Meridian Interiors is an office fit-out and refurbishment company with more than 20 years of experience in commercial interior refurbishment all over the country. In this article, we take a look at some of our favourite office refurbishment and fit-outs in Cambridgeshire and provide an insight into how we helped businesses transform their workplaces on time, and on budget.
“A key feature on this project at Cambridge based pharmaceutical company, Rxcelerate, was the use of switchable glass on the meeting room partitioning, which is a fantastic way to create privacy when needed and help with the transmission of light throughout an office, during other times. At Meridian, we like to come up with solutions to make our clients working environments as user friendly as possible. This glass is a great example of this.”
Paul Dawson, Managing Director
This Cambridgeshire office refurbishment focused on an office design to incorporate feature flooring, breakout spaces and a glass partition to make the most of the space. The refurbishment project included feature lighting, a new tea point facility, and alterations to electrics and lighting. The office glass partitions featured both solid and glazed partitions, creating dynamic, co-working spaces offering privacy and collaboration where appropriate.
This Cambridgeshire office refurbishment and fit out focused on refurbishing an existing library and meeting area into a more usable, relaxing collaborative space. We worked closely with the client to pull together a breakout area that was welcoming and practical, so it would be actively used by employees. The project included installing new ceilings, joinery, lighting installation, lighting and flooring. With a dedicated colour scheme throughout and new office furniture, the project in its entirety took six weeks to complete.
To discover more about our commercial interior refurbishment services, click here. Get inspired with our case studies, or get in touch to start your journey today.
“Working with the Evergreen Agency has been a lot of fun as they are a forward-thinking Bicester based marketing company, who take a lot of pride in their work and working environment. This has been reflected in the office refurbishment they commissioned Meridian Interiors to carry out, over two phases. The addition of biophilia on a couple of their walls acts as a key feature of the design and works well with the company’s branding.”
Sarah Glover, Office Manager
This office refurbishment in Oxfordshire saw Meridian refurbish an existing office space in keeping with the business’ design ideas and vision. Focusing on a theme for all things green, it involved installing a new meeting room as well as upgrading the tea-making area to a more modern, well-functional layout.
“Point of Difference offer co-working spaces across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, creating interesting places for people to work alongside each other. Working with Andy Bedwell from Point of Difference at both his Banbury and Bicester workspaces has been a pleasure. As well as working well together, we consistently deliver impressive office spaces, using our expertise and quality craftsmanship.”
Paul Dawson, Managing Director
With the brief focusing on an entire office fit out and refurbishment in Oxfordshire – based company Point of Difference main offices. The Oxfordshire office building was refurbished over three floors to bring it up to modern-day standard with design and facilities to match. The Oxfordshire refurb included installing new heating systems and gas pipe relocation, office partitioning, internal and external decoration, new lighting systems and air conditioning. The refurbishment was managed over a time period of 14 weeks and saw us incorporate modern trends that were in keeping with the traditional architecture and heritage of the building.
“Working at Oxfordshire based Purdicom is always interesting, as their offices are located within a converted barn. We enjoyed creating a modern space to reflect the company’s technological services but that also complimented the traditional surroundings and building’s features. Our fit-out specialists worked really hard to ensure this transformation was a success and our client was happy with their new working environment.”
Leon Peters, Project Manager
This office refurbishment project in Oxfordshire focused on renovating office space within a converted barn. Ensuring the main features of the barn were considered in the redesign, our fit out included a new glass sliding door and separate manager’s office. Meridian Interiors worked to minimise any disruption to office workers and finished the refurbishment, complete with new office furniture and 18 desks, in 4 weeks.
This office design and refurbishment saw Meridian Interiors overhaul an existing warehouse space and transform it into a fully functioning open plan office in 12 weeks. The project brief included kitchen areas, acoustic insulation, space planning and design, and astute project management to ensure the entire Oxfordshire office refurb was finished on time and on budget. The office refurbishment also included refiguring the electrics for optimal use, with sound partitioning for the cellular office spaces.
This office fit-out in Bicester was completed over a 9 week period and saw us extend a hot-desking coworking space in Bicester. With modern and contemporary colours we worked closely with the client to create a stylish, welcoming space. With cellular partitions, lighting enhancements and full redecoration we were able to create a stunning interior office space to be used by various companies, linking to areas together seamlessly.
To discover more about our commercial office refurbishment services, click here. Explore our case studies for more information or get in touch with our team to find out how we can help you.
In this article, we discuss some of our most recent office refurbishment projects in the Bedfordshire area. For those looking for Bedfordshire office refurbishment, Meridian Interiors offer a range of office design, fit-out and commercial office refurbishment services. Explore our most recent case studies below to find out how we helped to transform offices and bring ideas to life through a bespoke and professional service.
