The Best Methods to Convert an Empty Warehouse Into a Proper Office
Constructing a brand new office can be pretty expensive, and if you’re looking for different ways to achieve the same goal at a lesser cost, retrofitting an old warehouse can get the job done. You can work on warehouse spaces that offer a vast potential space. One advantage of warehouses is that they are usually located near inner-city areas, where different establishments and businesses have convenient access to urban services.
Before you can convert a warehouse into an office space, you may require the establishment rezoned by the local zoning board, which will depend on the location of the warehouse. You’ll also want to hire a designer or architect to create a plan for your office before beginning the construction process. The authenticity of warehouses is what entrepreneurs admire the most, and sometimes they want to incorporate this authenticity into their offices with a modern twist. You can also include your modern office lighting ideas in your new retrofitted office. Here are some ways to retrofit an old warehouse to a functional office.
1. Reimagine Your Space
With a new space to work on, the possibilities are endless. One of the fascinating features of a warehouse property is the vast amount of space and potential. You can reimagine warehouse spaces like a blank canvas, making planning complex and straightforward. Before construction, it’s essential to decide on a theme and layout for your office. Once you are settled with the concept you want, you can show it to your architect or contractor, and eventually, they will know what to do to achieve your desired establishment.
2. Redesign Your Office Entrance
When retrofitting an old warehouse, the first thing to look at is how to get people into the building. This is a significant concern and an opportunity to make the building shine because there’s a big difference between how a warehouse functions to what an office building needs. It is best to choose a warehouse location with public transportation and a parking space.
If the place you want to purchase is near public transit, that’s a bonus! You should also look for open spaces or fields that can serve as parking areas, especially if public transportation isn’t convenient. It means that you may have to conduct some partial demolition, depending on the layout of the building or facility.
3. Focus on Occupant’s Comfortability
It would help plan how and what type of building utilities you want for your warehouse-to-office conversion. This applies to every mechanical system from plumbing to electrical, but it’s vitally noticeable with automatic utilities. These older buildings didn’t have enough utilities to have proper cooling and heating systems. They usually depend more on minimal radiant heating. Unfortunately, when creating an office, that may not be enough to meet the comfortability standards of your employees and other occupants, so you need to plan how to provide heating and cooling to your tenants.
Hiring professional HVAC installers can help ensure your heating and cooling is well distributed throughout your establishment. You can also install access doors made out of aluminum with a neoprene gasket. This will provide you easy access to your establishment’s vital systems and, at the same time, contain proper insulation that will maintain the indoor temperature of your establishment.
4. Use Large Windows to Bring Light in
When it comes to the warehouse, we usually think these establishments are dark, industrial, and without any glimpse of natural light. But there are opportunities for space and customization where you can install large windows. Increasing the natural light in an office can save you money on energy costs, but it is also proven to boost staff productivity.
Old warehouses usually have very high windows, as they would sit above tall pieces of equipment. You can consider installing large, floor-to-ceiling glass windows that bring in natural light and add character to the building’s architecture, inside and outside of your facility. Large windows also add more character to your interior design, and they can also be more aesthetically pleasing and Instagram-worthy!
5. Interior Office Design
When planning the interior of your office, first, you need to focus on what theme you want your office to have. Ensure that the interior design of your retrofitted office embodies your company’s theme and allows your employees to work productively. The furniture you choose will depend on how you plan to use the office and how many people will work. The furniture will consist of desks, chairs, and tables, and these come in a vast range of forms and styles. If you want to save space, you may use a bench desking system.
The Takeaway
Converting an old warehouse to a modern office space can be a hefty task that requires thorough planning and budgeting. Make sure you hire professionals who deliver your ideas and aspiration to reality. Knowing the basic steps to achieve the office you want is already one step ahead of your goal.
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