Open Office

Designing for an open plan

An open office removes walls, which makes the remaining elements work harder. Sound travels farther, lighting has to suit many tasks, and heating and cooling must serve large zones with different needs, such as sunny windows and interior desks.

As a design-build company, we bring these questions up during planning. Our engineering team and project managers look at layout, services and finishes together, so the design is practical to build and comfortable to use.

Sound, light and air

Acoustics are the most common complaint in open plans. We address them with ceiling and wall treatments, soft materials, partial-height partitions and sound masking. Our low voltage team installs sound masking systems that lower the distraction of nearby speech.

Our electrical crew, led by a Master Electrician, builds lighting layouts and controls that support daylight and task work. Our mechanical crew installs HVAC and plumbing, and balances air so there are fewer hot and cold spots.

Flexible power and data

Open plans change over time. Desks get reconfigured, teams move and new equipment arrives. We help clients plan floor boxes, power poles or ceiling drops, and cable pathways that make future change simple.

Doing this during construction costs far less than adding it later. It also avoids trenching floors or opening finished ceilings.

• Collaboration areas and quiet rooms
• Phone booths and small meeting rooms
• Floor power and data placement
• Break area plumbing and electrical

Delivery and closeout

We build open offices with our own interior systems, carpentry and painting crews, which keeps the schedule tight and finishes consistent. Furniture is a big part of an open plan, so we coordinate delivery and installation with the build.

After move-in, we remain available for adjustments, and our building maintenance service can look after the space over time.