and data positions, partitioning and ceiling layouts and the work that had to be done on the mezzanine floor. Once the layouts were agreed we had to submit the plans to Building Control and get their approval which we did.
We produced many many drawings. All showing everything that was needed for each trade. Some shown below. The important document was the Building Regulations Approval document that is a legal requirement.
Ground Floor
Ground Floor proposed showing carpet
Upstairs proposed showing carpet
Ventilation upstairs drawing
Plans Approval Building Control
Existing Photographs
The first two photographs below show the immediate and obvious problem. The partitions are 50mm wide demountable and are not fire rated at all. The third photo shows the the vast storage area out the back. The rest just show the general bland and dated look of everywhere needed some tlc.
Downstairs obvious non-fire rated partitions fire exit route!
Non Fire rated partitions again
Downstairs warehouse with MD’s car
Downstairs warehouse
Downstairs warehouse
Upstairs needing new ceiling and walls to be re-used.
All offices very small and dark
Very old ceilings everywhere
All doors painted as well looking very dated
Stripping out and Construction work
We produced a plan and submitted all of the documents to the local Building Control people who assessed the drawings and arranged for some visits throughout the work. We also employed a Health and Safety Consultant who oversaw the work and kept all of the sub contractors on their toes, and they submitted the F10 to the Health and Safety Executive.
Main office downstairs stripped out
Boards out to be re-used
Downstairs frames going up
Ceiling grid being installed
Upstairs sales office being rebuilt
Another upstairs room with new grid being fitted
Top floor meeting rooms to be built here
New stud frames up
Loads of new materials delivered
More demountable partition frames
New grid tight to the ventilation duct work downstairs
Cre8tive Interiors completed an office refurbishment fit out project in Gloucester. The original building consisted of an occupied warehouse with a split level floor and block walls which needed to be converted to offices. We are calling this project a refurbishment project, it involved taking an industrial unit and changing it (refurbishing it?), and then fitting out the inside to provide a complete office space by fitting a mezzanine floor inside. So it is probably a mixture between a refurbishment project and a fit out project.
The offices had to include toilets, reception area, new staircase, kitchen, boardroom and further offices as well as full integration of electrics, data and air conditioning. The project was also run under the Construction Design and Management regulations, so adherence to Health and Safety was paramount. All activities had to have risk assessments carried out as well as method statements for the type of work. Cre8tive was also Principle Contractor for the work, and this meant that there were some things that the client wanted to do within the time frame on site which we managed to do.
Pre-construction Photographs
All of the internal walls, ceilings, toilets and electrics would have to be stripped out including the spiral staircase and small room above it. The two units had a gap inside joining them which would need to be blocked up. The block walls inside would have to be modified. In the end it was easiest just to rip it all out and start again.
Existing warehouse with racking
Old toilet to come out
Spiral Staircase to be removed
Old kitchen to be replaced
High roof space to fit mezzanine
Roller shutter to be replaced with windows
Construction Work
The following photographs show the stripping out as well as the construction and finished photographs. The photographs show the sequence of events and all of the work that goes into creating offices over a mezzanine floor. Complete network cabling, power and data, heating and cooling with air conditioning, flooring, external windows, there are many things to manage and get to work properly which is what we do at Cre8tive.
Start of work
Walls stripped out
Spiral staircase removed
Stripping out
Blocking up of wall
Mezzanine arrrives!
Mezzanine pieces
Completed block wall
Drylining downstairs
New windows being installed
New suspended ceiling
Stair construction
Top of stairs
Sloped roof upstairs
Fire rated columns
Decoration throughout
50mm celotex insulation
Air conditioning througout
Outdoor units
Fire rated ceiling
New windows downstairs
New offices downstairs waiting for glass
Another view of the new offices
Protected 3 compartment trunking
Stairs taking shape
Kitchen under the stairs
Disabled toilet
Disabled access door into main office
£2k stainless steel handrail installed
Hand dryers in the new toilets
Cabling inside partition walls
Air conditioning and fuse board
Upstairs work begins
New suspended ceiling following the roofline
Opening ready for window
Upstairs offices
New air conditioning units outside
Upstairs offices nearly done
Nice new stairs
Nice new stairs
Upstairs office complete
Handrail is really nice
Upstairs office corridor
Stairs completed
We used demountable partitioning for the offices upstairs and downstairs for a few reasons, the first is that is is easy to reconfigure if you want to change it, and one of the other main benefits is that it can be leased and treated as a ‘moveable item’ as well as the mezzanine floor. The mezzanine floor itself is fully self supporting and not fixed to the fabric of the building so is also ‘demountable’. It could be unbolted and then re bolted in the car park outside if needed.