“I thoroughly enjoyed project managing the office refurbishment for Bedford based company, Glenn Group. Flooring played a key part in this project, together with a strong colour scheme, which can be seen throughout. Adding interest to the walls with graphics was a great way to display our client’s values and mission and I am pleased to have been a part of this transformation.”
Leon Peters, Project Manager
Our first Bedfordshire office refurbishment focuses on Glenn Group in Bedford, which focused on an office redesign and fit-out. We worked closely with Glenn Group to bring their vision to life, with a complete office refurbishment and office furniture installation. With work including redecoration, new flooring design, breakout areas and corporate signature, the end result was an impactful, exciting office space that reflected the brand and offered an exciting work environment for employees.
This office refurbishment project saw Meridian Interiors transform the CILEX HQ while the offices were still in operation. With project management working in phases to reduce disruption to business continuity, the office refurb focused on refreshing the look and feel of the offices. With office partitioning, lighting, decorating and new following added, the office refurbishment also included new office furniture installation. Project management successfully refurbished the Bedfordshire offices in 20 weeks, with minimal disruption for employees throughout.
To discover more about our office fit-out and refurbishment services, click here. Explore our case studies or contact the team to find out how we can help you.
As a leading office refurbishment company, we decided to round up our favourite projects in Buckinghamshire. Supplying offices up and down the country with the latest in office design and refurbishment, we offer high-end office refurbishments to renovate and transform workspaces and these are just a few of our favourites to show you how we bring offices to life.
“As an independent charity who care for parkland and greenspace across Milton Keynes, we were honoured to be selected to carry out the atrium refurbishment project at the Parks Trust offices in Buckinghamshire. The project was especially interesting, due to the bespoke timberwork and natural colour scheme, which was chosen to fit in with the Park Trust’s ethos.”
Paul Dawson, Managing Director
This commercial office refurbishment in Buckinghamshire focused on transforming the office space at The Parks Trust. The Parks Trust are a charitable organisation and were looking to create and design a new collaborative workspace using the latest office design techniques. Our office refurbishment project included collaborative areas for employees to come together for ideation and a break from their desks. Featuring bespoke lighting and a relaxing environment for employees, this is one of our favourite office refurbs in Buckinghamshire!
“Graymatter is a prominent marketing agency in Milton Keynes, so we were very pleased to work with them for a second time at their Buckinghamshire office. Working within the scope of their updated brand, we enjoyed working with such a vibrant colour palette, and incorporating some quirky elements like the yellow door and faux fireplace.”
Paul Dawson, Managing Director
This particular Buckinghamshire office fit out and refurbishment saw us return to a previous client to help bring their ideas to life. With an updated brand, the creative marketing agency Graymatter needed an updated office space with functional, multipurpose workspaces. Our refurbishment and fit out included upgrading meeting areas for employees and setting out new break out areas for office workers. The refurbishment also included relaxed, functional furniture for a new and improved office space offering functionality and comfort throughout the day.
Our third and final favourite office refurb in Buckinghamshire features UCC Coffee in Milton Keynes. This office refurbishment involved an entire refurb of the UK headquarters in Milton Keynes, and took palace over a 52 week period. The office refurbishment included fitting out new offices, showrooms, training rooms, restaurants, coffee shops and workshop spaces. The Buckingham office refurb also included complete furniture installation, so the entire HQ was in keeping with the new redesign. We also incorporated mezzanine spaces and W/Cs into our office refurbishment, with a meticulous project plan to ensure that work disruption was kept to a minimum throughout the refurbishment.
To discover more about our office refurbishment services, click here. For more ideas and inspiration, read our case studies or feel free to contact us to learn more about our services.
Meridian Interiors are proud to be accredited members of FIS, the trade body of the £10 billion fit out, finishes and interiors sector.
FIS represents specialists in all aspects of the interior fit-out and finishes sector. As a vertically integrated organisation, FIS works with members from across the sector supply chain support best practice knowledge exchange, drive technical competence and support quality, through the FIS Product Process People Quality Framework.
FIS is a not-for-profit community, built around a strict code of conduct – members are subjected to regular ongoing vetting.
At Meridian Interiors, as specialists in commercial fit out and office refurbishment, we are advocates of producing high quality office installations, and are proud to be members of this dynamic and proactive community that is focused on delivering a better construction experience for all involved.
Paul Dawson, Managing Director, said: “FIS is a highly-regarded, well-respected organisation at the forefront of the sector that does much to uphold values and drive quality in our sector. We are delighted to be recognised as member of an organisation which is an essential component of the modern-day construction industry.”
