Earlier this year, we announced an exciting multi-year partnership as the Proud Work Environment Partner of the Columbus Blue Jackets. This partnership is highlighted by the CO Lab, a creative collaboration center and modern meeting room created by our team at Continental Office.

Let’s go shopping for your dream workspace. What’s inside? Floor to ceiling glass walls for an open office feel? A chestnut mezzanine where you greet your clients? Let’s ring up your choices and see exactly how your finished space takes form and precisely how much it will cost. The best part—your space is completed faster than it takes to order a chair.

No, this isn’t a pitch for a new HGTV show. It’s prefabricated construction—our not-so-secret superpower that puts traditional construction timelines to shame.

How to Foster Wellness in the Workplace

Employees who are physically active have lower healthcare costs, require less sick leave, and are more productive at work, according to a report prepared by John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. There is no “one size fits all” program, but there are several ways to foster wellness for employees. It starts with a positive company culture, followed by the physical space and environment, and then reinforcing healthy habits and lifestyles.

If these walls could talk, what would they say? The process of taking existing structures and turning them into modern facilities is the hottest trend in development right now. It's called adaptive reuse and it's changing the way we create meaningful spaces. Over the past ten years in the US alone, there's been more than 40,000 adaptive reuse projects.

Do you have a blank canvas of an office that needs furnished? Are you starting to consider when and what furniture to purchase? Is budget a determining factor that will affect your overall design and space planning? If you answer "yes" to any of these, you're certainly not alone. We meet with local businesses just like you every day. What we've learned over the past 80 years is creating a truly great space that will provide an exceptional associate experience is critical.  Selecting the right furniture plays a big role in that overall experience.

One of the most common questions we get from new clients is, "What is commercial or contract furniture anyway?" In simple terms, it's furniture not intended for residential use. The official definition is: Commercial furniture is manufactured to meet established industry standards. It is subject to stringent testing and a certification process. It is then sold exclusively by local dealerships.

We love classic design, but creating great spaces that stand the test of time isn't easy.  It comes down to understanding the different between a fad and a trend. Fads come and go like fashions, and soon become obsolete only lasting between one to five years. Trends, on the other hand, are more cyclical or they tend to simply not leave. Trends are timeless. Mid-century modern furniture just might be the best example of design that has consistently stood the test of time.  

The cost of real estate is rising substantially. Unsurprisingly, offices have become smaller and smaller. Workspaces need to be more efficient than ever before to make the best use of every square foot available. When it comes to outfitting your real estate with all the things it needs to become a great space, from furniture to flooring to technology, there are generally three tiers of workplace scenarios you have to choose from. These are your good, better, and best solutions.

You might not consider consulting your senses before creating or redesigning your workplace – but perhaps you should! An environment that engages the senses provides a more natural and intuitive experience for your associates and visitors. Need some inspiration to get started? Here are some ideas around how you can create workspaces that utilize all five senses.

Have you ever heard that change is inevitable but growth is optional? No matter how much we might sometimes try to avoid it, change will always come our way. It’s how we respond to that change that shows what we’re truly made of. This applies to every facet of our lives, including our workspaces. Herman Miller’s latest report, How to Catalyze Your Workplace for Growth, expresses the importance of utilizing research about your people and their work to inform your office design, as this becomes a powerful tool for organizational growth. Enter Living Office, a research-based placemaking approach that ignites powerful workplace transformations.