Innovations in Office Design for Modern Commercial Establishments

Getting the best out of your available workspace through office design involves a lot more than simply choosing some new desks and brightening up the reception area. There are now a range of ground-breaking materials and techniques which can transform your office into a more efficient place to work and make a good impression on staff and visitors. This article will highlight some of the more high tech and innovative solutions for modern offices available from GDL Interiors.

Office Design – click here for more information on ingenious ideas for new office fit outs or click here to discuss your requirements.

Whiteboard Paint

Whiteboard paint can be used to cover an entire wall so that one side of a workspace, conference room, or even a complete room, is transformed into a whiteboard. It is an extremely functional form of office decoration, and offers a sleeker, minimalist alternative to individually mounted whiteboards.

Walls covered in whiteboard paint are ideal for use during office presentations, conferences, staff meetings (for brainstorming sessions), or simply as an ideas board for management and business executives.

Digital Printing

Digital prints can be used on walls, office partitioning and in reception areas; they serve to promote your company brand and to inspire and motivate staff and/or customers (such as in a gym, spa or shopping centre). This type of decor delivers a big visual impact and  creates a highly distinctive space, without costing excessive amounts.

Digital prints are designed to your specifications and can feature anything from an inspirational photograph to your corporate colours, the logo of your organisation and/or your company mission statement.

Bespoke Storage Walls

Cupboards may not initially seem like the height of innovation, but in fact clever design of storage can make a huge difference to the way your office looks and functions. Storage walls are perfect for small or large spaces, and help to minimise clutter to produce an elegant, contemporary workspace.

Bespoke storage walls are the perfect solution for contemporary office interior decoration, and as well as creating an orderly, efficient working environment; they also act as a room divider and sound barrier, to minimise noise distractions.

Storage walls are available in a wide variety of finishes, including timber effect, solid wood, and laminates in bold, contemporary colours. Choose from hidden storage, open shelving or a combination of both; you can also decide to incorporate a range of multimedia options within the walls.

Sound Control

New office fit-outs often require a certain amount of sound control to create a more peaceful working environment. Obtrusive noise can be controlled with a variety of innovations:

• Sound reducing solid core doors – high quality, multi layered doors that can be found in a variety of commercial and residential buildings. They are used to block out noise and have fire proofing advantages.
• Acoustic panels and partitioning, including moveable partitioning – to reduce noise pollution.
• Suspended ceilings – these are available in a variety of textures and will also reduce echo and absorb sound. This can be a good alternative where use of acoustic panels is not desirable for aesthetic or functional reasons.

In addition to the office interior decoration improvements featured above, noise can be controlled with correct space planning, such as strategically placed panels or furniture  which can be used to ‘block’ sound. Another technique is to section off areas where printers, photocopiers, or other noisy office equipment is located, thereby reducing overall noise levels in working areas.

Operable Walls

Operable walls are walls that are designed to be easily moved by office occupants. They allow space to be put to multiple uses at different times so you can get the most out of your working environment.

As well as for office refurbishment, operable and folding walls are suitable for hotels, schools and conference halls. They can be used to create meeting rooms, section off sports halls and extend existing office space in an instant.

Operable walls are available in a variety of designs and finishes, and you can also choose from a selection of glazed units.

Eco-friendly Offices and Low Energy Technologies

There is a growing trend towards sustainable office design as commercial organisations strive to become more eco-friendly and want to demonstrate their commitment to the environment in all aspects of their company, including their commercial redecoration and office reception design. 

Your eco-friendly new office fit out can involve the use of sustainable materials, such as timber sourced from FSC approved forests, recycled materials and furniture, and other eco-friendly products. It can also promote a variety ways to help save the planet, such as having an office recycling policy and choosing an energy source that is kinder to the environment.

Choosing low energy technologies can save money in the long run, by helping to reduce bills and provide a more efficient and productive working environment. For more information on this and any other form of office decoration available through GDL Interiors, just click on the link below.

Office Partitioning – click here to choose from a range of office design options.

Office Partitioning - Five Reasons to Consider an Office Refurbishment this Autumn

Autumn is traditionally a great time to take stock and think about plans for the year ahead; and, if you are considering expanding your company and making room for more staff, office refurbishment could provide the answer. GDL Interiors has 30 years’ experience of space planning and office partitioning, and we have a wide range of clients on our books, ranging from local firms to major household names. 

Office Refurbishment – click here to discuss your requirements, or click here to find out about cost-effective solutions.

This article looks at the five most popular reasons company directors will choose an office refurbishment this autumn.