Why Demountable Partitioning?
Demountable partitioning is tax efficient in that they are seen as movable items and so can be treated differently in writing down allowances in the accounts.
We can also lease Demountable Partitioning as they are movable, this spreads the costs of having the work done as Demountable Partitions always cost more than customers think.
Leasing of demountable partitioning is very tax efficient and Cre8tive can provide illustrations, please contact us for further information.
Most landlords insist on demountable partitions being used for offices as it is much easier to take them out should the tenant renting the space leave for any reason. The benefit is that is saves making a huge amount of mess and destruction that would be need with a conventional stud and plasterboard constructed wall.
Office Refurbishment
This particular project was more complicated that many that we do in that it involved the mezzanine floor. If you need any advice or are thinking of an office refurbishment project please give us a call, we would love to talk to you, on 01380 738844
Cre8tive Interiors were ask to look at the complete office design and refurbishment for Thales Optronics in Taunton, to convert an existing factory area into a new reception area. Initial work required the removal of a metal skinned demountable system, ceilings and lighting, along with stripping out and replacing the entrance doors with new glass doors.
The lighting chosen was LG3 direct / indirect fittings which is the recommend lighting systems for modern offices. The partitions included silicon jointed glass called Komfort Polar, joining into Komfort Kameo 75mm system which offers a soft radius profile and joins neatly with the Polar silicon jointed system. The doors are disable access width to conform to the DDA regulations.
Existing Space
Thales did not use this building and wanted to create more of a main reception for the site. The building inside was very factory looking, in that it had metal partitions. Fine for a laboratory environment, not very nice for offices. The lighting was also pretty bad with old lino, the whole area needed replacing.
Metal partition walls and hard lino floor everywhere
More metal partitions
Lots of dark cubbyholes
Ceilings all over the place.
More metal walls
Entrance doors needed replacing
Drawing and Design work
Existing layout to work out what we have
Final design for Thales
Construction work
Lots of metal to come out
Old entrance doors to come out
New demountable partitions built
Builders work in progress..
Glass fitted waiting for manifestations
Carpets fitted
Final Photographs
View from inside the meeting room
Nice open reception waiting for furniture
Special feature wall behind reception desk
Lots of glass
Two meeting rooms
Design and Refurbishment Work
Often with these projects the hard part is knowing where to start. The customer knows it is not right and may have seen other areas that they like. Translating that into a cost can be quite difficult, so what we do at Cre8tive is to listen and then try and interpret what the customer wants. We go through certain steps and doing the drawing work is one of them.
If you are struggling to come up with something, please do not hesitate to give us a call 01380 73 88 44 or email us on [email protected]
A complete office design and refurbishment project was required, involving initial space planning and design, through to stripping out and refurbishing the office space.
The existing space had a problem with an existing pillar which could not be moved and it was in the middle of the space, so we made a feature of it. We constructed a curved wall around the pillar. The project included: plastering, decorations, air conditioning, flooring, lighting, new suspended ceiling, demountable partitioning, the design and build of a specially sized conference table with pop up modules in the desk to connect a laptop to for presentations. The project also included the supply and installation of office furniture fully co-ordinated with the colour scheme. We also produced some visuals which allowed the customer to appreciate the colour choices.
Design Work
Once we have looked at the current space and taken a brief from the customer, then we draw it. We use Autocad, and we first have to identify exactly what is in the current space which will include the existing lighting, electrical and air conditioning aspects, as well as the walls and other items in the space. In coming up with a new design we first look to see what the customer wants and then try to squeeze it in. In this case we had a pillar in the way, so we made a feature of the pillar in the design. We always draw technical drawings which allows our suppliers to cost items, but sometimes customers can’t visualise what something may look like. We therefore organise some visuals to be produced which help the whole process in getting the project approved.
Making a feature around the pillar
Furniture layout
New ceiling plan and electrical
Visuals
We appreciate that we still carry out visuals by hand and some may say that computer generated visuals are better. However we like to have another perspective on the design and so these are carried out by another company. The visuals are hand drawn and then painted or coloured in and it is a final check that we are happy with the design.
