Transitioning to a new office space is an opportunity to assess your current needs and plan for future success. Whatever your reason for leaving your old space, this move is your chance to make all the changes you’ve been dreaming of — and even the ones you haven’t thought of yet!
At BnK Construction, we have 75+ years of combined experience developing and building office spaces in Portland, Oregon. Everything we’ve learned over the decades has given us a lot of insight into what makes a smooth and successful office transition.
Here are our tips:
Assess your current space first
Before you start planning your new space, it’s important to have a clear picture of what you’re looking for. Then you can start making lists or rough sketches of the features you want in your new office space.
The easiest way to get started is to take an honest look at your current office. What’s working and what’s not? Talk to your employees about what they like and don’t like. You might even consider an anonymous survey to encourage brutally honest answers.
In addition to the basic layout and function of your office space, think about what you could improve when it comes to…
- Light levels
- Temperature (heating and cooling)
- Air quality
- Noise levels
- Ease of movement throughout the office
- Safety and ergonomics
You’ll also want to consider less tangible but equally important factors like employee experience and productivity.
Good site selection helps you plan for your future
Is your company growing? What are your goals and expectations for the next 2-5 years, or even further? When you’re choosing a site for your new office space, you’ll want to consider your future needs as well as your current ones.
Are you planning to significantly increase your workforce in the next few years? Branch into new markets? Provide more office perks, like a bigger kitchen or more private workspaces? Whatever your goals are, make sure the location you choose for your new office is right for you.
Finding the perfect place in a competitive market like Portland’s may not be possible, but if you can find a place with the right potential, a good contractor can help you transform it into your dream office space!
If you haven’t found a new location yet, consider working with a commercial contractor, like BnK Construction, who can help with site selection.
Great offices begin with inspiration
Once you’ve chosen a site for your new office, it’s time to start planning your new office. Whether you’ll be building your new office from the ground up or remodeling an existing space, you want your new office to reflect your company’s values and personality.
Be bold, be unique, but don’t be afraid to look at other office spaces for inspiration. If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at:
- Websites like Office Snapshots that take you behind the scenes of companies around the world
- The offices of your industry peers and competitors
- Our industry-specific portfolios with photos of our past projects
A great office offers your business a competitive advantage
The look and feel of your office has a huge impact on everyone who walks through your door. A well-crafted office can increase productivity, encourage a strong and unique company culture, and improve happiness and well-being.
If your office is one that hosts customers or clients, then you already know how important it is to create an atmosphere that makes them feel welcome and comfortable. Especially when it comes to dental and medical offices, the little extra comforts can make all the difference for patients who are apprehensive or nervous. For example, on-site parking (even if it’s a small lot) and a soothing waiting room can make appointments much less daunting.
Choose the right team
The first thing most business owners look for in a commercial construction company is experience, and for good reason. Great results don’t lie! If someone has already completed many beautiful construction and remodel projects for businesses in your industry, there’s a good chance they’ll be able to deliver those same results for you.
- Ask your friends in the industry for recommendations
- Look at contractors’ past projects
- Read online reviews and testimonials
- Write a list of specific questions to ask every contractor you’re considering
One of the most important — and most often overlooked — elements of a successful partnership with a contractor is trust. We have always believed that the best contractors are focused on building lasting relationships based on trust and great communication.
Do you need a temporary office space?
Some office transitions are smooth and seamless: you hire a moving company to move your office over the weekend and you’re ready to hit the ground running on Monday morning. In many cases, though, there could be a time gap between your last day in your current space and your first day in your new space. This usually happens for one of two reasons:
- Your current lease is up before your new office will be move-in ready
- You’re remodeling your current office instead of moving
If you’re in one of these situations, think about whether it makes sense to simply put business on hold until your new space is ready. If not, consider renting a temporary space as close to your new office as possible.
Planning on remodeling your office space or building from the ground up?
If you’re in the Portland area, talk to us at BnK Construction. We have experience in all aspects of construction for a wide variety of commercial spaces, including Class A, dental, medical, veterinary, retail, hospitality, and restaurants.
We’re completely dedicated to your vision. When we work with you, your goals become our goals. We’ll listen carefully to your wants and desires, provide insight from our decades of local construction experience, and turn your ideas into an amazing new office space that helps you reach your business objectives.
Contact us online or give us a call at (503) 557-0866 to talk to us about your project. We can’t wait to get inspired by your vision for your new office!