The Ultimate Office Renovation Guide

Name: Conexus Studio
Address: 108 Pasir Panjang Road, #03-05 Golden Agri Plaza, 118535, SG
Telephone: +65 6226 0226
Price range: SGD

A step-by-step guide to navigating your office renovation

A workplace remodel is not just a matter of aesthetics, it can have a major impact on the success and growth of your business. Go about the process strategically and you can expect to reap improved returns on your property investment, with the added benefit of unlocking the full potential of your workforce through a well-executed office interior design.

As a workplace interior design firm and office renovation specialist in Singapore, Conexus Studio draws on decades of experience and expert know-how to ensure the success of your project. Check out our handy 6-step guide below and get started on your office renovation:

Determine your renovation objectives
Map out your office requirements
Lay out a timeline for the project
Decide on your renovation budget
Source for a dependable office renovation contractor in Singapore
Design and build your new office space

Office Renovation Guide Singapore — Are you looking to improve productivity and workflow, elevate your workplace branding, or simply keep up with the times?

Step 1: Determine your renovation objectives

The first step to a successful office renovation is to start with a clear goal. Are you looking to improve productivity and workflow, elevate workplace branding, create a greener office, or keep up with the times? Perhaps you’re looking to reconfigure the office with agile new spaces that better suit the needs of the modern workforce. Maybe you wish to be in line with the latest workplace design trends — check out our 2024 office design trends guide for office renovation ideas. All this will inform the planning and design development of the office renovation process. If your lease is coming up soon, you have the added decision of seeing if you should move into a new office space or alter the interior design of an existing one.

Reasons to stay

If you’ve got a good rate on your current address and it works well for your employees, you might consider the latter. Focus on reconfiguring and renovating the office space to fit your company’s changing needs and aspirations. Is it possible to acquire another unit to fit your growth or restack your headquarters to optimise each square foot? Addition & Alteration (A&A) work is an economical option that comprises minor, non-structural changes to elevate the functionality and visual appeal of the premises.

Reasons to move

Before you decide to renovate, check if relocating could be a better option. Bear in mind the lost productivity before, during, and after the renovation process. If the workspace isn’t worth keeping or there just isn’t enough space to accommodate your growing business, it may be time to relocate and choose a new office for your business. This offers a valuable opportunity to move to a more strategic and convenient location as well.

Step 2: Map out your office requirements

Once you have decided on your objectives, you can start making a list of your functional needs. Create a list of must-haves, which should include non-negotiable details such as the number of employees the office should house and map out a “Day 2” scenario that includes the company’s anticipated growth plans. Make a list of the furnishings and other items you can and would like to retain in the renovation, to decide how to work with them. Lastly, don’t forget to factor in time during the office renovation process to collect feedback from the stakeholders on their future workplace design.

Make that dream office a reality

Next, put together a wish-list of features that would be good to have, such as window views for all staff, adjustable-height desks or recreational spaces where employees can take a break or bond with their co-workers. It also pays to understand their needs and preferences: perhaps they require more private settings for high-concentration work or require easy access to collaboration spaces for quick discussions.

Coupled with the pre-renovation stage when the design is developed, it usually takes about three to four months in total to renovate an office.

Step 3: Lay out a timeline for the project

Coupled with the pre-renovation stage – a month-long period during which the tender is awarded, and the workplace design is developed – it usually takes three to four months to renovate an office. Before starting work on site, the office renovation company must obtain a permit to work for vetting and approval by local authorities. Then, the construction period will be divided into the following three stages that take four weeks each to complete.

1. Marking & Planning Preparation

In the first four weeks dedicated to preparation, a thorough appraisal of existing building infrastructures and planning for the new construction will be required. Our Project Director, Roy Ngai, and Associate M&E Director, Haryanto Tanuwijaya, underscore the importance of precise site markings indicating the location of every fixture and service. They are indispensable for directing the placement of various elements from furniture to the intricate web of pipes, vents, sprinkler systems, and power outlets, paving the way for a seamless installation process.

2. Construction Phase

Once those markings are in place and the foundations have been set, the building commences. In this second stage of renovation, those pre-laid cables, pipes, and outlet points are kept safely within the walls and floor finishes or installed into carpentry works. Over this duration, the space will witness a more dramatic change once custom joinery, partitions, ceiling tiles and other parts are built into it.

3. Testing & Validation

Finally, the office testing phase takes place in the last couple of weeks of the project, when extensive tests are conducted on all the office facilities to prepare for the handover and arrival of staff. This includes the testing and commissioning of M&E services, programming of the server room, transferring data, checking on the usability of water points, ensuring air-conditioning and ventilation and many others.

