We're down the home stretch.  Days and weekends have been filled with lots of activity ranging from installing the remaining carpet to outfitting our showroom and installing some of the offices. 

Our layout includes separate areas for sales, accounting, client services, design, and operations.  Below are images of two sections in the office area.  The image on the left shows some of the sales area with the accounting department in the background; the image on the right shows other sales offices with a conference room behind. Ample aisle space on all sides contribute to the ease at which different groups and departments will be able to interact with each other.  More furniture will be installed within the next couple of weeks - the end result being a combination of different types of furniture blended into an aesthetically pleasing and highly functional design.

the energy level

My University studies started with a heavy concentration in chemistry, physics and math.  After a couple of years I switched my major to Business but some of the first lessons I learned have never left me.

For instance, the difference between potential energy and kinetic energy.  One might think it is a stretch to associate this principle with the progress of our building, but I believe it can be used to clearly reflect the true value and incredible power of our 9,000 square foot showroom.

Simply stated, potential energy is the stored energy of an item that is not moving or changing. Kinetic energy is the power and energy expressed by that very same item once it is being moved or changed. 

The picture to the left shows the potential of what will become known as our showroom.  The image on the right reflects a part of the showroom after carpeting and some of the showroom furniture has been placed.  Add on to this the 60 person learning center and our resource library center, and this building will be the centralized location that clients, the A & D community, and our own staff can call a tremendous resource. 

People often assume that he who has the largest workspace is the one who is the smartest and most important to the success of a business.  However, he, or she, does not necessarily hold exclusive rights to that title.

When it comes to brains, one need look no further then the dedicated computer room and server area to grasp the magnitude of information and processes of the "occupant" of this room. And if "he" has an off day, other processes can grind to a near standstill.  So, without further adieu, I present to you the most important office in our new building.

And when it comes to a warm and inviting environment for employees and clients to gather, share ideas and corroborate there's no better place then a warm, well lit, and well planned area that includes soft seating, work areas, access to huge amount of information, and a bistro to boot.

The below image shows how we are developing our  library which will include areas for product catalogs and our sample finishes and fabrics, seating areas, tables, and access to the kitchen (background).  Its shape, the descending height of its perimeter walls and the suspended lighting fixtures around and bordering the curved walls give a warm invite to our employees and clients.

perspective                                          close-up of lighting                 

Move date is approaching

And what a showpiece it will be.

Here you can see the near completion of the façade of the building - The left image shows the completed addition while the right image shows the addition in the foreground and the main entrance in the background, though this image does not clearly show the total width of the building at 400 feet.

 

The interior is shaping up as well.  Two of the focal points are taking shape, namely the unique wall constructed out of re-purposed wood pallets, which will also serve as the backdrop for our reception area, and the radius wall (background) of descending height that will form the borders of our library.

 

Great progress has been made over the past few weeks including framing of offices, insulating critical areas including some interior walls, and drywall/painting of the first of many offices.  Open spaces have been designed, furniture ordered, and plans are moving foward for a june/july occupancy.

We started using the warehouse to serve as our premier distribution center. Meanwhile, multiple trades are working simultaneously including HVAC, landscaping, plumbing, and finishing. On the outside of the building the grounds are being cleaned up and graded; the exterior of the building is being finalized.  Within the next couple weeks, ceilings will be suspended where applicable, fixtures will be installed, and the original solid wood doors, which were saved during the initial de-construction, will be re-hung.



I saw 3 different trades at work this morning, including HVAC, framing and drywall, and electrical.  The image below shows ductwork beginning to be installed in the 30,000 square foot showroom & conferencing center.  Other areas of the building are also having ductwork installed and eventually this will be all tied together into a well planned HVAC system.

 

Framing of some of the private offices has also begun.  At the accelerated pace that has been occuring, these private offices should be wired and drywalled within a short period of time.

 

  Other areas of the building will also show significant advancment over the next few weeks.  In fact, the NW corner of offices is  the location of the first drywall that has been hung. 

message from Ron Hux:

In December we started on the interior build-out of our offices. Since December we’ve made significant progress on the infrastructure including welding new roof trusses where HVAC units will be sitting, installing a new roof on the showroom area to meet LEED requirements and placing sky lights and a new roof structure in a small area in the showroom. I made a decision early on not to use the existing plumbing so all new pipes had to be put in the floors. In addition, we removed a block wall to expand the accounting area and installed the fire sprinkler system.

 

interior views highlighting build-out and the glass enclosures of our 4000 sq. ft. addition

With all this behind us now, the crews are concentrating on framing and building out the space. We expect this to progress rapidly.  By mid-March framing should be complete and drywall should begin to be hung.

 

left to right: the delivery of drywall has begun, new roof trusses, interior view looking northeast