Offices
Open Workstations Budget and Scope for Offices
Compare like-for-like scopes by separating base work, specialist items and upgrades before requesting a quote.
Explore the ideas
Compare the options
- Set the brief
- List the functions the finished space must support, then assign items to base scope or upgrades.
- Compare
- Get quantities and materials described consistently across quotes. Ask who covers making good and waste removal.
- Before buying
- Set aside a contingency for survey-dependent work and price likely substitutions before choosing finishes.
Worked example
Imagine fitting out a home office with a fixed budget and competing requests for a custom desk, better lighting and acoustic treatment.
Protect the work surface, suitable chair and usable task lighting as the core scope. Price custom storage and acoustic upgrades separately, then compare quotes with the same furniture, wiring and making-good assumptions.
How to test it
Read the exclusions back with each supplier and ask what must be purchased or arranged separately.
Apply it to this space
- Layout
- Arrange desk rows with a distinct aisle and keep high-traffic routes behind, rather than between, seated workers.
- Detail
- Use modest-height screens and task lights so people can tune their own work area without darkening the room.
- Trade-off
- More desk density reduces spare space for informal collaboration.
- Mock up chair pullback and aisle width
- Check screen glare at seated eye level
The Elixir portfolio
Details worth a closer look
