Scalable Space Now and in the Future: Properly Sizing Your Modular Office Space

Modular offices offer utility, customization, cost-effectiveness and a wealth of other practical benefits that make them ideal if your organization is looking to expand without altering the footprint of your facility. They can be built to practically all specifications and installed within your existing facility, or right alongside it on your property. The reality is that businesses in every industry need extra space from time to time. When integrating modular office buildings, it’s important to consider solutions that will benefit you now, as well as in the future.

How Much Space Do I Need for My Modular Office?

The spatial configurations of modular offices can be customized to practically any dimension. Whether you need a few desks for your project managers, or you’re adding an employee breakroom, or even looking to build an entirely new executive suite, determining the dimensions of the modular space starts with asking a few basic questions:

• What Do I Need Now? – Assess your immediate needs and the purpose of your initial build-out. Is it being built to accommodate a large team or a smaller contingent of employees? Will you require a conference room or reception area? Consider these factors when planning.
• What Will I Need in the Future? – Are you planning to expand and grow your staff? Will you need more space to accommodate new projects and company initiatives? It’s better to “overbuild” than “underbuild” so plan for expansion if that is a possibility.
• What Kind of “Bells and Whistles” Do I Want? – Everything takes up space, from kitchens to copy machines. Make sure to stay true to your design vision, while also keeping it realistic, based on budget and available cube space resources.
• Where Is This Building Going? – Will your office be placed within your existing facility or will you be building it offsite?
  How Can I Make the Most of Available Cube Space? – Does your facility have high ceilings? Modular offices are ideal candidates for two-story workspaces.

It’s also best to determine the specific requirements of the professionals working in these offices, as well as what their needs will be, going forward. WOI will work with you to guide you through the process and determine the most advantageous modular office configuration and related size specs. Our team will ensure your new space complies with all required building & fire codes and ADA access specifications.

Standard Size Specifications for Modular Office Buildings

When deciding what size to build your modular office or building, it helps to know the standard sizes for each in-office application. Here are some examples of common square footage allotment for each type of office area:

• C-Suite Executives – 150-400 Square Feet
• Mid-Level Managers – 90-150 Square Feet
• Open Space Workstation: 60-110 Square Feet Per Person
• Standard Cubicle – 48 Square Feet
• Reception Areas – 100 Square Feet
• Conference Room –50 Square Feet

You will also need to account for other potential spaces, like break rooms, file rooms, bathrooms, server rooms, and more.

Specifications for Different Types of Modular Buildings

Determining the size of your modular office or building starts with assessing the needs of the building itself. Different needs will require different levels of space:

• Private Offices – If you’re looking for a place for executives and mid-level managers to take regional meetings, you may need more space than a few offices, a bathroom, and a conference room. If you’re not planning on any type of executive staff expansion, your needs may be smaller.
• Open-Space Offices – If you’re looking to build a modular building for new equipment operations or employee gathering, your spatial needs may be a bit larger. Consider how much space it would take to work efficiently or how the room will most effectively function as a conference room, reception space, etc. Consider if it would also require cubicles or private offices.
• Breakrooms – Manufacturing and warehouse environments often do not have clean quiet areas for breaks and meetings. Modular construction allows this type of space to be added quickly. Typical break rooms include air conditioning, tile floors, vending machines, and microwaves. Modular buildings can accommodate the electrical required
• Elevated Supervisor Offices – Buildings can be installed on top of mezzanine structures for maximum visibility of supervisors. These buildings can be installed inside working manufacturing or distribution plants. The space under the mezzanine floor can be utilized for maintenance areas or tool crib storage.
• Construction Trailers – If you need to just house one or two people in a comfortable, climate-controlled space while overseeing a construction project, there are plenty of economical and customizable options available to you. Most construction trailers fall in the $15,000-$45,000 range.
• Clean Rooms – Different types of cleanrooms will require different size and design accommodations. . Some will require special flooring, sinks, changing areas, ventilation, HVAC, and more. It’s important to understand the regulatory requirements of the space and work with your design team to get it right. Often HEPA filtered cleanrooms are required in automotive manufacturing and other non-medical environments to prevent contamination of parts during manufacturing. Controlled environmental rooms can be custom designed for any specific application including removable walls to accept equipment installation and retooling.
• Gowning rooms are entry points to cleanrooms and controlled environmental rooms for changing clothes and shoes before entering the cleanroom environment. These entry rooms can use air showers to assure personnel that entering are free of particles that could lead to contamination.

There are always unique variables to consider regarding purpose and space use when building any type of modular office, which is why working with experienced modular building contractors like WOI can save time and money in the end.

Let WOI Help You with Your Modular Office Needs

The WOI team is ready to help you through all phases of the modular office conception, design and installation. We have decades of experience in modular building construction and we have the material handling/warehouse experience to intimately understand your unique operational needs. . With our 5 Step Total Satisfaction Experience™, you are guaranteed that we will 1. Listen to your needs, 2. Execute your project with special attention to your unique application, 3. Stick to project timelines, 4. Ensure a safe environment, and 5. Pay close attention to the appearance of the finished product. The WOI team will walk you through each stage of the process and provide expert customer service to deliver great results and peace of mind. Contact a member of our team today and let’s chat or Zoom. Call (865) 540-4004 for a prompt response. We proudly serve customers in Tennessee, Alabama, and throughout the Southeast.