Office Design
April 2024 New & Used Office Furniture Sale
Check our our April 2024 New & Used Office Furniture Sale. Click Here
JUST IN TIME FOR SPRING!
Don’t miss out on this fantastic sale. Contact us today (416) 917-5389!
[email protected]
Contact Us to Learn More (416) 239-1931
D.J. McGauley & Associates Inc. is your Office Space Planning, Renovations and Relocation Project Management Company of choice. Please contact us to arrange a no-obligation site meeting. By the end of that meeting, you will know all that would be required to make your project a successful reality.
Money Saving Tips for Your Office Renovations
7 MONEY SAVING TIPS
By following these tips, you can save money on your office renovations and get the most out of your budget. With a little bit of research and planning, you can create a beautiful and functional office space.
- Shop around for the best prices: Compare the prices of different contractors, materials, and furniture to ensure you are getting the best deals. A good rule of thumb is to get at least three quotes from three different contractors. Be sure to consider the quality of service and response time in getting the quote, reputation of the vendor, references and any warranties or guarantees offered. Once you have narrowed down your options, you can decide.
- Reuse office furniture: Instead of purchasing all new office furniture, consider reusing existing furniture, purchasing used furniture or a mixture of all three. This will save money.
- Choose energy-efficient fixtures: Investing in energy-efficient light fixtures, insulation, and heating/cooling systems can save you money overall.
- Look for discounts: Take advantage of discounts when you buy bulk items, such as paint and carpeting.
- Negotiate: Do not be afraid to negotiate with contractors and/or suppliers to get the best possible prices. If prices are too high for your wallet, work with your contactor/supplier to ensure you get the best value, most contactors/suppliers would welcome the opportunity for your business.
- Hire an experienced office designer: Hiring an office designer can save money on office renovations by utilizing affordable materials, researching cost-effective furniture, and considering refurbishing existing furniture or fixtures. They can also investigate used furniture or fixtures, negotiate with vendors for discounts, and shop around for the best deals. Additionally, they can investigate using space-saving solutions, such as multi-functional furniture, to make better use a smaller space. Lastly, utilizing natural light, rather than artificial lighting, can also help save money.
- Find an experienced IT/network specialist: Working with an IT specialist to streamline your technology may be a smart investment. By hiring a professional to evaluate your current tech setup, you can save money on unnecessary purchases and upgrades. Not only can a specialist help you to identify which pieces of technology you need to keep up with modern trends and demands, they can also provide advice on the most cost-effective solutions. With the right specialist on board, you can be sure that you are getting the most bang for your buck. Investing in a computer specialist now may just be the ticket to saving on office renovations .
D.J. McGauley & Associates Inc. provides a range of services to help businesses and help you save money. Our project management team oversees all your renovation needs, from design to permitting, tendering and construction management, professional IT services, storage and furniture sourcing. Whether you are doing a small renovation or a complete build-out, our experienced team will collaborate with you, other staff, building management, and various trades to ensure your project runs smoothly.
Let us make your workspace vision come to life by creating the exact look and feel you want, while keeping you on time and on budget. We are proud to have been helping businesses since 1992 and have received glowing testimonials from satisfied clients.
Visit our website, https://www.djmcgauleyandassociates.com/, email [email protected] or contact us at 416-239-1931 to learn more.
June 2023 Open Concept Offices
A Brief History of Office Spaces
For decades, business offices across the country were designed in much the same manner. Private offices with walls and doors were considered fashionable. Having a private office was a type of status symbol. They offered privacy, consistency, and the ability to transform your office into your home away from home. Employees with offices felt empowered and were invested in making their company a success. Then things changed.
OPEN FLOOR PLANS
Open-office plans have been all the rage for a long time now. The concept of accommodating all your team members in one large, open office space was very appealing, especially when considering some of the drawbacks of the traditional closed office design. Open concept floor plans were lower cost, more flexible and provided improved communication and sightlines between team members. But with these positives also came a variety of drawbacks. With open-concept offices, noise became a major issue, privacy became non-existent, and distractions were a constant threat to productivity. And then offices evolved once more.
