Panels with Panache Enliven Workspaces

Panache Enliven Workspaces; In the early days of office cubicles little imagination was required to design and outfit a company's workplace regardless of the size of staff being accommodated.

"Design is probably an inapt term here," says Mark Bassil, vice president and co-founder of MAiSPACE, a Mt. Olive NJ based manufacturer of modular office furniture systems. "Cubicle choices were few. Vistas across the office landscape were a study in intimidating sameness while colors ranged from dull grey to institutional green to boring beige."

Much has been learned since the emergence of the "office cubicle" in the 1960s. Workplaces furnished entirely on the open office concept have been proven counterproductive when personnel must be free of distractions in carrying out tasks. Privacy is essential for task-intensive knowledge workers, while work done in collaboration areas used for team meetings must not distract staff located in adjacent areas. Interior designers and efficiency experts began to see the need for variety in the workplace as essential to attracting and retaining a high quality staff.

"Today's office interiors are an amalgam of workspaces grouped and tailored to the tasks being performed," Bassil says. "Layouts range from cubicles of varying size and configuration to full-wall private offices, conference rooms and reception areas. Progressive interior designers, office and facility managers are now taking the extra step of providing the enhanced aesthetic appeal that colors and textures add to the workplace environment.

"Colors, textures, workspace footprint variations and personalization can yield outstanding results in terms of increasing employee morale and productivity," Bassil maintains. "The broad selection of stackable panel systems such as provided by MAiSPACE is the most cost-effective means to enliven workspaces."

High Style, Low Cost

MAiSPACE, through its nationwide network of dealers and distributors, delivers panel variety without a cost penalty thanks to the company's approach to design, manufacturing and supply chain management. "Overall our price points for completely furnished offices average 40% below some of the best-known names in the contract furniture industry, yet we offer a lifetime satisfaction guarantee," Bassil says. "Panel segments to 8 feet in width are constructed of 24-gauge steel and are snapped on to 14-gauge cold-rolled steel structural members in an off-module design that gives outstanding flexibility to laying out offices."

The off-module design likewise enables placement of bins, worksurfaces, shelving and returns where they are most convenient while enhancing the ergonomic aspects of the workspace.

"Our pricing structure supports a rich variety of colors and textures in creating exciting workplaces," Bassil says. "Mixing and matching is at the discretion of the interior designer and is not constrained by minimum orders in a certain color, texture, pattern or finish. This means that the degree of customization companies can offer employees depends only on that company's policy. Designers can select from interchangeable panel tiles in more than 15 options to create harmony, contrast, to identify specific functional areas and to otherwise create exciting interiors with an aesthetic appeal that is light years removed from the Dilbertesque offices of yesteryear."

Fabrics and Finishes for Discriminating Designers

As an example of fabric choices available, MAiSPACE offers 15 options in 4 grades from Guilford of Maine and custom fabrics from Designtex, two highly respected names in the industry. "We also offer 6 options in three grades from our own selected fabrics," Bassil says. He notes that "as one of our measures supporting 'green offices' MAiSPACE now uses PET instead of fiberglass as padding for our fabric panel systems."

Laminated and painted finish selections may be made from 14 choices in colors, wood tones or metallic. PVC panel trim is provided in complementary or contrasting colors. "Additional options include marker board, paper management and power/data outlet panels" Bassil says.

While the pallet of colors and textures available in solid panel options encourages creativity in designing modular offices, additional design freedom is sparked by MAiSPACE clear, frosted and patterned glass panels. "Glass is especially welcome because it enables natural outside lighting to penetrate further into the workspace," Bassil says. "Additionally it defines a workspace without the feeling of confinement that opaque walls can impart, especially in small footprint cubicles. Privacy is provided by using double paneled glass for sound management and either fully frosted or patterned glass in squares or stripes."

Creating beautifully styled workspaces of any size and configuration is limited only by the imagination with MAiSPACE's broad range of panel options, its unique stackable panel structural system and off-module design. "Best of all," Bassil says, "our price points enable us to deliver fully furnished, ready-to-move-in offices from $12 - $15 per square foot, regardless of the number of units needed."