How long does an office fit-out take?

As a rough guide, we would expect an office fit-out project to take anywhere from six weeks – twenty-one weeks. Obviously, the timescale can vary significantly depending on the scale of the fit-out and quality of finish you are looking to achieve. Larger projects will take longer and often require more time up-front to undercover all the needs of the space.

At Officeinsight, we use a simple 3-stage process ‘define, design and deliver’. This breaks down the process into smaller, more manageable steps and allows us to be more specific with how long each step will take.

The Define stage:

This is the first stage of the process where we Define what the space is and its current condition.

This starts by obtaining building plans, site surveys and technical elements but aims to remove any subjective assumptions around the purpose of the workspace, how it should look and how it will be used.

Next, we dig deeper than most to uncover the purpose of the space for all users. Through running a Define workshop with key members of the team and collecting real data from the current space users with our Define tool we are able, quite quickly to build up a strong design brief. The brief not only captures the vision for the space but examines the data that helps to define departmental adjacencies, working pattern, employee’s needs from the space and the required improvements to collaboration and communication.

Depending on how detailed you want this process to be, it usually takes between 2 – 4 weeks.

What are the benefits of the define stage?

There are many benefits of the define stage and these include:

–        Pinpointing your needs

By breaking down what problems you have at the moment, we can accurately define your needs and the needs of your staff. We can then translate the appropriate solutions into a high-quality design and include different features to bring the office to life.

–        Involving your staff

The define pack involves different material, including various workshops and quick surveys that are sent to the staff. This not only involves the staff but gets them enthused for the changes that are likely to occur in the near-future. As a key part of the business, ensuring that the workplace is listened to and satisfied is important and so capturing information about your people regarding their needs, space usage etc helps removes some of the subjective assumptions.

–        Gaining data

Ensuring we gather both qualitative and quantitative data allows us to make sure that all areas are covered so that when it comes to creating the design, every aspect aligns with your vision and needs.

The Design stage:

From the Define stage, and now armed with actual data to create what is really needed from the space. The Design stage starts by creating zonal plans, before moving in 2D general arrangement plans, look and feel images and selecting finishes for your feedback as well as sharing how users will move and collaborate through the space.

Following adjustments and final agreement on these initial concepts, we then bring the designs to life in 3D photorealistic renders and video fly-throughs. We also allow you to virtually walk through your new space using the latest virtual reality technology.

The length of the Design stage varies, depending on how detailed you were during the Define stage and the scale and specifications required in the design however, this stage would normally take between 3-5 weeks. At the end of this stage, you will be presented with a detailed costing, schedule of work and delivery contract.

The Deliver stage:

The third stage is the on-site delivery stage as outlined in the schedule of works.

At Office-insight, we deliver a turnkey solution by creating the design and implementing this into your workspace and bringing your vision to life. Our specialist team manages the whole process, including contractors and looking after areas of compliance such as Building Control application, HSE notification, CDM regulations and a detailed O&M manual. Communication is one of our priorities, to ensure that all stakeholders are aware of where the project is up to. We use a unique shared platform which gives all stakeholders access to the latest live information and allows all to stay informed.

Weekly site meetings, emailed weekly updates detailing progress, next steps and variations are all part of the deliver stage and upon completion, there is a handover meeting where a quality check is carried out. The O&M (link to blog) file is issued and any demonstrations are completed.

Again, depending on the scale of the building, the length of this stage will differ but usually the deliver stage can take between 6-12 weeks.

Throughout the Define, Design and Deliver process, we can tailor, speed up and adapt the process to suit any specific needs and delivery dates. We’ve successfully delivered a range of office fit-outs for various companies, including blue-chip organisations, local businesses and global brands: Click here to see our other projects and their timescales: https://www.officeinsight.co.uk/projects