THE HYBRID WORK-FROM-HOME EVOLUTION
When Covid-19 hit, many companies required most employees to work from home. And with few people coming into the office daily, some businesses found that they didn’t require all the office space they were paying leases on. So, many of them divested themselves of much of their square footage. However, many employees still had to come into the office occasionally. And as the pandemic eased, many businesses adopted a hybrid approach where employees could work at home for a certain number of days and work at the office on other days. Thus, due to the lack of office space, open-concept co-working (or hoteling) was born.
TODAY’S OFFICE SPACES
Office space today looks quite different to the office space of the past. Open-concept hoteling means that you will likely find yourself sitting next to a new person each day you come into the office. Perhaps, you might even find you’re sitting next to a total stranger who works for a different company. Private offices are rare, so meeting rooms have become hot commodities for privacy. Some companies installed phone booths – small one or two-person cubicles for private phone calls, zoom meetings or one-on-one meetings. With open-concept offices, there’s no opportunity to make your space your own. Lockers are frequently installed to allow anyone who is in on any given day to store their valuables, coats, extra shoes, etc.
CONSIDERING AN OPEN CONCEPT OR HOTELING SPACE?
There are many variables to think about if you are considering changing your workspace to an open concept or hoteling concept to be shared with other businesses. A project manager would be a wise investment to give you peace of mind. A project manager will start with a needs analysis.
- Is your goal to free up cash flow by reducing your number of lease spaces or subletting your current space?
- What is your current floor space, or are you considering a move to a smaller space?
- What are the renovation costs versus the moving costs?
- How many staff do you have?
- How many employees work at home and how many are expected to come into the office, and for how many days a week?
- And what type of work are they doing?
- Do they need private meeting spaces?
- Do they need phone lines, or is everybody using their cell phone now?
A detailed needs analysis will provide you with a solid design plan for your new office space. The number of open-concept offices, closed-door offices, meeting rooms, and phone booths can be accurately pinpointed before you begin construction, or before you sign that new lease.
D.J. McGauley & Associates have decades of experience, which allows us to anticipate project hurdles and proactively address challenges before they become problems and necessitate expensive changes. We listen to your business needs and goals to ensure the results add value to your organization. We provide a single point of contact to coordinate all aspects of the project.
Call us. We’re here to help.
www.djmcgauleyandassociates.com
Email [email protected]
Call 416-239-1931
Contact Us to Learn More (416) 239-1931
D.J. McGauley & Associates Inc. is your Office Space Planning, Renovations and Relocation Project Management Company of choice. Please contact us to arrange a no-obligation site meeting. By the end of that meeting, you will know all that would be required to make your project a successful reality.
Michael McGauley
DJ McGauley & Associates Inc.
Mobile 416-917-5389
May 2023 Spring New & Used Office Furniture Sale
Check our our May 2023 Spring New and Used Office Furniture Mailer.
Check our our May 2023 Spring New & Used Office Furniture Sale.
Contact Us to Learn More (416) 239-1931
D.J. McGauley & Associates Inc. is your Office Space Planning, Renovations and Relocation Project Management Company of choice. Please contact us to arrange a no-obligation site meeting. By the end of that meeting, you will know all that would be required to make your project a successful reality.
Michael McGauley
DJ McGauley & Associates Inc.
Office 416-239-1931
Mobile 416-917-5389
When To Hire a Project Manager?
Real estate projects, like renovations and relocations, are complex and have many moving parts that can feel overwhelming for even the most seasoned business professional. They’re not typically part of an organization’s routine operations and likely fall outside the scope of day-to-day business. Hiring dedicated, third-party project management will help ensure your real estate project is completed on time and on budget. It’s smart business sense compared to the DIY approach that many businesses take.
Why Not the DIY Approach?
