Designing for Change – The Financial Value of Raised Access Floors

In modern commercial projects, it’s always important to recognise the importance of services, including HVAC systems, electrical and plumbing infrastructure, IT and communications requirements, and so on.

At the same time, it’s important for architects and designers to acknowledge the fact that, in today’s fast-paced economic context, the turnover of tenants in buildings of this type is a constant. Indeed, right now, typical lease durations tend to range between 5 and 10 years. This means that, across their operational lives, most commercial buildings will be home to many businesses and/or organisations.

With this in mind, in this session of CPD Live, we shine a light on the financial value of raised access floors. Beginning by identifying the services required in commercial buildings, our speakers will outline the challenges associated with maintaining them during tenant changes, refurbishments and technology upgrades.

Noting the various other floor servicing strategies available, they will put the case for raised access floors as a wise option; and one that is likely to meet the aspirations of those looking to minimise the disruption and cost of change over time.

At the end of this presentation, you should be able to:

• Identify the services required in commercial buildings
• Outline the various floor servicing strategies available to architects, when designing buildings of this type
• Explain why floor servicing choices are more than just technical/fit-out decisions
• Outline the ways in which raised access floors help minimise the financial costs of technological upgrades and tenant changes

(PRACTICE MANAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT PC3, PRACTICE MANAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT PC10, PROJECT INITIATION AND CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PC24, PROJECT INITIATION AND CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PC28)