FAQS

To increase natural light:

• Use glass partitions instead of solid walls
• Position desks near windows
• Opt for light, reflective finishes on walls and floors
• Consider skylights or light shelves in design

Natural light improves productivity, mood, and reduces energy costs

A great office design improves well-being by creating inviting spaces to relax, socialise, and enjoy breaks (like a comfortable lounge or kitchen). But it also prioritises accessibility for all employees.

For productivity, design uses ergonomics and specific zoning (quiet areas for focus, open areas for collaboration) to match the space to the task.

 For a full checklist, see our guide: The Complete Office Design Checklist.

Our Office Design service is a fully managed, in-house process that includes initial consultations and space planning to define your strategic goals. We deliver a complete visual package, including detailed 3D renders and selection of all office furniture and fittings, to ensure your design is functional, stylish, and ready for implementation.

Timescales are based on the size of your project and whether there are any complications involved. We agree prior to works commencing what these will be. We can ensure that our projects are delivered on time with as little disruption caused if working in a live office.

Yes, of course! Our leasing service is excellent, allowing you to spread the cost of your project over a period of time. Please get in touch if this is something you are interested in hearing more about.

The terms Cat A fit-out and Cat B fit-out define the completion level of a commercial space:

• Category A (Cat A): This provides the basic structural elements, the “blank canvas.” A Cat A fit-out typically includes raised floors, suspended ceilings, and basic mechanical and electrical (M&E) services. The space is functional but unfinished, often with basic or industrial-standard walls and floors.
• Category B (Cat B): This transforms the Cat A space into a fully operational, bespoke office. A Cat B fit-out covers all the design details from partitions, finishes, furniture, dedicated meeting rooms, and IT infrastructure, to create a workspace ready for your team to move in.

In short, Cat A is the shell; Cat B is your tailored, move-in-ready office.

Our commercial office refurbishment services are designed to meet strategic business goals, such as modernising an outdated workspace to improve collaboration, attract new talent, and support future growth. By upgrading your existing office, you create a more productive, inspiring environment without the hassle of relocating.

We provide comprehensive, floor-to-ceiling office refurbishment services. This includes everything from initial layout design, redecoration, and structural updates (like ceilings & partitioning) to the final installation of ergonomic furniture, updated lighting, air conditioning, and new carpet and flooring.

We use a collaborative and agile approach tailored to ensure minimal disruption to your operations. Our team works closely with you and actively encourages input from your staff throughout the project to keep the timeline on track and meet your expectations.

Our process includes a dedicated Future Proofing stage, where the initial designs are tested against various common business scenarios (e.g., changes in team size, hybrid work models, and new technology adoption). This ensures the final detailed brief and layout specifications (including the number and types of workspaces) are grounded in evidence, aligned with strategy, and ready to adapt as your business grows, ensuring the longevity and adaptability of your investment.

We collect both qualitative and quantitative data to understand how the existing space is actually used, not just how it’s intended to be used. This process includes Surveys, interviews, and shadowing to gain real user insight into workflows and the specific needs of teams and individuals. By analysing this data, we identify trends, inefficiencies, and opportunities, providing intelligent insights that guide smarter design decisions and ensure the new space is built around your people not just for show.

While aesthetic appeal is important, designs driven only by trends often result in spaces that are poorly aligned with the needs of your teams, leading to suffering collaboration and limited flexibility. Our analysis helps you balance aesthetic appeal with practical functionality. By defining goals and collecting user data, we ensure the design actively boosts productivity, well-being, and job satisfaction, creating a space that allows all occupants to truly excel.

Office dilapidation is the process of restoring a commercial workspace to its original condition when a lease ends, as often required by your dilapidation clause. Failing to meet these end-of-lease obligations by carrying out necessary repairs, redecoration, and removal of installations can lead to costly financial claims from your landlord.

Yes. As specialists, we manage all required end-of-lease office repairs and reinstatement, including damaged walls, flooring, washroom facilities, and the removal of features like office partitioning and suspended ceilings. We ensure every repair is completed to a high standard for a smooth, hassle-free handover.

Our comprehensive, fully managed service covers everything needed for a compliant handover. This includes all decoration and repairs (walls, flooring, ceilings), removal of built-in furniture and unwanted waste, stripping out electrics, and coordinating with landlords to ensure final compliance.

High-quality, modern, and ergonomic office furniture is the foundation of a successful workspace. It supports employee wellbeing by prioritizing comfort and posture (like through adjustable chairs and desks), which reduces strain, enhances focus, and ultimately boosts staff performance.