1. Provide Staff with a More Efficient Workplace

While it is easy to think of office refurbishment as giving your workplace a makeover, this is only one aspect of office design. What is more important than changing the way your office looks is how well the space functions and supports the work that goes on in it. A well- designed office helps your staff do their job more effectively, so that less time is wasted as they go about their daily tasks (for example, by providing adequate storage space and minimising noise from nearby meeting areas). 

Office design does not just take the desk space into consideration, but looks at how to make the most of all the space available. GDL Interiors provides a complete office design service that is tailored to your requirements and budget. Improvements may range from entire office fit outs (including floors, ceilings, kitchens, bathrooms and furnishings), to office partitioning, and/or details such as cabling, lighting and storage.

2. Making Your Office Your Own

If you have just moved into an existing office, you may still be using the facilities designed by someone else, and these may not fulfil your own requirements. For example, you may need more meeting rooms, additional storage, extra facilities for people with disabilities, or more workstations to support people’s actual working methods.

In addition to this, a new office fit out gives you the opportunity to include the company name, logo and/or colours within your office design. Incorporating the brand identity within your refurbishment promotes loyalty and teamwork and makes a better impression on customers and visitors. You may want to add your logo or company mission statement behind the reception desk, or to your office partitioning. 

GDL Interiors offer a wide choice of wall coverings that produce amazing results, ranging from digital prints to write on/wipe off white boards, fabric, paper-backed, fibreglass or eco-friendly wall coverings.

3. Accommodating a Bigger Workforce

What suited your firm when you were a start-up business may no longer work as the team grows. Fitting in additional desks as you employ more staff may be fine at first, but your workforce could eventually outgrow the existing space.

Moving office is costly and is a big upheaval for a business, so it pays to find out whether an office redesign can solve your space problems. GDL specialise in designing clever layouts to make the best use of space.

4. Better Noise Management

Noise can be an issue in a company workplace, even if the overall layout is working. This is particularly so if much of your staff’s work is done over the phone, or there are frequent discussions between team members.

Noise distraction can impact negatively on productivity, as well as raising stress levels. Some talks are also better kept private, such as confidential meetings with clients (particularly those that involve financial matters), and one-to-one talks with staff. GDL Interiors can offer a variety of solutions including office or sound proof partitioning between desks, and the provision of conference facilities and meeting rooms.

5. Making the Office a Better Place to Be

Investing in new furniture, decoration and facilities can be a big morale boost to employees, especially if they get direct benefits. Your company may not require a complete refurbishment to achieve this. Instead your office revamp may focus on renewing or brightening up shared spaces such as kitchen and dining areas, washrooms, or staff breakout areas, which may need practical provisions such as fridges, kitchen cupboards and microwaves. All these facilities could have a significant effect on how employees feel about being at work. Whereas refurbishing desk areas is seen as work orientated, refurbishing shared areas will be perceived as focusing on employee welfare. GDL Interiors carry out all types of refurbishment work for kitchens and washrooms, including installing lighting and the relevant plumbing and electrical work.

Office Design – Click here to find out how we can provide expert commercial re-fits on time and within budget.

About GDL Interiors

GDL Interiors are experienced in providing high quality, competitively priced office refurbishment, partitioning, space planning and design in Essex, London, East Anglia, and elsewhere in the UK.

Reasons to Install Different Types of Office Partitioning

There are a number of different types of office partitioning which companies in the London area can choose from. All of them will ensure you make the best possible use of the workspace you have available. They will also give versatility and flexibility, since office partitions can easily be moved or adapted if the needs of your business change in the future. Another advantage is that installing partitions is far more cost-effective than making major alterations to your building or even moving to another office.

So which is the best choice of partitions for your business? Office interior design experts GDL have almost 30 years of experience and have installed a wide range of office partitioning in London, Kent, Essex and across East Anglia. Here we will look at the different types of office partition which are available and some of the types of business and organisation which might decide to install them.

Office Partitioning London – click here to find out more about our service, or get in touch now to discuss your requirements.

Where to Install Various Types of Partition

Glass Office Partitions
Larger open-plan workplaces often decide to install glass office partitions because they keep the open feeling, but help to create greater privacy for different groups of employees and also cut down on noise. However, glazed partitions are also a good option for many other types of business and organisation. For instance, bank branches might choose clear or frosted glass partitions for smaller rooms where advisers can talk to customers. Glass helps to make the best use of light in the building, and also means that staff can still easily see one another.