Many business leaders delegate the leadership of their upcoming relocation or renovation project to an internal team member. Unfortunately, they don’t fully understand the complexity and scope of what really needs to happen, and in what order, when renovating or relocating offices. Some immediate red flags are forgetting about IT services or leased goods that may need special permissions to be relocated. There are also legal liabilities when moving out of, and into, buildings. In short, it’s very easy to find yourself in over your head with a hundred issues you had no idea about. Some companies hire a real estate agent to help guide the process. While this is a positive step, there are many more scope and complexity issues to be anticipated and solved than might first appear on the surface.
Anticipating Scope and Complexities
It’s always a good time to hire a project manager when you have a project that is outside your expertise. An experienced project manager will know all the right questions to ask and gather all the answers you It’s always a good time to hire a project manager when you have a project that is outside your expertise. need to decide the future of your business.
Strategic analysis: Project managers establish the business needs, future goals, and objectives of the project. They review existing leases for unique and potentially costly variables. Return to Base or Broom Swept clauses may affect how you leave your current space and how you must leave your future space.
Cost Analysis: Project managers develop budgets for relocation and renovation options. They anticipate a phased move strategy or determine if alternate office relocations are required during the renovation which can affect the budget.
Planning: A project manager will conduct site assessments, select vendors, negotiate contracts, deal with landlords for alternate temporary space if required, develop timelines for construction or phased relocations and shepherd the project through municipal and safety approvals.
Implementation: Project Managers organize the physical relocation into phases, manage IT requirements, bandwidth, and contracts such as internet/phone/fibre connections, and conduct equipment and furniture relocation and installation. They hire cleaning and disposal services which ensure both paper and electronic information is moved or destroyed securely.
A Project Manager is Your Best Friend
A project manager will develop, communicate, and manage all project timing and action plans. Successful results require field-tested processes and vigilant project implementation standards. That’s what a project manager brings to your renovation or relocation project. Your project manager serves as your advocate and representative—your single point of contact and accountability—throughout the project lifecycle, working to ensure your best interests.
D.J. McGauley & Associates have decades of experience, which allows us to anticipate project hurdles and proactively address challenges before they become problems. At every stage of the renovation or relocation project, we listen to your business needs and goals to ensure the results add value to your organization. We provide a single point of contact to coordinate all aspects of construction and relocation from start to finish.
Call us. We’re here to help.
Contact Us to Learn More (416) 239-1931
Please contact us to arrange a no-obligation site meeting. By the end of that meeting, you will know all that would be required to make your project a successful reality.
www.djmcgauleyandassociates.com
Email [email protected]
Call 416-239-1931
Michael McGauley
D.J. McGauley & Associates Inc.
Office 416-239-1931
Mobile 416-917-5389
March 2023 Welcome Spring New & Used Office Furniture
Check our our March 2023 Welcome Spring New and Used Office Furniture Mailer.
March New & Used Office Furniture Sale 
– https://mailchi.mp/…/new-used-office-furniture…
Introducing NEW Document Handling Services
Document Scanning and Data Capture Services with Hosting Services
- Easy access to documents regardless of their source
- Scalable, workflow solutions with flexible search capabilities
- Streamlined collaboration between departments enabling faster and better service to clients
- Secure web-hosting and retrieval
- System, application and document level access controls complete with user tracking
- Monthly security/penetration testing
- Customized reporting capabilities
- CSAE/SSAE SOC compliant services
Document Shredding/Destruction Service
- Cross-cut shredding to destroy documents thoroughly
- Destroy electronic media completely
- Clear valuable office space
- Align with your retention policies
- Support your green initiatives
- Shred documents in bulk
- Secure Certified Document
Complaint Hard Drive Shredding Service
- Compliant destruction program
- Protection of confidential business information with a compliant destruction program, a critical part of a well maintained records management program.