Meridian exist to make our clients’ working life comfortable, achieving this by listening to and understanding the human side of their business. Teaming up with the FIS has cemented our commitment to our clients to uphold quality throughout the process, from design and space planning, through the quality in materials and workmanship, to the project management and consultation throughout the project.
Please contact us if you would like more information or guidance on your next project.
Read our office refurbishment checklist from the experts at Meridian Interiors.
Investing in your workspace is a positive way to update working practices within your organisation, boost staff morale and express your company’s brand. This guide walks you through the path involved in the office fit-out and refurbishment process, so you are well informed for your next office refit.
The Office Refurbishment Process
Deciding when to carry out an office refurb is a good place to start because it is a very involved process, so you need to have the time and dedication to commit to it. Utilising the skills of your own staff (IT, Facilities Management, Office Managers), coupled with an experienced office refurbishment and fit-out company, like Meridian Interiors can help the process run smoothly, ensuring important elements are not missed.
Stages of Office Refurbishment
There are a series of stages to work through to design, plan and implement a new office refurbishment. Even though the size, scale and cost can vary dramatically between projects, the process remains very similar.
Consultation
When you decide to carry out an office refurb, the first stage is referred to as the consultation stage. It is at this stage that initial conversations are had to establish what the goals are for the build, and how that will influence the design and planning stage.
At Meridian Interiors we focus on four fundamental concepts: Listening, Understanding, Creating and Delivering.
During the ‘Consultation phase’, office refurbishment companies will strive to take your vision and turn it into a reality. A workplace evaluation is paramount at this stage, where key people from your organisation set out the project parameters and review your main project objectives. Whether it be owners, managers of SMEs, facilities managers, maintenance teams, IT, finance, sales and marketing or operations managers, this is the first key step to ‘listening’ to your needs.
Design and development
Following the consultation and having defined your needs, the design and development of the project will need to be established using the framework below:
Headline Project Objectives
Team synergy in your organisation
Employee Habits & Wellbeing
Your Brand Themes
How the current space is utilised & performs
Requirements for expansion/future proofing
Analysis of these factors can then be used to determine what options and solutions your company can use to create the best possible working environment for stakeholders.
Planning
During the planning phase, it is important to understand how the budget can be used to achieve the desired result.
As planning a project is very involved, using both 2D and 3D drawings, can help shape the interior refurbishment and ensure all parties are on the same wavelength, after all a picture speaks a thousand words!
Build
Once the design and plans have been agreed, ‘creating’ and ‘delivering’ are the next steps.
Have a programme of works in place with your chosen office refurbishment company will help the project to stay on track. Regular meetings between stakeholders are important to ensure the project is built accordingly to plans and change management can be implemented, where necessary.
The final project needs to run according to the planned budget and therefore having a project manager, to control costs and lead times, is imperative to achieving an office refurbishment that fulfils the brief.
Office Refurbishment Solutions and Options
For an office interior refurbishment to be successful, changes and improvements to the areas discussed below are paramount. Office refurbishments can vary in scale, so you may be looking to change only one or two of these items, to establish a better working environment. Or you may be looking to make significant changes and incorporate all these items within your new scheme.
Suspended Ceilings
Many offices have suspended ceilings because they are a practical way to hide ductwork, cabling and pipework.
A suspended ceiling is made up of a grid system, which is suspended on wires, with ceiling tiles and light fittings fitted within the frame. A lighting design is recommended to ensure the correct lux level is achieved throughout the space.
Suspended ceilings make maintenance for air conditioning, power and lighting accessible and are therefore a practical addition to an office.
Lighting
The infrastructure behind a great office space needs to be well thought out and planned as part of the design process. Power, lighting, plumbing and HVAC systems are the elements of a design that make the aesthetics work.
As described in HSE’s Lighting at Work report, poor lighting at work can represent a significant cost to business in the form of:
Time off work because of accidents and injuries
Increased absenteeism
Reduced staff efficiency and productivity
Getting it right is therefore paramount for the health, well-being and productivity of employees.
Having a lighting design created for your specific layout is a useful design tool, both to ensure the correct aesthetics of the refurbishment and the practicalities of having the correct lighting in the right areas. For example, you may need specific task lighting for carrying out detailed work, more relaxed lighting in a breakout area or feature lighting to make an impact in a reception area.
Decorating
Decorating your workspace is an easy way of refreshing the space, without the need for a big budget. There is a seemingly endless range of wall coverings, paint colours and wall tiles. Using Meridian’s expertise in commercial office design, can help you to realise your ideas. It may be as simple as bringing in the colours from your company’s brand or selecting a style and colour you like!
