Not your everyday cubicles
Mie-Yun Lee, Editorial Director, BuyerZone.com
May 31, 2000
While those used desks in your office may have been a bargain, you may be paying a different
price by not utilizing your space more efficiently. So how do you handle more employees
without taking on more office space?
The solution can be a snap -- actually it may also involve a few hinges, but with systems
furniture, a.k.a. "cubicles," you can transform your office space into the private yet
interactive work space you need.
Newer and "smarter" walls
The latest systems furniture designs support the wired workplace. You will find multiple
power, telecommunications and networking outlets at the "beltline," or desktop, level.
In some designs, outlets are mounted so they can glide to different parts of the cubicle.
The niftiest designs feature a "smart" wall that has all the wiring and cables you need
built into the wall itself for minimal fuss.
You will also see multiple lighting options. With computers at many desks these days,
the need for strong overhead lighting may not be there. Features like dimmer switches
and more diffuse lighting is more commonly available.
Cubes of a different shape
The latest designs are also easy to reconfigure. Although your company may not move,
your space needs are likely to evolve as departments reorganize. Breaking down and re-setting
up cubicles can be a cost-prohibitive proposition with older designs, though.
Since many new pieces are mobile, with a nudge here and a swivel there, you can have
a "new" workstation.
For example, do you have a lot of team meetings? Instead of individual cubby isolation,
newer designs feature lower panels and more open space, ideal for spontaneous meetings
where anyone can just pull up a chair and sit comfortably around your workstation.
How do costs measure up?
Brand-new workstations can certainly be costly ($1,800 to $6,000 each), but buying used
can reduce costs by as much as half. Depending on design, refurbished used furniture,
with new paint and fabric, could cost $700 to $1,300 per workstation.
Even better, buying used systems furniture as is, without a facelift, could bring the
cost down to $400 to $700 per workstation.
And if you can find a business that is trying to get rid of their systems furniture as
a set, now you're really talking about a potential cost-cutter.
Ready to buy?
Get a quote on systems furniture by clicking here --
we'll connect you directly with a vendor online, and you can relay your requirements.
Quick tips
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It doesn't pay to rent. Unless your needs are very short-term (less than
six months), renting is costlier than buying used furniture. Plus you'll have limited
options.
Think long-term. Expecting growth? Look for a non-obsolescence clause.
Without that, when you try to order a part years later, you might be disappointed
to hear that the line has been discontinued.
No mixing and matching. The manufacturer you choose will probably be the
one you stick with for all future systems furniture purchases; not all manufacturers
are compatible.
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