Contact Us to Learn More (416) 239-1931
D.J. McGauley & Associates Inc. is your Office Space Planning, Renovations and Relocation Project Management Company of choice and now we’ve added Document Handling. Please contact us to arrange a no-obligation site meeting. By the end of that meeting, you will know all that would be required to make your project a successful reality.
Michael McGauley
DJ McGauley & Associates Inc.
Office 416-239-1931
Mobile 416-917-5389
5 Common Mistakes In Office Design
1 Cramped Layouts and Clearances
Companies move into new office space and suddenly realize that, despite looking great on paper, their office furniture won’t fit into the actual space. Usually, this is a result of the plan drawings presented by the realtor not aligning with the actual dimensions of your unique furniture and office equipment. When real-world accuracy of the dimensions is not considered when drawing out a new floor plan on paper, results can be catastrophic. Buyer’s remorse sets in, and then crisis management takes over. We design spaces which deal with all your clearance and dimension issues and create a real-world plan that gives you exactly the space you need.
2 Lack of Sound Deadening
Many offices today are open-concept designs, with hard surfaces like polished concrete floors and walls, exposed open ceilings and lots of glass. They look great, but the downside is increased noise levels. Voices bounce off the hard surfaces and soon everyone can hear every word of everyone else’s conversations. When noise overwhelms the workspace, productivity declines. Utilizing sound-deadening elements that help limit and absorb excessive noise. Adding fabric dividers between desks, suspending felt artwork from the ceiling, acoustical wall and floor coverings, and a drop ceiling helps to keep the noise levels down. Also, custom sound booth installations, known as phone booths, can offer staff a soundproof space for private conversations.
3 Poor Lighting
Often when people make modifications to their offices, they don’t think about their practical lighting requirements. Dim light makes it hard to see and strains the eyes. Florescent light can be overly harsh and can trigger migraines and other health issues. We engineer the lighting plan for the exact number of lumens you require in a space. We plan your computer monitor location and overhead lighting configuration to avoid shadows on your desk and to ensure the space is bright and inviting.
4 Inadequate Equipment & Storage Space
In many office environments, storage becomes a catch-all place to conceal clutter. Thinking critically about storage requirements and implementing esthetically appealing and practical storage solutions can provide time-saving functionality that boosts productivity and frees up space for other office uses. The same logic applies to office equipment. A large photocopier in a small room may work for making copies, but it leaves no room for supplies and no flat surfaces for collating documents. If someone has special job-related needs, it’s worthwhile to have a one-on-one private consultation to ensure the space works for them individually. But remember, while it’s great to have staff input for unique situations…it’s not practical to seek a company-wide consensus on every space being created.
5 Not Planning for Growth
When building out a new space, always consider your projected growth over the next 5 to 10 years. Are you acquiring enough space to suit the projected growth? How is the balance between private offices and open workspaces? What about meeting rooms? Do you have enough for onsite staff and for remote workers who may come in just to use a meeting room? While growth rates are hugely hard to predict, it’s better to err on the side of a little more than you need, than just what you think you need now.
At D.J. McGauley & Associates, we think about all the things you may not consider when designing your office.
Michael McGauley
DJ McGauley & Associates Inc.
Office 416-239-1931
Mobile 416-917-5389
Times Are Changing
As we all try to stay ahead of the many changes in our lives as we live through COVID-19.
Many companies are asking what do we do with our offices?
How do we bring people back to the office?
Should we bring people back at all?
What accommodations do we need to make to our space to make people feel comfortable to come back?
Should we reduce our office size?
How many staff should stay home and for how long?
These are difficult questions with not always a straight forward answer.
Many of our clients are making modifications to their work space to address social distancing. Others are reducing the real estate foot print planning to keep a portion of there staff working for home permanently.
If you need to modify your office space with a social distancing floor plan, and or furniture to accommodate your staff’s needs, or if you are looking to down size your space?
We can help!!
New space plans to accommodate social distancing
Modifications to your furniture i.e., adding panel separators to your existing furniture
Replacement furniture that helps to keep your employees safe
Moving to a new space that better severs your needs
We would be glad to be of service!