As part of a larger project, decoration can form an integral element of the overall aesthetics of the office interior design and with a little creativity and inspiration, you can create a ‘wow’ factor or point of difference, setting your business apart from the competition.
Partitioning
Partitioning needs to be considered to create a fully flexible working office, as it offers privacy, better acoustics, meeting rooms, departmental layout, and safety, while offering enough personal space for workers to feel individually valued and productive.
Meridian can provide many different types of partitioning systems for the modern office or industrial environment.
Drywall Systems
Jumbo Stud Partitions
Industrial Steel Partitioning
Fully Glazed Partitioning Systems
Glazing
Glazing, used in partitioning, has the added benefit of allowing light to flow throughout the office.
Natural lighting in an office is incredibly important. Employees will favour natural light for its many properties, as discussed in this article: Must-Have Office Features Employees Will Love.
We discussed how incorporating as much natural light into an area as possible and positioning workstations evenly throughout the area can be beneficial to employee’s well-being. A 2018 Harvard Business Review reports a study concluding that workers in daylight office environments reported a 51% drop in the incidence of eyestrain, a 63% drop in the incidence of headaches and a 56% reduction in drowsiness.
Flooring
Flooring is so versatile and a great way of zoning a space, without the need for partitioning it physically. Different types of flooring with varying textures, patterns and colours can make a big impact to an office refurbishment.
There is suitable flooring for every budget, use and colour scheme, making it a great way to freshen up an office space, re-purpose an area or adding an injection of colour or branding.
Breakout Areas
As a focal point within a workspace, a place where employees can interact socially, have drinks, have some lunch or catch up for an informal meeting, we believe the provision of a well-designed kitchen and breakout area, is essential in any workplace.
The space available will help with the design process, along with creative input from an office fit-out specialist and the analysis of how employees would like to use the space.
If you would like to discuss your next office refurbishment, Meridian Interiors are celebrating 20 years of experience this year and enjoy helping clients design and plan their office schemes.
Office Refurbishment Checklist
An office refurbishment can completely revitalise your office space, and transform your workplace into a modern, stylish space that employees can enjoy. With regular studies finding that increased employee happiness links strongly to productivity, it’s no wonder that an inviting office space is on many employees’ wish lists. After all, if you spend so much time at work, why wouldn’t you want to invest in an office space that ticks all the boxes?
Step 1.
Identify your needs and objectives. This should be the easy part! Ask yourself, why do you want to refurbish your office? What do you want to gain from your office space?
These are simple enough questions, but they can help you finalise a goal from your office revamp, so you don’t go off track along the way, which is far easier to do than you might think.
Consider these points below…
Expansion: Do you need to create more room? Facilities: Do these need to be upgraded? Workplace environment: Is your reason for wanting to create a nicer place for your employees to improve wellbeing, or to improve productivity? Legislation: Do you need your space to meet new government guidelines or /legislation?
Step 2.
Identify who needs to be involved in the project.
This includes company members and external companies. Depending on the size and scope of the refurb, you may find yourself liaising with additional companies, for example, if you are upgrading your company logos or signage, you’ll likely need to find a supplier and work with them on the design.
Company members: How will your team members and employees be involved with the project? Will they be involved directly or indirectly? Consider all departments from your financial team to human resources and management to marketing. They will all have an important input.
External companies: Employee unions and regulators, external professional services involved will need to be considered.
Step 3.
Talk to your Landlord It is important that you keep your landlord fully up to date with any plans you have to refurbish your space and that they have given you permission to make those changes.
TOP TIP: Remember, you may need to obtain a ‘License to Alter’. This ensures the landlord is aware of all changes so an accurate and detailed Alter can be drawn up.
Step 4
Choose a reputable office design and refurbishment company.
It is important to choose a reputable company to work with, things to look out for are their reputation, experience, and previous projects.
Step 5
Initial consultation
● Headline Project Objectives: To stay organised it is important to set objectives to ensure all parties involved are aware of the timeline and project outcomes.
● Team synergy in your organisation: Create an environment that allows a team. to come together and collaborate, plan spaces that inspire synergy.
● Employee Habits & Wellbeing: Your team spends 8 hours a day in the office. . Create a space where their well-being is boosted and create places within these. spaces that incorporate healthy habits.
● Your Brand Themes: Allow your team to live and breathe the brand they work for by using the themes of your brand within your business.
● How the current space is utilised & performs: Understand what is already working and what isn’t. Speak to your team, spend a day in different areas of your office to understand the dynamics.
Step 6
Identify your budget vs expenses of the project you want to carry out.
