Understanding office workstations Cubicles Buyer's Guide Buying office workstations isn't like buying furniture at an office supply store. For one thing, cubicles from leading manufacturers are built to last for decades. Dealers will work with you to design a system that's right for your needs and will stand behind their work. In addition, office workstations are more expensive than many people realize. We'll get into more detail in pricing, but you can expect to pay around $1,500 per cubicle for high-quality used systems furniture - or $2,500 and up for new systems. Do your homework Before you start talking to cubicle suppliers, you'll need to prepare some basic information about your office and your employees. First, you'll need to know the floor plan of the space you're looking to furnish. If you can get a scale drawing of your office, great; if not, you should measure the office yourself to get a rough idea of your available space for workstations. In most cases, you'll wind up working with a designer who will take more detailed measurements later, but knowing the general dimensions will greatly improve your initial conversations with potential office workstation suppliers. Next, consider your employees. Obviously you need to know how many employees need office workstations. But go one step further: what do those employees do? Cubicles for a department of telemarketers are quite different from the right cubicles for a group of programmers. Talk to your employees about their needs: do they spend more time on the computer, on the phone, or doing paperwork? How important is it that they be able to easily converse with co-workers? Do they have small meetings in their cubes? These factors will influence the size, wall height, and surfaces of the workstations you choose. There are office-wide considerations, as well. Copiers, printers, and any other shared resources need to be accessible without being a distraction to employees seated nearby. Start early Shopping for systems furniture isn't a quick process: if you're buying new or remanufactured systems, you can expect an average of three to six weeks between placing the order and delivery. If you choose office workstations a dealer has in stock, it can take a week; if you place your order at a busy time, it can take as long as 10 weeks or more. Cubicle furniture features and design Cubicles Buyer's Guide A common reason companies opt for cubicle furniture is to reduce noise, and the right type of system can do exactly that. It's important to remember, though, that no system will eliminate noise completely - and that some design choices will make your system even less efficient at blocking sound. Lower panels and glass surfaces can make for a more stylish look - but they both reduce noise absorption. Aesthetics are also important. Leading cubicle furniture manufacturers provide a range of colors and patterns for fabrics and worksurfaces, allowing you to choose a look that's right for you. Plain can be ok - and can save you some money - but nicer fabrics can benefit your business image. On the other hand, if looks really aren't that important to you, you may be able to save money by choosing less popular colors or overstocked fabrics. In most cases, you'll need electric power and data network connections run through a row of cubes. You'll be able to choose "base feed" power that comes from a wall outlet - or "top feed", where wires are dropped down from the ceiling. However, electrifying a set of cubes makes a big difference on the cost. If your cubes are next to walls or existing overhead power sources, you may be able to save some money by simply adding wall outlets or "utility poles" - non-structural columns that conceal wiring. Various storage options are available with cubicle furniture, including filing drawers, wheeled pedestals, wall shelving or cabinets, and free-standing bookshelves, many of which have the option to include locks. Sometimes these are configurable by your employees, allowing each person to set up their cube the way they see fit. For computer-intensive tasks, keyboard trays are a welcome addition. Some systems go a step further by allowing the entire worksurface to be raised or lowered. Other common add-ons include whiteboards, windows, built-in task lighting, coat hangers, and tack boards. Your vendor can give you more details on what extras are available, and in most cases you'll be able to add them later with little or no extra expense.   Get design help The systems furniture vendor you choose will provide help with all of these decisions. Most will create a computer layout of your office, allowing you to see what various cubicle furniture setups would look like and make necessary changes. Larger companies may also want to hire their own interior designer to work with the vendor, especially if your office gets a lot of visitors. Either way, you should expect your designers to ask lots of questions about your office environment, your employees and their jobs, and your plans for the future. Modular office furniture basics Cubicles Buyer's Guide Many people evaluating modular office furniture (yet another term for cubicles) don't understand the scope of the purchasing decision they're making. It may not seem like choosing a few cubicles will have far-reaching implications, but that may be the case. For one thing, it's very important to stick with one brand. While many brands may look similar, they use completely different hardware and panels and are almost never interchangeable. This means that as your business grows, all your additional modular office furniture purchases will be based on the first decision. Two main types of modular office furniture Systems furniture is available in two main designs: panel-mounted and freestanding. Most systems furniture today is panel-mounted: the wall panels are the basis of the system, and components such as desks and file cabinets are mounted directly onto the panels. Freestanding components use separate panels that are placed around furniture. Each design has its advantages. Panel-based systems offer greater design flexibility, can be equipped with internal power options, and can be a bit taller to provide greater privacy and noise reduction. The main advantage of freestanding systems is that they can be easily installed and reconfigured. This makes them more convenient for firms that will often rearrange or move office space. General modular furniture features to consider Look into the flexibility a given system offers. If you move your office two years down the road, will the systems be reconfigurable to fit a different type of space? Can you arrange cubes in traditional rows, "bullpen" style where several co-workers share a larger enclosed space, or in staggered or diagonal layouts? Also check the system's durability. Modular furniture is designed to last many years - the warranties included can provide a good indication of the expected life span. Because you'll be using it for years, you should also make sure the dealer you choose is committed to carrying this line, ensuring the availability and of parts and service. What size? The most common cubicle sizes - familiar to office workers across the country - are 6' x 6', 6' x 8', and 8' x 8'. These provide enough room for a computer or two, desk space for paperwork, and perhaps a single chair for visitors. They can be as small as a 2' x 4' call center workstation or as large as a 12' x 12' manager's cube that includes space for several people to meet. In addition to the size, you'll need to decide on a height for the walls. Heights range from 34" to 85" - the choice depends quite a bit on how your employees like to work. Many people like being able to stand up and talk to co-workers, but have privacy when they're seated. 54" walls are a good height for that type of interaction. 67" or 72" walls create more privacy at all times, but can reduce light and make collaboration more difficult; 42" walls make it easier for employees to work together but provide little privacy or help in reducing distractions. Tell Me More: Office panels and systems furniture Businesses shopping for office panel systems need to be familiar with "systems furniture" - the industry's term for office panels and associated furniture. There are two main types of office panel systems: panel-mounted and freestanding. Most systems furniture today is panel-mounted: the office panels are the basis of the system, and components such as desks and file cabinets are mounted directly onto the panels. Freestanding office panel systems use separate panels that are placed around furniture to create individual offices. Each design has its advantages. Panel-based systems offer greater design flexibility, can be equipped with internal power options, and can be a bit taller to provide greater privacy and noise reduction. The main advantage of freestanding systems is that they can be easily installed and reconfigured. This makes them more convenient for firms that will often rearrange their office or move to new locations. Features of office panels Look into the flexibility a given system offers. Can you arrange cubes in traditional rows, "bullpen" style where several co-workers share a larger enclosed space, or in staggered or diagonal layouts? Decide if you need power or not: powered office panels cost more, but make it easy to plug in computers and other electronics. Also check the system's durability. Office panels systems are designed to last many years - the warranties included can provide a good indication of the expected life span. Because you'll be using them for years, you should also make sure the dealer you choose is committed to carrying this line, ensuring the availability and of parts and service.