The workplace is more than a physical space: it is a tool that enables an organisations people and processes to work better together. As such, the office plays an integral role in supporting businesses achieve their strategic goals.
If you’re office doesn’t currently support your people and your business, you have two options: an office refurbishment or an office relocation. There are benefits and drawbacks to both. So, to help you decide whether to ‘stay or go’, this article delves into the pros and cons of an office refurbishment. If you decide to stay in your existing office space, you may need to update your workplace. Making changes to your layout, replacing your furniture, and creating new spaces may enable you to get more out of your workplace
Pros of an Office Refurbishment:
There are three key benefits to an office refurbishment: the opportunity to enhance the user experience, the ability to maximise the current floorspace and the reduced costs (in comparison to a relocation.)
Improve user experience:
An office refurbishment provides businesses with a unique opportunity to assess their current workplace and re-design it with their people in mind. A lot of businesses are transforming their operational strategies due to the changes brought about by the pandemic. New technologies have helped people to become more efficient and flexible ways of working have reshaped organisations.
Conducting a space analysis is a strong starting point for defining your objectives. Similarly, conducting a workplace survey will provide insights on how your employees currently use the space. By considering your employees, their space, and the tools they need to do their jobs, you will effectively design an office to support optimal output.
When it comes to your clients and the projection of your company image, consider the message your current workplace conveys. Does it support your business’ identity and goals? If not, an office refurbishment is a great opportunity to curate a workspace that conveys the desired image of your brand to potential clients as soon as they walk through the door.
Maximise current floor space:
Re-evaluating office space has become popular since the pandemic. The emergence of new working practices, like hybrid, has changed the way that organisation use their space, and adjustments need to be made to maximise company performance.
An office refurbishment is a great option as it enables businesses to maximise their current floorplan – so they don’t have to move into a new space. A workplace consultant will be able to provide valuable insight on which spaces are under-utilised and which are inundated. Then, a design and build specialist will be able to plan your current workspace more effectively – maximising every square foot of space and redesigning the space to suit your companies working practices.
Cost saving:
Compared to an office relocation, an office refurbishment is affordable. There won’t be any exit-fees or dilapidation charges from your current landlord, you won’t need to engage a legal partner or oversee the termination of your current lease and the negotiation of your new lease terms, and your rent costs won’t increase as you won’t have to move to a larger office. So, all-in-all, an office refurbishment is a great option for businesses on a slightly tighter budget.
Cons of an Office Refurbishment:
Although there are many pros to an office refurbishment, there are some drawbacks. The three main cons of an office refurbishment are: the inability to change location, having to work with the existing floorspace and the disruption it will cause employees.
Can’t change location:
An office’s location is important for a multitude of reasons. It can impact talent attraction and retention, it can be seen as a destination, and it should be situated in a spot with good transportation links and local amenities. These things may seem small, but they can make a big difference to your employee’s work-life balance and wellbeing. If a different location would be more beneficial then an office refurbishment may not be the best solution for your business.
Limited floorspace:
An office refurbishment does provide businesses with the opportunity to plan the space more effectively. But, if your headcount has grown significantly over the course of your lease, optimising your current office may not solve your space problem.
Equally, space planning and refurbishing your current workspace may create enough space in the short-term, but most commercial leases last five to ten years. Will your office refurbishment continue to benefit your business in the future – or are you likely to run out of space again in a few months’ time?
Disruption to employees
An unavoidable pitfall to an office refurbishment is the disruption it will cause employees. To lessen this disruption, you could move into a flexible workspace operator while the office is refurbished. Your chosen design and build specialist should be able to phase the works for minimal disruption, creating swing-spaces and working out-of-hours if necessary.
If you were to choose an office relocation, the work could be carried out in the new workspace while your employees continue to work as normal in your current space. Of course, if you do decide to refurbish, the disruption will only be temporary, and the benefits will be long-term.
Transforming your existing workplace can improve your people’s performance, reduce costs, and enhance your brand and company culture. For more information on planning an office relocation, check out our guide.