Get quotes on every aspect of the project and understand your budget. The project will include expenses and fees from transactional fees to planning permission to contingency costs. Prepare for these as early as possible by budgeting as early as possible.
Step 7
Identify when the best time to start your project is.
You’ll ideally want to avoid disruption as much as possible to day-to-day productivity in the office. Obviously, some disruption is expected, but you can plan this well to avoid it colliding with a busy time of year, for example.
When is your quietest time of year? When can you fit this in when it will not affect day-to-day operations too much, can your team remote work during this? Also, consider the environment around your office.
Step 8.
Design considerations
2D and 3D drawings: Consider the best designs using both 2D and 3D drawings to understand the use of space. This will help the refurbishment company to thoroughly understand your vision.
Interior design: The design, branding, and colours will feed into all aspects of the refurbishment and design, and these should be considered during the design process.
Furniture: If you are planning on keeping your current furniture or planning on buying new, ensure to plan your purchases around the design. Furniture is very important to the look of your new refurbishment.
Lighting: Positioning of your lighting will affect the look of your design and your employee’s work life. This is also a health consideration.
Glazing: To allow appropriate lighting and to conserve heat, whilst blocking out sound from the outside. Work with your refurbishment company to choose the most appropriate glazing.
Flooring: Appropriate flooring will complete the look of an office and ensure a safe place for employees to walk around on.
Storage: A new space allows for new storage solutions; correct planning will allow you to take advantage of all new storage opportunities. Storage whilst your refurbishment takes place is also essential to store your equipment and office suppliers.
DDA Compliance: It is important to comply with DDA, the law requires you to consider the needs of current and future employees.
Please contact us if you would like our guidance. You can email us on[email protected] or ring 0333 3448 772 today.
As an office fit out and refurbishment company, we wanted to put an all-encompassing article together to assist our readers with all aspects of office refurbishment, using our experience and real-life case studies.
Within this article we cover the following:
What does an office refurbishment involve?
Who carries out an office refurbishment?
Cost of an office refurbishment
What does an office refurbishment company do?
Benefits of Office Refurbishment
Examples of office refurbishment
What is the difference between an office refurbishment and an office fit out?
What Does an Office Refurbishment Involve?
Office refurbishment could be described as the renovation of a workspace. It is often a method of modernising, refreshing and revamping a space, not necessarily to change its function or layout, although this can form a part of the refurbishment. More likely, it is to be initiated by new branding, an increase or reduction in staff or updating the space to offer employees a better working environment.
Who Carries Out an Office Refurbishment?
Businesses who are focused on the well-being of their employees are either aware or keen to learn about how their office can help to produce a positive working environment (that may be why you are reading this article!). Job satisfaction and productivity are both key benefits to a well thought out office refit project, along with a positive impression to both stakeholders and visitors alike.
Once a need has been identified, contacting an office refurbishment specialist is paramount to producing a successful project.
Cost of an Office Refurbishment
An office refurb project can vary dramatically from simple redecoration to a full modernisation and therefore the attributed costs can vary significantly.
Elements that may be considered in an office refurbishment project are:
● Partitioning ● Lighting ● Flooring ● Joinery ● Data cabling/ AV cabling ● Breakout areas ● Reception areas ● Ceiling Refurbishment ● Suspended ceilings ● Mezzanine floors ● Suspended ceilings
As each project is unique, with the scope of works and size of the office influencing refurbishment costs, a detailed breakdown of all elements is essential and having a budget to work to is very useful. Working with an Office Refurbishment specialist will establish if your budget can be used for a basic, mid or high spec finish.
What Does an Office Refurbishment Company Do?
An office fit out and refurbishment company will work to listen and understand the needs of your project and create and deliver a design and subsequent fit out based on your needs.
Businesses are experts in their own field, whether they offer a product or service, however, unless your company offers interior refurbishment or office refurb, you will need to seek guidance from a specialist in these areas to assist with your refurbishment project. And we exist to make your working life comfortable.
During initial consultations, trained staff will be listening to and understanding the human side of your business, because creating your perfect office design is all about asking the right questions.
Office refurbishment companies often have a wealth of experience and innovative skills to deliver high-quality projects that are aesthetically pleasing, whilst providing practicality to suit your everyday business needs.
Case Study
Working with The Parks Trust in Buckinghamshire is an exemplary example of collaboration and the importance of using an office refurbishment company. As a charity who care for parks and green spaces in Milton Keynes, they were keen to use a lot of timber in their design for the collaborative workspace and break-out area. Utilising our expertise and talented craftsmen, we were able to create a stunning space in The Parks Trust’s atrium.