In total, you can expect the entire construction process to take up to 12 weeks before the handover.

For more information on the process, check out how we planned the renovation for Conexus' new office in this video below:

When to cater for a longer office renovation

While the administrative and vetting periods differ for different developments, it is useful to note that newly-TOP buildings (where the Temporary Occupation Permit has been awarded) in Singapore usually require a much longer time to obtain approvals from the relevant Qualified Personnel (QP) – the registered architects, registered surveyors and/or professional engineers – before being allowed to start construction.

The timeline could also be longer in situations when the delivery mode is Design-Bid-Build, where you will be tendering for the build part of the job only after the design phase is completed. (Tip: if time is an issue, go for Design and Build firms, where the designers can continue to refine the workplace design as the project proceeds, allowing for improved flexibility). Also, if you’re carrying out refurbishments in a live office environment, it will be a challenge to finish work fast. You may have to extend the timeline and renovate in phases to minimise office disruptions and safety hazards in the workplace.

Step 4: Decide on your renovation budget

How much does it cost to renovate an office in Singapore? As a rough gauge, a full office interior design and renovation package in Singapore averages around $100-$120 per square foot. However, this amount depends on many variables. You will need to consider the services: the condition of the electrical and mechanical systems, whether they need to be installed or reconfigured and how you can comply with building requirements. Don’t forget your security, IT and AV systems. Lastly, what are your expectations regarding aesthetic experience and quality? Does your company branding call for design elements that showcase Singapore’s unique identity? Do you prefer the look of made-to-measure carpentry or the comfort of ergonomic furniture? The more elaborate and customised the interior design, the higher the renovation cost.

Bigger office spaces can be cheaper to renovate

Size-wise, larger offices call for a higher budget, yet bigger spaces have the benefit of a lower fixed costs (such as M&E services), which make a bigger dent in the per-square-foot cost for small offices. Denser offices also incur more costs for renovation services: for example, enclosed private office rooms, common in law and accounting firms, will require more built-up spaces and acoustic insulation, and are thus more expensive.

Design and build your new office — From test-fits to project management: your design and build partners can help you make better decisions regarding your office renovation.

Step 5: Source for an office renovation company

We’ve listed this as step 5 because you should consider the earlier steps first, but here’s an insider tip: involve your office renovation contractor as early as you can in the planning process. Not only will it help you decide on your schedule and budget better, but their expert insight could also help you make better decisions regarding the project. For example, your design and build partner can help to weigh in on whether to stay or relocate your office from the start, by creating a test-fit floor plan for your new requirements.

What is more, with regulations involved in commercial office renovations in Singapore varying from project to project, they can also save you from any oversights that might compromise the project’s success. A professional office renovation company will be able to advice on regulatory and vetting aspects, from fire safety requirements to Qualified Persons (QP) submissions, which can impact both cost and schedules.

Which office renovation contractor is for you?

When shortlisting your office renovation partners, you’re essentially looking at hiring project management, office interior design as well as construction specialists. These three service elements may be hired separately or as a complete design and build solution. Unless complex specialist requirements are necessary, for an average office renovation, the turnkey design and build procurement model is best suited due to its quick turnaround time and fuss-free execution. But caveat emptor: the office interior design company you select will often partner with external builders/contractors to provide the fit-out solution, so make sure to vet key members on the team and check for relevant experience.

Step 6: Design and build your new office space

With the help of the workplace renovation companies you’ve shortlisted, come up with an office interior design concept for the office. Typically, this part of the process will begin with a site analysis, after which you'll be presented with a design proposal on the overall direction of the project. To smoothen the process, you can create a visual board with your style preferences to aid designers in nailing down the look and feel of your office space. This also prevents many rounds of design changes that may compromise your timeline. Later, you'll dive into detailed design decisions together, finalising office layouts and specific materials.

Once your space planning and design is finalised, it’s left to the project managers and builders to ensure that the space gets built according to this blueprint, and the interior designer’s input will still be required for any final site-related adjustments. Enjoy your office renovation journey! Do note that it doesn’t end after the renovation process. Strap in for a long ride ahead, as you work together with your office renovation partner on defects rectification and maintenance services to keep your commercial workplace in tip-top shape. And don’t forget, you may require office reinstatement works for your current space.

Making Office Renovations Simple

If all the above sounds like a lot to handle, leave it to the experts to guide you through each step of the process. Conexus Studio is a one-stop office renovation company in Singapore with a solid track record. Every member of our veteran team has years of experience in commercial interior design and build, and corporations trust us to take care of project management together with our award-winning office interior design solutions. Find out more or contact us below for a customised proposal. Check out how we planned the renovation for Conexus' new office here.

let's get started!