| Modular office systems furniture dates from 1968 | | | | MAiSPACE focuses on small to mid-sized firms - as |
| when designer Robert Propst , dubbed "the man | | | | few as two offices - and helps customers create |
| behind the cubicle" in the November 1998 issue of | | | | customizable workspaces without a cost penalty. This |
| Metropolis, invented a counterpoint to the sixties era | | | | provides a broad market base as approximately 25% |
| offices - huge, open spaces filled with rows of desks | | | | of business owners lease less than 10,000 square |
| and chairs and surrounded by closed-in rooms. | | | | feet." |
| Those sterile, virtually one-size-fits-all Dilbertesque | | | | Bespoke Office Spaces from $12.00 per Square Foot |
| cubicles of the sixties and seventies have given way | | | | Installed |
| to exciting new designs in systems furniture that add | | | | "Customization and class need not be costly or a time |
| color, pizzazz and personality to today's office | | | | killer," says Spradlin. "For example, we recently installed |
| landscape. The wide availability of vibrant or subdued | | | | 65 workstations and 24 private offices, including a |
| colors; painted, stainless, smooth or embossed metals; | | | | standards-compliant modular cabling system for $12.00 |
| and choices in glass and fabric combine to allow office | | | | per square foot. The client selected Coverseal, a |
| designers to create workspaces that scream success | | | | proprietary MAiSPACE material in a warm grey color |
| and help attract and hold qualified personnel. | | | | for their work surfaces a sand colored crepe fabric, |
| The evolution in open offices advanced substantially | | | | interspersed with some clear glass for the panel |
| when in 1993 MAiSPACE entered the market with a | | | | segments. Cabinets and trim are khaki. Move in was 5 |
| revolutionary concept in manufacturing and design | | | | weeks after the customer placed the order." |
| leading to dramatic reductions in price compared to | | | | A call center comprising 486 MAiSPACE agent and |
| offerings by some of the oldest names in the industry. | | | | managerial workstations in 6 x 6 and 10 x 12 |
| Unburdened by outdated manufacturing facilities, | | | | configurations was also completed at $12.00 per |
| MAiSPACE started from scratch to create an | | | | square foot installed including cabling runs and |
| off-modular stackable panel system with flexibility and | | | | customized colors and fabrics. The job met a deadline |
| performance unmatched in the industry. Included as an | | | | already shortened by two weeks. |
| industry first is a fully standards compliant cable | | | | Open offices and common tasking areas help |
| management system that, together with the system | | | | encourage interaction among employees. But there are |
| elements, easily adjusts to the Moves, Adds and | | | | instances where privacy is essential for productivity. "A |
| Changes (MACs) typical in today's businesses. At | | | | BOSTI (Buffalo Organization for Social and |
| price points 40% below its competition, MAiSPACE | | | | Technologic Innovation) study shows privacy can |
| backs its quality with a lifetime performance guarantee | | | | increase productivity for task-intensive knowledge |
| and a guarantee against obsolescence. | | | | workers 250%," Spradlin points out. "This is incentive to |
| Today some 36% of the $11 billion in annual shipments | | | | provide privacy, and modular full wall office systems |
| in office furniture products is systems furniture. | | | | do that with additional bottom line benefits. That's |
| MAiSPACE, based in Mt. Olive, NJ, is a leading supplier | | | | because they can be moved and reconfigured at one |
| to this industry serving companies where the average | | | | third the cost of conventional drywall construction." |
| churn rate is 40% a year - but can reach 200%. | | | | Attractive yet functional workspaces become more |
| Quality construction using knock-down ready to | | | | important due to a phenomenon called the incredible |
| assemble (RTA) structural systems of 14-gauge | | | | shrinking office. "Sky high rents force businesses to |
| cold-rolled steel sets MAiSPACE apart from | | | | cram more into less," says Spradlin, noting that floor |
| competitors whose lower quality products can bend | | | | space per employee has shrunk to an average 200 |
| and distort, making moves and reassembly difficult if | | | | square feet from 250 square feet 10 years ago. "That |
| not impossible. | | | | includes common areas such as meeting rooms and |
| Quality systems furniture can be a lifesaver for | | | | central storage," he adds. |
| companies looking to create attractive workspaces in | | | | Smaller spaces require innovative means of storage to |
| class B or C buildings without going into hock to | | | | put needed materials close at hand. The MAiSPACE |
| landlords who may tack up to $80 per square foot up | | | | off-modular design supports a wide choice in |
| front or on the lease for tenant build-outs. "That's | | | | placement of storage bins, shelving, paper |
| assuming you can find a landlord ready to talk build-out | | | | management and lighting options augmented by |
| to a tenant leasing 10,000 square feet or less," says | | | | permanent and movable filing systems for each |
| Rob Spradlin, who heads up Installations and Project | | | | workspace. Off-modular design also allows flexibility in |
| Management for MAiSPACE. "The same applies to | | | | workspace size, configuration and in locating divider |
| contactors. In both instances, companies lose control of | | | | panels. |
| their project once they hand it over to a third party. | | | | |