Ally Phillips, Senior Property manager at The Parks Trust highlighted one of the benefits she found from using an experience office refurbishment company. “Meridian were happy to provide a chain of custody of the timber required, as this was a major part of the design”.
As previously mentioned, every brief and budget are different and every client’s requirements unique to their brand and workplace environment. A one size fits all approach just would not work for providing a well-thought out and executed refurbishment project, which is where working with an experience office refurbishment company matters. We create workspaces that not only look good, but also promote wellbeing in the workplace, leading to increase productivity for your business.
Benefits of Office Refurbishment
There are many benefits for carrying out an interior refurbishment in your office and some will be specific to individual businesses. Detailed below are a selection of the more common ones.
Growth and Future-proofing
As a business expands, an office refurbishment may be generated, as teams may change in dynamic and size. This would be a good opportunity to discuss the most efficient ways of working and how space planning could assist with this, as future proofing the layout at this stage is time well spent.
Updating Furniture
Technology improvements and scientific research into the ergonomic benefits of workplace furniture is ongoing. In recent years, sit-stand desks have been advocated in many working environments and much research has been written about their benefits. Sit-stand desks have become particularly popular among millennials and some even expect one as part of their package when they start a new job. A refurbishment is an ideal opportunity to take stock of existing office furniture and explore modern options, which can help staff well-being.
Introducing new technologies
As technology changes, so often does the space. From larger server cupboards, ‘Zoom’ rooms, to considerations around remote working and the potential change of use of offices, to meeting and collaborative hubs. Embracing these developments within your refurbishment will assist with more agile working practices.
Opportunity to change the working environment
In many modern working environments staff complain about noisy spaces, making it hard to concentrate because of background noise or overbearing office lighting, lack of natural light or good ventilation. As these elements are intrinsic to creating a healthy working environment, as detailed in our article ‘How to Design a Productive Office Environment’, a refurbishment project is a perfect time to consider these factors and include them into your plans.
Creating a new identity
If your current workspace has become a bit dated or run down, this can reflect negatively on your brand, as visual impression is paramount to your corporate identity. An interior refurbishment is therefore advantageous and an opportunity to affect business progression, through staff morale and productivity, following positive investment in their working environment.
As explained throughout this article an office refurbishment can mean something different to each company. This project involved demolition, installation of new suspended ceilings, updates to lighting, decoration, glazing installation, bespoke joinery, a kitchen fit-out and fitting new flooring.
The result is a modernised workplace, utilising the space more effectively and providing staff with a working environment and break-out area, flooded with natural light and refreshing colour palette.
A different project saw Meridian Interiors carry out a complete high-end office refurbishment, incorporating our client’s re-branding exercise, which was complemented with a new office furniture installation.
Incorporating impressive design, good products and skilled workmanship, the following elements were incorporated into the scheme; space planning, upgrading meeting areas, partitioning and screening, an operable and sliding wall installation, bespoke joinery, kitchen fit-out, tea point and break-out refurbishment, W/C refurbishments, decoration, carpet & luxury vinyl tile installation and supplying both functional and relaxed furniture.
These images show the creation of this stunning office environment.
What is the difference between an office refurbishment and an office fit out?
Office refurbishment and office fit out are often used interchangeably because they are very similar.
The key difference is that an office fit out may be completed within a new building and an office refurbishment project can be considered to be undertaken in an existing building/space.
A fit out is the process of creating an interior workspace suitable for use, involving the implementation of electrical and mechanical systems, followed by internal decoration and furniture installation. There are different levels of fit out, depending on who is developing the space, the landlord or the tenant.
The term Category A (Cat A) fit out, generally involves fitting out the core of a building, to possibly include amenity areas, staircases, corridors, lobbies or reception areas.
The term Category B (Cat B) fit outs are more reflective of the works completed in the tenants or owners demise, possibly the office or workshops where the client will operate their business.
Whatever your level of office refurbishment requirement, Meridian Interiors have the knowledge and expertise to create an amazing workspace! Discover our office refurbishment services here or contact us today to find out more.
The WNSMK began as a response to urgent need when, during the severe winter of 2010, Milton Keynes Council became aware of a number of homeless people sleeping in bin stores, despite freezing temperatures and thick snow on the ground. At the time the YMCA was the only viable option for many, and with their beds full, a new solution was needed. A conference brought together people from various interested agencies to discuss the issue, and the concept of the Winter Night Shelter MK was born.
The WNSMK supports the homeless in Milton Keynes by providing them with a meal and temporary emergency accommodation. Furthermore, their dedicated welfare team helps people in countless ways, including helping people to access counselling services and medical care, providing access to laundry facilities and clean clothes, advocacy with authorities, the recovery of missing ID, support to apply for jobs and attend interviews, transport to work, help to find family and many other things. They do what is needed for the person who needs their help.
