A Financing Company Plans a More Connected Office

Project date:

February 2016

Geographical Market:

Metro Detroit

Industry:

Finance

Employees:

130

Budget:

$200,000

In early 2016, a commercial real estate and home financing company was experiencing major growing pains. Rightsize partnered with the client to find a creative and budget-friendly solution.

The company was composed of three entities, and it occupied three different suites within the same building. This separation was causing a disjointed corporate culture and poor communication among staff. Since the company was on the verge of hiring more employees, leadership wanted to move into a larger space that could accommodate everyone.

Rightsize analyzed the client’s specific needs for space planning, and used its budget wisely by selecting remanufactured furniture for the best value. An open office plan, lower panels, and light colors brightened up the space.

Rightsize also planned the new office to promote communication and collaboration among employees. Each of the three company divisions received its own open meeting area that integrated premium pre-owned lounge seating, dry erase boards, and laptop tables. And multipurpose conference tables combined work surfaces and file cabinets that joined to walls with mounted TVs. The company is continuing to expand, as well as build a long-term relationship with Rightsize. 

An Automotive Company Expands into a New Global HQ

Project date:

May-December 2016

Geographical Market:

Metro Detroit

Industry:

Automotive

Employees:

125

Budget:

$800,000

In May 2016, a company that specializes in designing, manufacturing, and distributing automotive products began its expansion into a new location. The company maintained employees in its existing space, and partnered with Rightsize to PLAN and FURNISH its new global headquarters. The end result had an industrial, yet modern aesthetic.

Rightsize helped the client create a plan to fit its workflow and its employees’ needs, managing the process from visualization to installation. The office blended classic and contemporary pieces – including reclaimed wood walls and colorful carpet tiles – to create a unique, branded look. Rightsize also used its expertise to value-engineer spaces that combined seating and storage.

The open floor plan captured the client’s vision of an airy and collaborative environment. Rightsize used remanufactured workstations equipped with custom work surfaces and built-in dry erase boards. The private offices included height-adjustable tables and matching task chairs.

Rightsize also took the opportunity to add eye-catching and functional elements in the office’s shared spaces. Each of the multiple conference and media rooms had its own distinctive look; one featured a striking V-shaped table, and another offered a TV, and a bar-height table to be used for meetings or drop-in workstations. 

A Fast-Growing Tech Startup Opens its First Office

Project date:

December 2015-March 2016

Geographical Market:

Metro Detroit

Industry:

Technology

Employees:

35

Budget:

$50,000

When Rightsize began working with an innovative technology startup, it was in the midst of a period of significant growth and change. The company had just secured funding, and within the span of a few months, it had expanded its staff from four to 35 employees.

Rightsize collaborated with the company’s CEO to PLAN and FURNISH a streamlined, modern space on a quick timeframe and a tight startup budget. The Rightsize team provided a great deal of value for the client, handling every step of the planning and installation process, and procuring affordable but high-quality furnishings.

The client envisioned a contemporary workspace that matched its innovative brand identity. Rightsize achieved this look by furnishing the open-plan area with remanufactured workstations with low panels. Meeting rooms and collaborative spaces featured walls coated with a dry erase board paint. Rightsize also designed a custom reception station with a colorful, curved table, and low benching made from refurbished workstations.

The startup is about to launch its first product and continue its growth. Its staff is already in talks with Rightsize as it looks for a new suite to accommodate 35 new employees – doubling the size of the company.

A Printing Solutions Company Gets a Bigger & Better Space

Project date:

August – October 2016

Geographical Market:

Chicago, Illinois

Industry:

Printing

Employees:

75 - 100

A market leader in specialty printing solutions recently moved its headquarters to a bigger facility in the Chicago area – both to increase seats for its employees, and to expand offerings for its clients. The company nearly doubled the size of its previous space, and it partnered with Rightsize and an architect to PLAN and FURNISH the new facility.

The client hadn’t purchased new furniture in about a decade, and it wanted to update and modernize its look. Promoting a culture of collaboration was central to the company’s vision, and Rightsize brought this idea to life in the facility’s open office area. The old workstations had featured tall, 70-inch panels and outdated finishes. Rightsize installed sleek 42-inch panels, using laminate and frosted, frameless glass finishes for a more contemporary feel. Pops of color – in red, blue and green – gave the space a bright and cohesive aesthetic.

The client needed to stretch its budget with furnishing the new space, and Rightsize’s unique BLENDED SOLUTION was the ideal way to do this without sacrificing quality.

“Budget is often a challenge on projects,” said Workplace Solutions Director Jessica McCambridge. “But we were able to really value-engineer and do what we do best to help them out.”

Rightsize refurbished Herman Miller panels for the 70 workstations, then found cost-effective new solutions for storage, work surfaces and glass.

“Typically designers go to one manufacturer, and every single component is from that company,” said McCambridge. “But we blend a variety of different manufacturers together to get the best price point for the client.”

Rightsize designed welcoming, collaborative lounge areas that were new for the company. They included high bar-top tables and lounge furniture in a colorful, striped pattern. Rightsize also gave the reception area a fresh, branded makeover, and refinished and reupholstered the existing guest chairs in the same striped pattern.

The new facility is now open, and the client couldn’t be happier with the end result. McCambridge has this advice for companies that are looking to start a similar project:

“Stay open-minded to different solutions,” she said. “Get creative, and think outside the box. You don’t have to order straight out of a catalogue. We are experts at using a variety of manufacturers, fabrics and finishes and pulling everything together, giving clients the right look within budget.”

