The Terminology of Our Business

Whether you've done office renovation or remodeling before or if you're thinking of working with an office decoration company for the first time, it can be useful to know the industry terminology. Listed below are the meanings of some of the phrases in our industry.

BREEAM
stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. First introduced in 1990, this rating system has become the world's primary sustainability assessment. To obtain a BREEAM rating, a building will need to undergo a third-party certification by a licensed BREEAM assessment body.

Installation of Cat A
Simply put, Cat A assembly follows the shell and core phase and ensures that the building is fully functional. It covers the installation of all standard facilities such as electrical services and general lighting, but does not include decor and interior design features.

Cat A + Fitting
Cat A+ fitting is primarily important for landlords. All the elements of a standard Cat A with the addition of the rudimentary features of Cat B, such as meeting rooms and a kitchen. This jargon means that those renting the space must have the basic features they need to be able to use it..

Cat B Adaptation
Cat B adaptation continues the project from the Cat A process, decorating the empty space and transforming it into a fully furnished office. The Cat B procedure takes into account the specific needs of the personnel who will use the building and adjusts the space to their requirements.

Coworking (Virtual Office)
An increasingly popular phenomenon, coworking is changing the way small businesses work. A coworking building either charges for membership or operates on a "pay-as-you-go" basis. The facility provides access to office spaces and co-working areas for registered members. As collaborative environments are often shared by different companies, they are places of high entrepreneurial spirit, where a strong sense of community emerges.

Design and Build
This concept refers to a project in which a single company assumes responsibility for design or construction services to complete an adaptation or renovation project. Unlike the traditional 'design-bid-build' model, where contractors will offer to deliver a specific design, Design and Build provides a single point of responsibility, allowing the design and construction phases to overlap. It benefits the customer by enabling the project to be completed at a lower cost and in less time, increasing efficiency and reliability.

Detail and Build
It is a project procurement where the client provides the design and the contractor takes responsibility for the execution of the work. It is different from traditional construction projects because there is a fixed price and schedule. The project risk is borne by the design and construction company.

Fitwell
It is a building certification system that assesses the health impacts of buildings and aims to promote specific architectural practices that benefit the well-being of building occupants. When assessing the health impact of a building, it draws attention to the following criteria.

Community Health
Refers to the extent to which employee safety and the design of the building encourage physical activity.

Office Setup
The placement of the office is a project that requires the development of an office space to ensure the fulfillment of the demands of employees.

Office Renovation
This requires delivering a suitable Cat B to an office that is no longer fit for purpose. This is often driven by the need and specific requirements to reorganize a space for new occupants or the desire to freshen up a space.

Shell and Core
This term refers to the procedure carried out in a building before the Cat A phase starts. This first stage of the process involves the construction of the skeleton and structure of the building itself, including elements such as elevators and stairwells. At the end of the "shell and kernel" you should have a blank canvas that prepares the ground for the possibilities of effective enrichment.

Field Plan / Field Control
This is a process by which information about an organization is collated and analyzed to identify the needs of staff. This data is then used for adaptation work to respond to the needs of the staff.

WELL Building Standard
This is a certification system run by IWBI (The International WELL Building Institute). Evaluate the impact of buildings on human health and well-being. It is the world's first building certification body. This plan promotes specific design and construction practices that are proven by medical and scientific research to support human health.