Last winter, the WNSMK closed their 8th season of operation, and it was their busiest season yet, a sign that unfortunately the need for the help they provide continues to grow. Between 1st November last year and 29th March 2019, the WNSMK was assisted by 931 volunteers and served around 11,900 meals over the cold months. The shelter accommodated 114 rough sleepers (99 men and 15 women), an increase of 65% from last year, with 66 of these successfully moved into longer-term accommodation. The WNSMK has also been able to assist their guests successfully in finding permanent employment opportunities.
How Meridian has helped
As a local business, we take pride in helping build the community, bringing opportunities and support wherever we can. Over the years, Meridian has helped WNSMK in different ways.
Late 2018, Meridian Interiors was procured to help fit out a meeting room, needing to be installed in the recently refurbished Unity Park Station in Central Milton Keynes. Alongside the volunteers, we worked tirelessly to provide an area that would be fit to help both the guests and the staff change their lives and others around them.
Take a look at the renovation below:
More recently, family member Carl Tucker completed a double header of both London and MK marathon’s back-to-back, raising almost £800 in support of the WNSMK. Running the London Marathon in just 2 hours 44 minutes. One week later running the MK marathon in just 3 hours 2 minutes. Phewwwww!
All in all, Meridian are constantly looking for ways to help the charities closest to our hearts, as we believe a supportive community, is a happy one!
Discover the secrets to mastering office services from office experts, Meridian Interiors Ltd.
Office services are a little bit like oxygen. You never truly realise how important they are until they are gone. When an essential facility like hot water or electricity is no longer available, this can cause significant disruption to the business and can even impact operations to the point where a closure is inevitable until resolution is achieved.
How can a business effectively deliver services in the office environment and ensure that they are available as needed?
Electricians
The electrical systems in a business should have been set up during the construction phase and are generally fine for years without requiring changes or alterations. However regular testing is required of all electrical systems to ensure that these are safe and do not present any danger to workers in the office environment. PAT testing covers appliances – the more often an appliance is used the more frequently it should be tested.
Communication Services
Even though wireless technology is available, most businesses prefer to use the lightning speeds offered by gigabit ethernet cabling for their users. As loose lay cables are a prohibited hazard in most workplaces, this type of network is usually installed in structured housing throughout the office. All services including internet connectivity can be delivered through this network.
One of the advantages of modern networks is that the need for separate services has been rapidly diminished. Whilst some companies may still prefer to use PBX systems and conventional phone lines, an increasingly prevalent picture in the business arena is the office that entirely hosts all contact devices on the internet.
Voice Over IP (VOIP) systems have evolved over the past decade and no longer experience the drop offs and line distortion that have been a decisive factor that have prevented many businesses from implementing them in the past. Now with structured cabling present in most offices for the provision of essential network services, VOIP is becoming an increasingly attractive proposition.
Technology Trends
One of the most significant changes in communication technology has been the arrival of the Smartphone and business tablet in recent times. Clients and customers often expect businesses to offer a public Wi-Fi service to allow them to connect their devices to a communication network.
There are significant dangers associated with delivering this service and it is vital that there is sufficient encryption or security between the publicly available network and the business network. Additionally, the public password should be changed daily to prevent unauthorised third parties using the network to acquire sensitive information from your visitors.
A Final Word
As with all business services the most important consideration for an office management company is establishing strong connections with local professionals who have the staff levels and abilities to consistently meet your service demands. If you are experiencing difficulties in finding the companies to fulfil these expectations then referrals from your existing clients can be a vital factor in locating a competent provider.
When the time comes to choose a fit-out partner for your office refurbishment or redevelopment project, where do you start?
If you type the words ‘design and fit-out company in the UK’ into Google, you’ll have more than 75 million hits in less than a second. So when the time comes to choose a fit-out partner for your own office refurbishment or redevelopment project, where do you start? Meridian Interiors has this advice for companies that want to source the right partner every time.
No matter how small or vast the project in question, when you are choosing a fit-out partner you will need to know the answers to three basic but critically important questions.
Can they do it?
The first thing to consider is the company’s capability and expertise. Are they big enough to cope? Do they have the resources in place to tackle any particular technical challenges?
Will they do it well?
If they could undertake your project in theory, how might they perform in practice? Do they have the financial and corporate integrity required to complete the job to the right standard, on time and to the agreed budget?
Can I trust them?
In the fit-out world, mistakes can be very costly. If the answers to 1) and 2) are yes and yes, it’s time to make doubly sure by conducting a thorough check of the company’s credentials.
