Customized Cubicles Without Sticker Shock

By Author: John Tang
Total Articles: 512
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For many the workspace is a home for one third of the day. While there are variations in time of occupancy during the work week, an employee's home away from home says a lot about the employee and the company for whom he or she works.

Employees generally want to introduce a bit of themselves into their workspaces, says Mark Bassil, vice president of co-founder and vice president of MAiSPACE, a Mt. Olive, NJ, based manufacturer of modular office furniture systems. Customizing their workspaces gives them a sense of identity with a connection to their home, their family and their interests or hobbies. That explains the family photos, trophies, plants and other personal items that adorn a workspace, whatever its size.

Staging the Workplace

Staging is a term increasingly being applied to residential real estate as homeowners wishing to sell engage professionals to present the property in the most favorable light. Office interior designers and facility managers have an opportunity to stage workplaces to encourage individuality among staff members and at the same time create a welcoming atmosphere to prospective ...
... employees.

Just as attractively staged homes help attract buyers, so attractively staged workplaces help attract - and retain - qualified personnel, Bassil says. A boring vista of same sized, same height monochromatic cubicles does not convey a sense of creativity or welcome. A lack of open space suggests that the company does not encourage interaction or collaboration among staff members.

Fortunately, Bassil says, systems furniture manufacturers such as MAiSPACE enable interior designers and facility managers to create vibrant, exciting workspaces that convey a sense of welcome by using a variety of complimentary colors, textures and fabrics. This is a staging operation that is a dramatic departure from the sameness of monochromatic interiors and is very much appreciated by employees.

Systems Furniture Solutions from $12 - $15 per square foot Installed

MAiSPACE was established in 1993 around business processes focused on increasing the efficiency, lowering the costs and broadening the choices available in the contract furniture industry. From basic framing through surface finish options and accessories, we revolutionized an industry that is for the most part still using outmoded manufacturing processes that result in costs beyond reach of many of today's businesses, Bassil says. While our price points average 40% below our competitors, and we can fit out workplaces of any size from $12 - $15 per square foot installed, there is no sacrifice in quality. That's why we can back our products with a lifetime warranty and guarantee against obsolescence.

Customization without Sticker Shock

The MAiSPACE stackable/destackable panel system based on knock down, ready to assemble (RTA) framing and off-module design supports virtually unlimited layout options, Bassil says. For example, load-supporting panel segments can range from 30 inches to 14 feet in height allowing designers to easily intersperse cubicles with full-wall private offices and conference rooms, and anything in between. This gives a pleasing variety to the workplace. Moreover, he says, thanks to our framing system changing office layouts, whether cubicles or full-wall private offices and conference rooms, is a snap with MAiSPACE. This greatly simplifies locating or relocating walls, bins, shelves and divider panels to create spaces in harmony with work being performed or support a wholesale job change - without damaging carpeting or ceilings.

While MAiSPACE construction technology supports customizing physical layouts, locations and relocations, the company's visual elements encourage visual customization down to an individual cubicle. The degree of customization companies can offer employees depends only on that company's policy, Bassil says. Customers can select from interchangeable tiles in more than 15 options - including plain or painted steel, fabric, clear or patterned glass, and rugged Coverseal finishes offered in a variety of stunning standard colors or wood tones including eucalyptus, pine, walnut, cherry and maple.

Other furnishing components include ergonomic seating, shelving, tables, fixed or movable files and other storage facilities, lighting, paper management, and a complete range of freestanding furniture.

Of particular importance in an environment characterized by frequent moves, adds and changes (MACs) is the MAiSPACE standards-compliant plug-and-play voice, data and power cabling system. It delivers the largest cable capacity in the industry, and is stunning in its simplicity. Cable runs are laid in behind lift-off panel segments and can be easily accessed to reduce office reconfiguration time to hours from days without disrupting the entire network.

Together these features - construction, finishing, furniture, accessories and cabling - support a company's ability to create customized workspaces for their employees, Bassil concludes. At pricing from $12 - $15 per square foot installed we bring freedom of design to companies of any size.