Double-glazed partitions and integral office blinds are available as options where extra privacy or soundproofing is required. GDL has installed glass office partitions for many different organisations, including the City of London College, where we created a new conference room, installing full height double-glazed partitions, and Wavespec Marine Engineering Consultancy at Maldon in Essex, where we again used double-glazed glass walls to build a new private office.

As well as being made from toughened glass, interior glass office partitions are now legally required to have manifestation (a thin layer of decorative film) applied, to ensure that they can be seen easily and prevent people walking into them. GDL offers a glass manifestation service, which can incorporate almost any design you wish, including your own company logos – so this essential safety measure will also add to the stylish look of your office.

Demountable Partition Walls
The decision to install office partitioning, whether in the London area or elsewhere, is often taken because a business is expanding and needs to use its space better. However, if you think that you will need to make changes yet again before too long, then flexibility is obviously important. Under these circumstances, demountable partition walls are a good choice, because they can easily be taken down and put up somewhere else within your buildings as required. Demountable partition walls can include both solid and glazed panels. They can be used in many different locations, but not where fire rated partitions are needed. GDL recently installed demountable partition walls at Alexander's Bosher Solicitors' offices in Chelmsford, Essex, to match the existing décor.

Fire Rated Partitions
Under building regulations, fire rated partitions will be needed in some areas of an office, such as corridors. These are solid partitions and are rated depending on the time span for which they are capable of offering protection from a fire, ranging from 30 minutes to two hours. Fire rated partitions are obviously vital where they are needed to comply with the law, and will give you greater peace of mind because of the protection they offer to your staff and customers. They also give protection to important company records. GDL installs Fireshield rated partitions and doors, and recently installed a fire-rated wall, together with office glass partitions, for insurance brokers Brooks Braithwaite in Essex.

Office Wall Partitions
When an office refurbishment or redesign is being undertaken, priorities often include using the available space better and increasing storage capacity. Installing an office storage wall system will fit the bill on both counts, since each of these units gives unobtrusive storage, clearing away clutter, while at the same time acting as an office partition wall.  Another option giving great flexibility is operable wall systems, which are a popular choice for hotels, conference centres, schools and lecture halls.

About GDL Interiors
If you are looking for an expert office partitioning service in London, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Kent or other parts of the UK, then GDL Interiors are the experts. Based in Maldon in Essex, we work for a wide range of clients in both the public and private sectors.

Office Partitioning London and Essex – click here for information, or contact us now for an initial discussion.

Meeting the Challenges of Health Clinic and Hospital Refurbishment

Health clinic refurbishment is vital to ensure that facilities keep pace with changes in healthcare and provide patients with the best possible environment. As approved NHS contractors, GDL Interiors are experts in refurbishing both hospitals and clinics and can project manage the whole process.

We start a clinic or hospital refurbishment by meeting the client, taking a look at the rooms or areas concerned and discussing their requirements and budget. Then we carry out a full site survey to take all relevant measurements and dimensions. The next step is space planning, where we draw up plans, identify and source the materials we would use, from suspended ceilings to fire rated partitions and reception office furniture, and provide samples where necessary, before giving our quotation. If our tender is successful, we then meet the client to discuss the plans before being issued with a purchase order and starting the works.

Here we will look at how we at GDL meet the challenges of carrying out a project at a healthcare site while ensuring that it can continue operating as normal without unnecessary disruption to staff, patients and visitors.

Health Clinic Refurbishment – click here to find out about our service or follow this link to talk to us about your requirements.

Minimising disruption – During a hospital or health clinic refurbishment, the work being carried out will almost always lead to an increase in the number of people travelling through the area concerned. We make it a priority to put in place any temporary changes that are necessary during the work, such as cordoning off corridors and pathways, rerouting access to departments and putting up all the correct safety warning signs. Our staff also cover equipment and fittings with protective sheeting where necessary, and take great care to use tools and machinery which minimise noise levels, to avoid disturbing patients.

Safety – When working at any healthcare site, GDL ensures that we comply with all health and safety regulations. Gas and electricity works must all conform with Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 and National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) safety regulations. Access for trolleys and wheelchairs, including to doorways and toilet areas, is governed by the Disability Discrimination Act and again we strictly observe this at all times.  

Budget – As approved NHS contractors, we complete and forward tenders for projects and if we are successful we receive a purchase order to proceed with the works. When we are working for the NHS, their architects provide us with a full specification that we need to stick to when producing a quotation. If, once building work begins on a hospital refurbishment, it is found that additional works are needed, the NHS has to issue a purchase order showing their approval of the additional work and confirming the go-ahead. At no time are works undertaken for the NHS without prior written confirmation.

