Modular Furniture

Setting into configured grids, thanks to the standardized nature and flexibility of modular workstation. These systems simply adhere to the working environment by mixing and matching a wide range of layouts and extras.

Office furniture, also called system furniture, efficiently resolves common space problems in offices by dividing large noisy spaces into private work areas, without building permanent walls. A common reason companies opt for modular furniture is to reduce noise. The right type of system can do exactly that.

Leading companies in the modular furniture market provide a wide range of colours, patterns and fabrics for work surface, allowing office planners to plan the right look for the office.

TYPES OF MODULAR OFFICE FURNITURE

Systems furniture is available in two main designs:

• Panel-mounted
• Freestanding

Each design has its advantages.

Panel-based system: Most system furniture today is panel-mounted. Wall panels form the basis of the system. Components such as desks and file cabinets are mounted directly onto the panels. Freestanding components use separate panels that are placed around the furniture. Panel-based system offers greater design flexibility. They can be equipped with internal power option. Moreover, the panels can be a bit taller to provide greater privacy and noise reduction.

Freestanding system: The main advantage of freestanding system is that they can be easily installed and reconfigured. This makes them convenient for firms that will often reconfigure their space or shift office.

MODULAR FURNITURE BASICS

Before opting for modular furniture, officer-planners need to be prepared with basis information about the office, organization and its employees.

Delivery Time: Shopping for systems furniture isn’t a quick process. If you’re purchasing new or remanufactured system, expect an average of three to six weeks between placing the order and delivery. If the dealer has the workstation you’re chosen in stock, it ca take about a week. If the order is placed during a busy period for the manufacture, it can take as long as 10 weeks.

Finalized Floor plan: The floor plan must be finalized before the space to be furnished. A scale drawing of the office usually works best. If that is not available, measure the office to get a rough idea of the space available for workstation. In most cases, an interior designer will take detailed measurements, but knowing the general dimensions will improve your initial conversations with potential office workstation suppliers.

Employees, work pattern and interdependence: The idea ‘Form Follows Function’ is applicable to modular furniture. For instance, cubicles for a department of trademark are different from the ones required for a group of programmers. One needs to study the behavior pattern of employees in a particulars sector. Do they spend more time of the computer, on the phone, or doing paperwork? How important it is that they converse easily with co-workers? Do they have small meetings in their cubicles? These factors will influence the size, wall-height and surfaces of the workstation. There are office-wide considerations as well. Copiers, printers and other shared resources need to be accessible without being a distraction to employees seated in the vicinity of the resources.

Size wise: The most common cubicle size are 5’×5’, 6’, 6’×8’, and 8’×8’. These provide enough room for a computer or two, desk space for paper-work, and perhaps a single chair for visitors. Cubicles cab be as small as a 2’×4’ (called the call-center workstation) or as large as 12’×12’ (know as the manager’s cube), which has space for several people.

Height matters: In addition to size, one needs to decide on the height. Heights range from 28 inches to 34 inches for the work surface. For cubicles, a 4-foot height allows people to stand and interact with co-workers, and provider’s privacy when seated. A cubicle height of 5ft to 6ft provider’s privacy at all times, but can reduce light and make coordination difficult. However, a combination of glass and an opaque material can solve this problem and make the cubicle semi-private.

Nowadays, most companies have planning and design team of their own. These team provide suitable solution for workspace utilization. There are also contract-planners who generate a computer layout of the desired office, allowing one to see what the furniture set-up would look like and make necessary changes.

Storage: Various storage option are available including filling drawers, wheeled pedestals, wall shelving or cabinets and freestanding book shelves, many of which have the option to include locks. For computer-intensive tasks, keyboard trays are a resourceful addition. Other common add-ons include whiteboards, built-in task lighting, and tack boards.

ADVANTAGES OF MODULAR FURNITURE

• Speedy installation
• Better wire management
• Saves space
• Low maintenance
• Homogeneous and easily configurable wide range of surface finishes (laminated, pre-laminated, post-formed wood, veneer, fabric, and glass finishes…)

CHECKLIST

Flexible: Look for flexibility. If you move your office, will the system be reconfigurable? Can you arrange cubes in traditional rows, or ‘bullpen’ style where several co-workers share a larger enclosed space, or in staggered or diagonal layouts?

Durable: check the system’s durability. Modular furniture is designed to last many years –the warranties can provide a good indication of the expected life span. You will be using the furniture for a long time, so ensure that the dealer you choose is a responsible one.

Modular furniture is not the be and end all of office design, but should serve as a guideline for efficient usages of space and creating a better environment for working.