If your office has a thermostat, smoke alarm or movement-sensitive – whether you know it or not – it’s a ‘smart’ office. Which is to say your office has automated, programmable devices that function without input.

In the last ten years however, the definition of a smart building has expanded exponentially. Whilst not quite at the stage of having intelligent doors and elevators with the GPPs (Genuine People Personalities) featured in Douglas Adam’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, we’re not far off it.

The revolution started in the home with the introduction of AI equipped home hubs such as Alexa and Google Home, which respond to voice commands, coordinate multiple different devices, and can even initiate a complete set of actions in response to a phrase like ‘intruder alert’.

The key difference is that the devices are not merely automated or programmable, but that they are centralised and integrated – part of the so called ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT)

Now the smart revolution has been rolled out in the corporate world. With sensor hubs similar to a home assistant, HVAC systems, security and utilities can be integrated for streamlined operation and maintenance, monitoring performance, maintenance schedules and pin pointing errors such as leaking plumbing before damage is caused to your building.

Such connectivity is not only of advantage to operators, but to contractors who don’t want to run multiple sets of cables through walls, and to architects, who no longer have to deal with ‘wall acne’ like light switches and thermostats.

And there are economic arguments to match. Fifteen years ago such connectivity would have been in the realms of science fiction and the price of achieving it astronomical. Now it’s not only possible but affordable. As the physical and installation cost of sensors, connectivity and hardware goes down the most ambitions visions come within reach.

At SKK Design we’re up to speed with the latest developments, work closely with specialists in the field and will be pleased to advise you on the design and construction of your smart building.

Like the smart home, the smart office is becoming the norm and staff, like homeowners, are beginning to expect the improved levels of comfort and efficiency it can bring. Such a work environment makes an impressive extension of a company’s brand, and a powerful recruitment tool for potential employees.

Speaking of which, let’s leave the last word with Douglas Adams, from the sales brochure of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation: All the doors in this spaceship have a cheerful and sunny disposition. It is their pleasure to open for you, and their satisfaction to close again with the satisfaction of a job well done.

At SKK we are firm believers that craftsmanship, like charity, begins at home, and as an architectural and design practice we wanted our offices to be a show case of what we can do for our clients. An important aspect of our work is the conversion or repurposing of existing premises, especially those of architectural merit or with period features worth preserving.

So, when the opportunity came to acquire Hatfield Heath Mill we were presented with our dream project. The Mill has been at the heart of local village life and history since it was built as a brewery in the mid 1800s, when it malted barley and brewed ale and served such local inns as The Stag and The Thatchers on the Heath, the Dukes Head at Broad Oak and the Crown and Queens Head at Sheering, amongst many others.

The first repurposing of the Mill came about towards the end of the 19^th century when the rise of the big breweries swallowed up the smaller ones or run them out of business, as was the case with Hatfield Heath Brewery, as it was then known.

The Mill was sold by Sworders of Bishops Stortford to the Edwards family and converted to a steam corn mill, which it was to remain, under various owners, until the 1960s. An extract from the 1883 sales catalogue gives the social flavour of the times. The property was advertised as a substantial brick-built brewery together with commodious genteel freehold residence most desirably built in close proximity thereto, and five cottages with large gardens for workers placed at a convenient distance therefrom.

The Mill was sold for the princely sum of 860, a snip compared to the price paid for it by SKK in 2012, when it was placed on the market for offers in excess of 350,000. And that was just for the shell of the building, which had been gutted after several iterations including use as a warehouse, a manufacturing unit for a lighting company and an educational publishing company.

Since its last occupier left in the 1990s, the building had stood empty and was allowed to deteriorate, so the offer from SKK to acquire and renovate the Mill was warmly received by Hatfield Parish Council, especially as we undertook to preserve the historic merits of the building as listed by Essex County Councils Archaeological Department.

Brick faced and timber clad on the upper storey, the exterior of the Mill is substantially unaltered, including the distinctive overhanging lucan for the winding hoist, and the hoist itself, originally used for lifting sacks of grain to the upper storey.

The interior has been renovated from the ground up, with the central staircase repositioned to the corner of the building to better accommodate open planned architectural stations, offices and meeting rooms, reception, refreshment and toilet areas.

The objective has been to incorporate a modern design within the original structure whilst retaining such period features as oak beams, posts and roof trusses. We invite you to judge the success of the project for yourself by visiting us and taking the grand tour. And if youre in the market for a renovation project yourself, you can trust us to bring a sympathetic eye to it.

Have a look at our case study by clicking here

Do you say yes or no to department demands during the refit or reconstruction of a new office? As architectural designers we understand the challenges facing FMs and have worked with many to find the right balance of needs versus wants before, during and after a project (when an FMs work really begins!).

Key to the whole business is finding the best CMMS (Computer Maintenance Management System) software. Here is our guide to finding the right one for you.

• Define your goals and create an action plan to meet them. You can then prioritise the right features and tools to choose the most suitable software.

• Maintenance is a priority. Ensure your system can track all your assets and notify you when inspections, servicing and replacement needs must be met.

• Get the team on board. Welcome their input. It will increase staff buy-in and highlight any issues that may arise during the procurement process.

• Reporting is critical. Ensure your system reports the data you need, say to create reports for management analysis or generate procurement lists.

• Operational ease. Intelligent software will allow you to manage workloads, staffing and costs associated with time sensitive or tightly budgeted projects.

• Day to day management. Look for automated alerts and smart systems. Pop-ups and emails remind you of imminent tasks, or system failures.

• Working remotely. Being able to access the system from your phone or tablet helps flag issues that may arise when youre away from the office.

Finding the right solution for your business may be off-the-shelf or tailor-made. Either way, research both internally with your team and externally with providers is critical to getting it right the first time.

Moving is a significant upheaval for any organisation.

As the Facilities Manager it’s your responsibility to ensure a smooth transition for all.

At SKK we’ve worked with many FMs and understand the challenges you face.

Here are our top ten tips to help make your move go as smoothly as possible.

• Insist upon a clear vision of what the business needs now and in the future and provide as much information as possible to the design team

• Get approval on key issues from senior decision-makers. Budget and key dates need to be agreed in principle as early as possible

• Factor in hidden costs like move management, storage and dilapidations. Consider possible disruption to your core business due to IT downtime etc.

• Involve security, IT, mechanical and electrical consultants at an early stage. Their requirements need to be coordinated by your architectural designer

• Take lease length into account when investing in new infrastructure and IT. Consider a reduced spend on items that can’t easily be transitioned forward

• To get staff on board with the move have your architectural team put together a high level visual presentation or a virtual reality walkthrough

• Manage your own time effectively. Consider outsourcing practical management tasks to your architectural team as the lead consultant

• A move is an opportunity to break with tradition. Work with your design team to embrace new ways of working and create multifunctional spaces

• Share your staff wish list with the design team at an early stage. The earlier the implementation of design intent, the less cost is involved

• Be clear on lines of communication between the design and construction teams to prevent you becoming the point of contact during the build

As architectural designers, our job at SKK is to help you create spaces that work in both form and function. We understand the challenges faced by many FMs, and so are well placed to help you make a seamless transition into your new offices.