Stay safe!
Michael McGauley
DJ McGauley & Associates Inc.
Office 416-239-1931
Mobile 416-917-5389
Walls and Wall Coverings That Can Expand Your Company’s Horizons
If creative thinking, big-idea generation and collaboration are strong elements you wish to introduce or enhance within your organization’s corporate culture, don’t allow yourself or your collaborative team to hit a wall. Instead let them write on it!
Designers have recently developed wall coverings that will allow your team to write on your walls without compromising the professional image of your business.
Introducing the dry erase wall.
Already existing in newer, trendier conference rooms and hotels, the dry erase wall can be created in one of two ways. One is with the application of specially engineered gloss paint, available in a variety of colours, which dries into a hard surface, so hard that dry erase markers and erasers can be used on it. The second is a dry erase vinyl wall covering which is applied to your existing wall much like a peel and stick wallpaper. Both applications are fairly economical.
If dry erase walls don’t fit your corporate image or culture, then you can consider turning your walls into chalkboard walls.
Similar to the dry erase wall, the chalkboard wall can be applied either in paint form or as a vinyl peel and stick wall covering. The paint is more of a specially engineered flat paint that when dry allows one to use a variety of chalks and chalk erasers on it. Both the paint and vinyl applications are available in black or green.
Both types of walls have their advantages.
For one, they are limitless and flexible in size and colour. Your dry erase or chalkboard walls can be as high, wide and long as your existing walls. They are available in a variety of colours so they can easily blend in with your corporate colours. These wall coverings can also be applied on multiple walls, which could encourage your team the think big enough to fill your walls with new, creative and innovative ideas anytime the inspiration hits and anywhere the wall coverings are applied.
In addition, both types of wall coverings can be specially engineered to have multiple uses. Both the dry erase and chalkboard paint and vinyl wall coverings also come in magnetic form. This means that when applied, the walls not only can be written on, but magnet objects can also be applied to the walls to help emphasize and idea or concept. Furthermore, dry erase walls in lower gloss forms can also serve as projection screens, taking presentations to a whole new level.
So, take creativity and idea generation to a new horizon. Consider adding dry erase or chalkboard wall coverings to your office design.
Don’t Be Fooled by a Block Floorplan!
There are many main factors that come into play when choosing a designer to create and “build” your ideal office space—three of which are pricing, personality and the plan (floorplan that is).
Pricing: This is obvious. You want the best quality for the lowest cost possible (the best bang for your buck).
Personality: Relatively obvious. You want someone who works compatibly with you and your team while working towards realizing your ideal office space.
The Plan: Deceivingly obvious. The designer that presents the most favorable looking floorplan is likely to be the professional you will want to choose. That is the premise most decision-makers bank on. However, many fall into the trap of making their final decision on the wrong floorplan.
Let me explain.
Designers vying for your business will likely present you with a block floorplan. As the name suggests, a block floorplan is a ceiling-view schematic drawing of an office space with sections “blocked” on the page to represent individual office and workstation areas, bathroom spaces, stairways, elevators, exits, etc. Some block floorplans may even include top-view drawings of furniture such as a desk or a sofa just to give an idea of furniture placement within each blocked space. Block floorplans are great for providing a conceptual view of how your office space could be laid out, but they do not represent an exact view of your office space simply because they are most often not based on the actual measurements of both your office layout and your furniture.
Now, a block floor plan does have additional benefits: it can reveal to a decision-maker what a designer is capable of creating and may even give some insight to the question of whether or not the designer can identify with your business needs in relation to your office space. However, as a cover letter is with a resume, a block floorplan should be seen as part of an introduction to a designer who could potentially provide a solution to your office space– not as the actual solution to your office space.
Block floorplans may help narrow your choices of designers to use for your office space, but the real determining factor would be in the permit grade design…but we will discuss that in another blog.
Corporate Space Planning & Relocation Advice 