We are independent, allowing us to source a wide range of high-quality products from multiple manufacturers, including height-adjustable desks, ergonomic seating, and contemporary storage units. We also partner with craftsmen for bespoke fitted office furniture tailored to your space and brand.

Yes, we offer a “TRY BEFORE YOU BUY” service. This unique approach allows your team to experience key furniture items, such as ergonomic office seating and desks, in your actual workspace to ensure they provide the perfect fit for both layout and employee functionality before you make a final commitment.

Future-proofing is achieved by moving away from fixed infrastructure toward modular and flexible design solutions. This includes specifying adjustable or mobile benching systems, establishing utility grids, and planning for expansion space. This strategic approach ensures the lab can easily adapt to changing research needs, new equipment, and increased staffing without the need for costly and disruptive major refurbishments down the line.

We prioritise energy savings through optimised M&E integration, particularly focusing on the HVAC systems, which are often the largest energy consumers. This involves designing for the right number of air changes per hour (ACH) and utilising energy-efficient technologies like Variable Air Volume (VAV) controls where appropriate. These careful specifications ensure the lab operates with minimal environmental impact and significantly reduce your long-term running costs.

We start by developing a detailed User Requirements Specification (URS) alongside your team during our design workshops. This document defines the exact workflow, equipment needs, and containment levels. This foundation ensures the subsequent design, from the layout and ergonomics to the M&E integration (HVAC, utilities), inherently meets all necessary safety and regulatory standards from local authorities and industry bodies like HSE, guaranteeing a compliant and safe environment from day one.

Our turnkey service covers the entire project lifecycle, transforming any space into a fully commissioned, operational facility. This includes the initial strip-out, all necessary structural work (partitioning, flooring, ceilings), the installation of specialised laboratory furniture, and the complex M&E services (ventilation, air conditioning, chemical extraction, and gas line installation). We manage all subcontractors and sequencing, ensuring a smooth, compliant, and on-time handover by being your single point of accountability.

We treat the integration of specialised equipment as critical infrastructure, not just installation. This involves expert fitting and rigorous testing for fume cupboards to ensure they meet stringent airflow and safety standards before use. Similarly, all laboratory gas lines are installed by certified technicians and commissioned with pressure testing to guarantee integrity, functionality, and the highest level of safety and compliance.

Our attention to detail and finishing touches extends beyond aesthetics; it’s about durability and ergonomics. We specify resilient, laboratory-grade materials (e.g., chemically resistant benching and specialised flooring) designed to withstand the lab environment. The final fit-out incorporates the agreed-upon design features to enhance productivity, functionality, and ergonomics, ensuring the completed space is not only compliant but also highly effective and pleasant to work in for years to come.

We understand that continuity of laboratory testing is paramount. Our extensive experience allows us to develop a customised strategy to minimise disruption, which may include establishing temporary accommodation, utilising existing adjacent areas as “swing space,” or phasing the project to ensure critical functions remain operational. We manage the project as a complete turnkey service, allowing your team to focus on their work.

Modernisation involves targeted upgrades to ensure the facility is safe, productive, and compliant with new standards. Key elements often include upgrading core infrastructure like ventilation and chemical extraction to meet current regulatory requirements. We also modernise the workspace by installing flexible laboratory benching and new, efficient equipment like updated fume cupboards and laboratory gas lines, all designed to improve workflow and safety.

Ensuring new regulatory compliance is a core goal of our refurbishment service. Every system we install or upgrade from partitioning and flooring to the supply, installation, and commissioning of fume cupboards and specialist gas lines is carefully selected and tested to meet or exceed current standards. We meticulously manage the project to deliver.

The Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems are the fundamental, precise engineering required to power comfort, efficiency, and performance. We ensure long-term performance and reliability by having our NICEIC-approved experts design and install every component. Each system is engineered to align perfectly with the lab’s operational requirements and spatial configuration, guaranteeing functionality and durability.

We integrate M&E seamlessly from the very start of the fit-out project. Our multidisciplinary team provides end-to-end engineering services for all complex systems, including HVAC and ventilation, fume extraction systems, purified water infrastructure, laboratory gas manifold networks, and specialised power distribution. This holistic, collaborative approach ensures every element is built on solid technical foundations and works together efficiently.

Safety and technical compliance are non-negotiable. All M&E and MEP work is carried out to the highest standards and in full compliance with current legislation. This is ensured through the expertise of our NICEIC-approved professionals, who oversee the rigorous testing and certification of systems like fume extraction and electrical infrastructure. This guarantee assures safe, reliable, and legally compliant operation for all your sensitive equipment.