A Media Company Makes a New Space Its Own

Project date:

March 2015

Geographical Market:

Brookfield, Wisconsin

Industry:

Media

Budget:

$75,000

Moving to a new 20,000 square-foot building gave Lessiter, a Wisconsin-based media company an opportunity to upgrade its space and its interior design.

The company publishes magazines, newsletters, websites and other media within the agricultural industry. The company leadership contacted Rightsize to PLAN and FURNISH the new building. One unique challenge for this project was incorporating various departments – ranging from art to accounting – and addressing each one’s unique needs.

The client studied current design trends and opted to place the 15 private offices in the center of the space, with two open areas along the walls for a total of 35 workstations. The project included two conference rooms, a breakroom, and collaboration and storage areas.

Rightsize incorporated brand colors and two-tone woods, in maple and walnut finishes, to make the space feel warm and welcoming. A floor-to-ceiling chalkboard wall in the breakroom also encouraged teamwork and creativity.

Rightsize demonstrated that focusing on an office’s aesthetic is a good return on investment. 

A Sales-Based Company Balances Open & Private Spaces

Project date:

2016

Geographical Market:

Chicago, IL area

Industry:

Manufacturing

Budget:

$58,000

In early 2016, the Midwest branch of a large national manufacturing company moved from a shared co-working space into its own office.

Rightsize provided space planning and developed a cost-effective BLENDED SOLUTION for furniture selection and procurement. The client wanted an open, contemporary look for the office, but with adequate privacy for staff. Since it is a primarily sales-based company, with many employees on the phone most of the day, noise cancelation was an important consideration.

Rightsize created a solution for the sales team with refurbished task chairs and Herman Miller Ethospace workstations, featuring interchangeable tiles and seated privacy to help with noise control. For senior level management, private offices offered a blend of new, refurbished and pre-owned furniture.

Using manufacturers including Mayline, Encore and Global, Rightsize planned a new conference room, a breakroom and the main reception area.

Wisconsin Bank

Geographical Market:

Glendale, Wisconsin

Industry:

Business Services: Financial/Banking

Employees:

20

Budget:

$60,000 – $70,000

When a Wisconsin community bank with multiple locations sought to move quickly into a new Glendale branch, Rightsize managed a quick, three-month turnaround from concept to completion.

For the newly acquired space, Rightsize handled space planning, furniture specification and procurement, delivery and installation.

The VIP+ Program maximized the budget and supplied the branch with brand new Performance furnishings for 20 employees.

The seven private offices and teller spaces were outfitted with Global furnishings, which struck a balance between traditional and contemporary. The newly planned reception space provides a warm welcome and includes comfortable guest seating and a relaxing lounge featuring Studio Q furniture. The transitional style features dark, rich finishes blended with a modern, restrained color scheme – beige with a nickel finish. Storefront glass runs along the front of private offices, creating an open, airy yet rich and comfortable feel.

Finishes incorporated the bank’s branding colors, including maroon and two different shades of beige. The end result expertly balanced a traditional feel, while keeping the interior fresh and contemporary enough to satisfy current staff and clientele.

For more information on Rightsize services, call 800-815-8592 or click here to see  a portfolio of our work.

A Risk Management Firm Gets a Branded Makeover

Geographical Market:

Dallas, Texas

Industry:

Risk Management

Employees:

35

Budget:

$32,600

In 2015, a national specialized risk management firm was seeking to establish a fresh, open aesthetic for all of its offices. Rightsize provided space planning, furniture specification and procurement, delivery and installation for the firm’s Chicago office, then moved forward to lead the same process in its Dallas location.

The company was moving its Dallas operations into an expansive new suite, and Rightsize used a BLENDED SOLUTION to create an airy, branded space within a three-month timeline.

Clean, monochromatic colors and lots of light from exterior windows gave the office a bright and inviting look. Rightsize also added pops of bold color – from turquoise panel tiles to fun fabric cushions – to infuse the space with a lively personality. The 24 refurbished Herman Miller Ethospace workstations featured low, 46-inch panels and 120-degree surfaces, as well as serpentine benching, for a collaborative and modern environment.

By using a combination of new and refurbished products, Rightsize executed the project for significant savings, reducing the client’s spending by an estimated $1,200 to $1,500 for each workstation.

Rightsize is continuing to work with the firm to deliver customized, branded solutions for its offices across the country, including locations in Washington, D.C., San Francisco and New York.

International Company’s Consolidation Exceeds Expectations

Project date:

August 2015

Geographical Market:

Chicago, IL

Industry:

Library Automation

Employees:

50 - 100

Budget:

$250,000

When the Chicago branch of an international library automation company consolidated and moved between floors in their existing suburban location, Rightsize handled the space planning, furniture specification and procurement as well as installation in the 18,250-square-foot space.

The more than six-month project required staying within a firm budget for the discerning decision makers, based in Israel. Workplace Solutions Director Jessica McCambridge faced a strict approval process for product selections that would satisfy a sophisticated aesthetic, while staying within a performance plus budget.

“The company expected high-end results, so the process involved setting clear expectations and finding creative ways to address design requirements, while staying on budget,” said McCambridge. “To accomplish our goal, we sourced pre-owned workstations and kept everything else refurbished – the finished look was spot-on.”

The BLENDED SOLUTION incorporated more than 70 refurbished Herman Miller workstations featuring glass panels and pops of color that complemented the company logo. Seven private offices were equipped with Cherryman laminate desks. Rightsize used a Maverick conference table, Mayline breakroom furniture, and Global soft seating.

“The company transitioned from very large, tall panel workstations to ones with a lower height that still gave them the needed privacy while seated but allowed sightlines across the office when standing up,” said McCambridge. “The result was fairly modern but with a nod to the classic office.”