Here’s our 7 Step Guide to check you’re choosing the right partner:
1. Define your requirements
Firstly – what do you want your fit-out partner to do?
Are you looking for a simple refurbishment of your current premises, or a complete redesign? Is this for a small office, or an entire building? Do you need more space? And if so, does that space need new plumbing, heating, air conditioning, telecoms, IT? Will you need to relocate a few people, or a few hundred people, while the work is carried out? Once you have outlined the scope of your project you are ready to begin the hunt for the perfect fit-out partner.
2. Draw up a long list
If you’re starting from scratch, with no past suppliers to call or recommendations to explore, a quick Internet search should identify dozens of fit-out companies that operate in your area, with websites testifying to their prowess and experience. Reviewing and comparing their claims and client lists will give you a rough idea whether they could tackle a project like yours. Given that you will need to investigate each one of the companies on your long list in more depth, it is worth limiting your efforts to five or six that seem to meet your requirements best – on paper at least.
Once you have a long list prepared, start looking into each company a bit further and reducing your selection to a shortlist of three or four that you would like to meet face to face.
3. Who and how will you decide
Before you call the different companies in to pitch for your business, decide up front how you will evaluate the contenders.
Consider every angle: There will be many different factors to consider, so your interview panel or steering committee must have the ability to question the presenters on all aspects of the job. This includes the design and planning, cost, timelines, IT requirements, infrastructure changes, project management and impact on the day-to-day business.
Seek independent advice: If you don’t have this level of know-how in house, you can recruit a third party consultant to help you with the selection process at the very least. (if your project is substantial you may be wise to employ an independent project manager too).
Don’t repent at leisure: Even if one company seems to stand out from the start, don’t rush in to making a commitment as an easy win may cause the successful party to become complacent. The harder a company has to work for your business, the more they will value it.
4. Assess their capability & expertise
Each design and fit out company will send along a ‘pitch team’ to bid for your business. The make-up of the team will tell you a lot about the company and how it’s organised. For example, most teams will include a project leader and a senior designer and possibly a pre-construction manager. Other various experts may also be brought along to explain how they would manage some of the technical aspects of the project (IT specialists, for example).
The team will work together to excite your interest with striking representations of their ideas for your project with 3D visuals. Don’t get swept away by the design alone – it’s your job to dig deeper and question how this work will be carried out, when, and by whom.
Make sure you ask:
Will the pitch team be involved in delivering the project?
Have they worked together on other projects?
Will they be using freelancers or third party consultants at any stage? If so, which services are they outsourcing? How will they manage the project to ensure your business remains a priority to everyone involved?
Are they pitching for other business that will run alongside your project? Could your timeframes be compromised as a result?
Can they guarantee the designs you are being shown are priced up and within your budget? Has anything been slipped in for added impact?
Will the people who have prepared the specification and costs you are seeing be the ones managing the build phase?
Would they arrange for you to see one of their finished projects, or one they have in progress?
5. Do the due diligence
Even the smallest office fit-out will involve a significant sum of money, so you need to be sure that your investment is safe. Don’t take their word for it. Check for yourself that any company you may choose to appoint is financially stable.
Find out:
Is the company’s turnover and cash position sufficient to support the size of the project?
Are they creditworthy and able to negotiate better prices (for materials, furniture etc) on your behalf?
Do they have appropriate insurance in place and at a suitable level for your project (employers liability insurance, public and product liability insurance, contracts all risk insurance)?
Do they have an excellent health and safety record?
Do they manage all aspects of their work in an environmentally sustainable way – or will your own green credentials be at risk if you appoint them?
Would they agree to a financial penalty for late completion, or take out a performance bond as a guarantee that they will deliver on their promise?
6. Check credentials
Before you appoint any company to work for you, look and see how well they have done for others. The pitch presentation is likely to include photos of completed projects and quotes from happy customers. So ask to speak to a few of the customers directly. It’s the best way to find out what went on behind the scenes – and how they dealt with any challenges they faced along the way.
Look for:
Names you recognise and repeat customers on their client list.
Any recognised accreditations that indicate how they manage their business, such as the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management mark, or BREEAM® eco-friendly compliance.
Construction or design related awards or nominations for past work.
7. Draw up the contract
You’ve chosen a fit-out company based on what you believe they can deliver. Now it’s time to put it in writing.
Make sure all of your expectations are documented along with the timeframes and costs involved.
Add in the penalties they can expect to incur should any aspect of the project fall below the stated standards.
Ask them to sign on the bottom line!
Great, you’ve just appointed your perfect fit-out partner and can look forward to the finished result.
Electricians