Whether you’re a growing business looking to create your first workspace, relocating your team to a new office or refurbishing your existing space, we understand that the process can be daunting.
To help you get to grips with some of the industry jargon you might come across when doing your research, we’ve put together the following list of common terms used by office design and build companies so you can better understand what we’re all talking about…
Workplace consultancy
Workplace consultancy is the process of exploring how you use your existing workspace, including your current ways of working, tech utilisation and sustainability. It also considers your team’s wants and needs, demographic and location, in order to create a future office design that is tailored specifically to your people and your business’ needs.
Agile working
Agile working is centred on the belief and understanding that work is ‘an activity not a place’.
It’s about working in the most appropriate and effective way to complete a particular task, but without the restraint of place, work setting or even time. Office design and build can support this by creating spaces which offer a wide variety of settings such as traditional desks, quiet pods, collaboration tables and breakout areas.
Hybrid working
Hybrid working is different from agile working. It’s where employees spend some of their time working remotely, typically from home, and some from the office. Over recent years, the number of companies operating hybrid working models risen meaning office design has had to adapt to accommodate this. The role of tech is increasingly important to ensure seamless connectivity between those working in the office and those working remotely, while the type and number of workplace settings companies require has also shifted to support flexibility and occupancy levels.
Coworking
Put simply, coworking spaces are offices managed by a dedicated provider where multiple tenants rent working space – either single desks or office suites – and have the use of shared facilities such as meeting rooms, breakout areas and wellness amenities.
Sharing these communal facilities helps to spread the operating cost of running an office across tenants and reduces the risk of taking on a long-term lease. They have traditionally been favoured by smaller organisations or start-ups however in recent years, coworking spaces are increasingly being occupied by larger companies looking to reduce office space and embrace flexible working.
Fit-out
The term ‘office fit-out’ is used frequently in the office design and build sector and is simply the process of transforming an empty space into one that is suitable for the requirements of your business. What’s involved could range from completing the basics to make a space functional to a full design and build.
Refurbishment
Office refurbishment usually refers to revamping an existing workspace which is no longer meeting the needs of your business. It could involve a complete office redesign or be as simple as creating a new layout or updating the furniture and decor.
Shell and core
When people refer to the shell and core, or a shell and core fit out, they are talking about the first phase of a building’s fit-out. The building envelope (shell) and basic inside (core) are in place, usually including the mains water system and electrical supply, but all other interior works such as partitions, flooring, wall coverings and lighting, will not be installed. Essentially, the completed space will just be a shell that is ready for a bespoke fit-out by the landlord or incoming tenant.
Cat A
A Cat (category) A fit-out is the process of preparing a space so it’s ready for a company to create its own unique workspace in. So while simple finishes such as raised floors and suspended ceilings may be included, the finished result will be a blank canvas.
Cat B
A Cat B fit-out involves converting a space which has usually undergone a Cat A refurbishment into a bespoke workplace, in line with the incoming tenant’s bespoke needs and design. The finished space will be a fully functioning workplace including everything from work settings, internal walls and meeting rooms to tech, décor and branding.
Cat A+
A Cat A+ fit-out sits between Cat A and Cat B, and combines all the elements of a CAT A fit-out plus some additional features usually completed as part of a CAT B fit-out. Sometimes referred to as ‘plug and play’ solutions, CAT A+ fit-outs are being increasingly favoured by coworking providers wanting to provide potential tenants with spaces that can be occupied immediately without the need for a costly CAT B fit-out.
CAT A+ schemes also allow landlords and developers to position properties competitively in the evolving office space market, making them attractive to a broader range of tenants by offering a flexible and cost-effective option that strikes a balance between customisation and functionality.
FFE
FFE or FF&E stands for furniture, fixtures, and equipment. In office design and build projects this will include furniture to help the space function, such as desks, chairs and meeting room tables as well as furnishings to add style such as rugs, artwork and plants.
M&E
M&E stands for mechanical and electrical services. Design and build specialists usually work with a trusted subcontractor or facilities management company to deliver the M&E services for a fit-out project. M&E services might include power supply, telecommunications, lighting, air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems etc.
Space plans / GA
Once you reach the design phase of your project, you may hear people refer to GA (General Arrangement) drawings or space/floor plans, which essentially mean the same thing. GA drawings or space plans will show how the components of your new space will fit together within your floorplate and are used throughout the fit-out process. They will help you visualise the layout and flow of your space, including the positioning of any internal walls, meeting rooms, furniture, equipment etc.
PC
PC stands for ‘Practical Completion’ and is the most exciting time of your project, as it signifies the end of the construction or fit-out phase, meaning your new workplace is ready for occupation!
An office refurbishment is one of the biggest investments you can make as a business so it’s important to get it right to ensure return on investment. We appreciate that knowing where to start can be overwhelming, so if you’re looking for guidance on creating the perfect workplace for your team we’d love to help.