Equipment – In the course of a hospital or health clinic refurbishment, we often have to source specialist equipment such as storage units, cabinets, refrigeration units and industrial clinical waste bins, as well as providing other items like sinks and draining boards. GDL has a wide range of highly-experienced suppliers producing first-class products, who are aware of the strict rules and regulations concerning hospital requirements.

Partitioning – As part of redesigns to maximise space, partitioning may be needed at a healthcare site, for instance glazed partitions. GDL are experts in supplying partitioning and we always ensure that it meets the architect's specifications and building control requirements.

About GDL Interiors

Based in Essex and serving a wide surrounding area including London, interior office refurbishment contractors GDL Interiors were founded in 1984 and have experience of carrying out a host of projects in both the public and private sectors. We not only carry out hospital and health clinic refurbishment work, but are also experts in college and school refurbishment, office design layout, and installing office partitions. If you are looking for a contractor who can take charge of a project from start to finish, get in touch to discuss your requirements.

Hospital Refurbishment –  click here for more details or get in touch now  for a discussion about your project.

Glass Partitioning – How a Complete Refit Brought the Sparkle Back to an Office Interior

GDL Interiors are not only experienced in glass partitioning and office partitioning, we are also commissioned to carry out more demanding projects that involve complex space planning and complete office refits, from the reception to bathroom areas, to the main office floors.

At GDL Interiors we know how important it is for organisations to make the most effective use of space – so that each room is used efficiently. Certainly, one of our most exciting and challenging projects to date is the work that we carried out for Colne Housing in Essex – a lengthy project that took around 12 weeks to complete.

Colne Housing is a charitable organisation that provides high quality affordable homes to those who need it most. It is responsible for around 2,500 properties in the North Essex area and they have big plans for the future. In addition to building hundreds more new homes, they have also set aside a £10 million budget to improve their existing properties over the next five years. Colne Housing works in partnership with various organisations including Icini Homes.

Colne Housing’s most recent project, however, was focused on its own offices, which were in major need of revamp. The aim was to make the best use of space and accommodate the maximum number of staff.

Graham Dixon of GDL Interiors said: “When we were approached by Colne Housing, we were delighted to assist and were very proud of the work we did on site. It was certainly the most challenging project I have ever come across.”

Office Partitioning – click here for more information on the service we offer, or contact us now to discuss your requirements.

GDL interiors are an Essex based company with three decades of experience in office refits, including glass partitioning and office partitioning. We have a reputation for carrying out high quality work on time, and within budget.

Read on to find out more about our project at Colne Housing and some unexpected findings we came across on site.

Major Office Refit at Colne Housing

Colne Housing approached GDL Interiors for some space planning at their Causton Road main office, which lies right in the centre of Colchester.  At the time, Colne Housing’s offices occupied just one floor of the building but the organisation wanted to make use of the existing second floor, so they could use the entire building to its full capacity and accommodate the maximum number of staff.

It was a lengthy and complex project and Colne Housing’s budget was set at £250,000 to complete the entire refit. The project involved space planning and ripping out the old offices, to start again from scratch. Colne Housing’s new offices included the completion of a brand new reception area, and a refit from top to bottom, including the old carpets replaced with new carpet tiles, a complete repaint, and the instalment of elegant new glass partitioning and office partitioning.

Colne Housing also needed the installation of new security cameras and two interview rooms, plus an office that allowed for security monitoring.

Mr Dixon said: “The brief was to make sure that the offices were able to accommodate allthe existing workforce, in addition to another ten people. The new offices were to be split across two floors.”

The second floor was empty but was previously used by another housing company, and this floor also needed extensive refurbishment.

It was an involved project as we had to work around the office hours, to cause the least disruption as possible. To do so, we transferred the staff to the empty second floor and worked around those remaining on the first floor. A lot of our work was undertaken at night to achieve this.

However, the real test was when the GDL staff came across an unexpected finding – the presence of asbestos in the building. “The asbestos was something that we didn’t know was there before.” said Mr Dixon.

“When we found the asbestos, there was a bit of a panic, but it was taken out just as it should be – professionally and with the right specialist team.

“From Colne Housing’s point of view we caused the least possible disruption while work was being carried out. They were over the moon and we were very proud of what we had achieved there.”

Asbestos was widely used in buildings throughout the UK since the 1950’s. Some of the reasons behind its popularity  included its excellent insulation properties, as well as being flame and heat resistant.