3 d visual by hand
3 d visual
3d visual for Smurfit Kappa
Existing Space Photographs
Very green colours
Angled roof and a pillar in the way
All outer walls breeze block
Very dark colours
Everything has green in it and grey
Nice angles to play with
Squashed display area needed to be more prominent
Sloping ceiling again
This is the offending pillar, right in the way of the meeting rooms
Stripping out Work
most walls stripped out
Old Cat2 lights stacked for disposal
More office stripping
Walls coming out
Walls being removed
Outer walls being plastered
Outer walls being plastered
Outer walls being plastered
Stair signage
Demountable partition construction
Studwork being fitted
Good view right through to the other side
Walls to be taped yet
Construction of the curved wall
The pillar is now a feature
Insulation fitted into wall cavities
Skirting being fitted
Most walls taped now
Most walls taped now ready for paint
Most walls taped now ready for paint
Fitting trims
Getting there
Waiting for glass and more paint
Finished Results
The most pleasing aspect of this project is that we identified a major issue with the layout and as we could not move it, created a feature of it. The pillar ended up being the focal point of the space where the directors could display some of their samples.
Great natural light nice and airy
Making a feature of the pillar
All furniture was supplied
The table was hand made to fit the space
The table was hand made to fit the space
Also shown is a smart board
Do you have something similar and need help?
Often with these projects the hard part is knowing where to start. In particular with this project the space was really awkward. The directors knew that something had to be done as it was so dull but we are a loss on what to do.
Translating ideas into a cost can be quite difficult, so what we do at Cre8tive is to listen and then try and interpret what the customer wants. We go through certain steps and doing the drawing work is one of them.
If you are struggling to come up with something, please do not hesitate to give us a call 01380 73 88 44 or email us on [email protected]
Cre8tive was asked to tender to carry out an office refurbishment in a 3 storey building in Shepton Mallet. Having successfully won the project, the next problem was how to carry out the work in a relatively short space of time, over the winter months with snow on the ground and no heating until the air conditioning was commissioned. The building was not a traditional office, in that there were no suspended ceilings (and not the height to fit any), and no raised floors, and the customer wanted lots of walls removed as well as fitting CAT6 cable into floor boxes in all of the floors.
All of the major elements that are used in a conventional office refurbishment were used, electrical work including data cabling, new lighting, reconfiguration of the power between floors, flooring using a rubber insulation floor to reduce sound transfer between floors, new air conditioning throughout, new kitchens on the floors including new appliances.
One of the difficulties was that the work had to be carried out in the winter months and without any heating until the air conditioning system was installed it was freezing on site. We had heaters but you cannot have the heaters on too much as it would dry out the plaster too quickly causing cracking. The paint also did not dry out properly so it just made the project much more difficult to complete. We also had snow to contend with and we lost several days as the guys could not get into work. We did finish the project a week early allowing the customer some more time on getting the IT equipment in.
Existing building photographs
Lots of the rooms to be completely stripped
More corridors to open out
More old cabling to be removed
Lots of walls upstairs to come out
All radiators where air conditioning going to come out
Lots of old IT equipment to come out
New kitchen required
Some of the windows needed repair
Single glazed windows needing repair
New non slip floor required
Some of the old boards damaged
Front porch of the building
Construction photographs
Site signage to get right
More signage
Walls coming out damaging the ceilings
More signage
Water pipes had to be laid under floorboards
Doorway blocked in
Doorway now plastered
Floor lifted for wiring
Decoration of walls
Floorboxes being cut
Mainly electricians mess
CAT 6 cables being pulled
CAT 6 cables again with floor laid
Fitting of floor boxes
Office compliant lighting being installed
CAT6 cabling and power being installed
Lots of the floors had to come up
Transfer boxes for the air conditioning
False beams constructed to cover a/c pipes
More decoration
Air conditioning BS boxes in roof
Still more cables
Insulation going back in the floor
New kitchen units for tea points
Protecting the air conditioning units from the decorators
The old mill had some really wonky walls
Floor box positions protected
Second floor work
More painting
Steps were tricky to sort out
Installing the air conditioning
Steps being cut with new nosings
Rubberised backing to prevent noise through ceiling.
Then Plywood everywhere
And here
Landing looks nice
Finished stairs
One of the finished rooms
Another room finished
One of the 3 kitchens finished
Main office area completed
Another view
Painting finished and lights
Main entrance foyer complete
One of the second floor rooms
Rather annoying dusty feet
Open office finally cleared.
Office refurbishment
If you need any advice or are thinking of an office refurbishment project please give us a call, we would love to talk to you, on 01380 738844