A number of commercial and residential properties built before the turn of the century contained asbestos, which was used in various parts of buildings from ceiling tiles to pipe insulation.

Asbestos is dangerous to humans as breathing in even low levels of its fibres has been linked to life-threatening diseases. If found, it is vital that it is removed and disposed of safely by the relevant specialists.

About GDL Interiors
GDL Interiors are experts in space planning, refurbishment and design. As well as office refits, including the installation of glass partitioning and office partitioning, we also carry out works for educational establishments and other organisations.

Office Partitioning – click here for more information on the service we offer, or contact us now to discuss your requirements.

Glass Partitioning – Improving College Halls of Residences

GDL Interiors are experienced in space planning and refurbishment work for a host of private and public organisations including the provision of glass partitioning and office partitioning.

In addition to being specialists in office partitioning and glass partitioning, we also carry out extensive updates and improvements to educational facilities, including schools, universities and colleges of higher education. One of our recent projects was to update the kitchens and bathrooms at Homerton College’s Halls of Residence.

Homerton College has its roots in the 18th century and was at first affiliated to London University, before the college was re-founded and moved to Cambridge in 1894. It was originally a women only college but began to take in men in the 1970’s. In 2010, it was awarded a Royal Charter to receive the status of a self-governing college of the University of Cambridge.

It was around this time that GDL Interiors was approached by the facilities manager at Homerton College to carry out further improvement work at the Halls of Residence.

Graham Dixon, of GDL Interiors, said: “As student halls of residences in general are subject to routine wear and tear, it was vital that all the work done on the premises was practical, hardy, and long lasting – and looked good as well. We achieved all this, and within budget, and were delighted with the results.”

For more information about GDL Interiors, just click on the link below. Meanwhile, read on to find out more about our work at Homerton College.

In addition to the two projects listed below, GDL is also due to start work on 240 bedrooms in the West House hall of residence in August this year with a contract value of in excess of £400,000.

Glass Partitioning – click here for more information on the service we offer, or contact us now to discuss your requirements.


Improvements to the Bathroom Facilities at Homerton College

Although bathroom improvements do not come under the umbrella of glass partitioning in the sense of the word used for office partitioning,  GDL interiors were approached to update as many as 240 shower doors at the Halls of Residence in Cambridge - and the work was to be completed over three years.

The £70,800 project was set to be completed in three stages to fit in with the college’s yearly budget. The old shower doors were removed and cleared from the site and replaced by new Formica faced shower doors. Formica is a highly durable plastic-type material which is resistant to heat and chemicals and has various uses around the home, including shower doors and kitchen worktops.

The main challenge for the project was fitting it around the college timetable, so the work was not disruptive to the students and would mean they could still use their shower facilities. To address this, GDL Interiors completed the entire project during the holiday period. However, this meant liaising closely with the college so works did not interfere with the times when the halls were hired out.

As with all projects undertaken by GDL Interiors, it is essential that all work is completed to strict building, and health and safety standards, and only the best contractors are appointed for the job; this ensures we maintain our consistently high standards.

Updating the Kitchens at Homerton College

In addition to the bathroom refits, GDL was also commissioned to update 34 kitchens at the site. Again, just as with the bathroom areas, it was important that the kitchens were hardy and practical as they are in frequent, daily use and are subject to considerable wear and tear.

Mr Dixon said: "The kitchens were each about 12 ft by 8 ft and were ripped out and replaced with completely new ones. We were delighted with the work we achieved on the site. "

He joked: “We were also pleased that when we returned for phase three of the project that the kitchens were still there, and were still intact!”

Work started in summer 2010 and each phase of the project involved replacing and installing a dozen kitchens, with the last set of kitchens replaced in the summer of 2012 at the cost of £96,100 per phase. Again, work had to be carried out outside term time, and at times when the Halls of Residence were not hired out.

Extensive work was carried out including ripping out the old kitchens and clearing the site. The project also involved a complete redecoration including new floors and tiling, the installation of all the kitchen units, worktops, ovens and white goods and connecting all the facilities to the necessary mains supplies.

In addition to this, all the cupboards were issued with locks as standard; this was so that all the students have their own allocated cupboard and to prevent any of their food stocks going astray.

In order to comply with health and safety and building regulations, fire doors were also installed on the site.

About GDL Interiors

GDL Interiors provides a wide range of work for public and private organisations, including educational establishments. In addition to the installation of kitchens and bathrooms, we are also experienced in office refits, including the provision of glass partitioning and office partitioning.

Office Partitioning – click here for more information on the service we offer, or contact us now to discuss your requirements.