Open Ceilings Vs. Drop Ceilings in the Workplace


Open ceilings have become increasingly popular in office design over the past decade or so. The taste for deconstructed, industrial spaces doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, and open ceilings are an integral part of that aesthetic. However, before you decide on an open ceiling look for your office, you should consider its pros and cons versus those of drop ceilings. Take a look at these points as you weigh your options:

  • Cost
The general perception is that open ceilings must be cheaper, since they eliminate the need for any additional materials such as ceiling boards and joists, and the labor required to install them. This is only partially true. While it may be true that the initial cost of an open ceiling is somewhat cheaper – about 25 % – you may often find that, once you strip away the old ceiling boards or tiles, there is far more work and hidden problems underneath than you initially anticipated. One of the main features of open ceilings is the exposed ducts and wiring. If you are working with an existing building that has not been built with open ceilings in mind, you may very well find that the pipes and wiring are an absolute eyesore. You will then need to fix, replace and dress them up, doing a lot of work and construction to make your ceiling look casually deconstructed. That will cost more time and money.

  • Aesthetics
As mentioned above, the deconstructed look of an open ceiling is not always as simple as it appears. That ‘deconstructed’ look needs to be ‘constructed’. With a closed ceiling, at least you know what you’re getting: a neat grid of tiles which may look cold and clinical but, at least, they are presentable.
 
If you are willing to take on the cost of open ceilings, then you need to consider whether it will really suit the culture and purpose of your business. You may find that a tidy drop ceiling suits you better. Don’t just follow the trends, go with what works for you.

Think carefully about the image you want to present to your external stakeholders too, especially in reception areas and meeting rooms. When planning a conference room with open ceilings, for example, consider your furniture options, and what would work best in that communal, often public-facing space. 

  • Sound
The tiles used in suspended ceilings are designed to absorb ambient sound and keep noise levels down in your office space. With an open ceiling, you lose that acoustic protection. Ambient noise comes through easily, which means that people then have to raise their voices to be heard. This could disrupt your work. It’s a problem that you can get around with adequate planning and a good structural designer. But, you need to take the higher costs into account.

We have all the great new office design ideas you need. Contact us for help in designing a beautiful and cost-effective office space.

Original content posted on https://www.befurniture.com/open-ceilings-vs-drop-ceilings-in-the-workplace/
Location: 7 Entin Rd #201, Parsippany, NJ 07054, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

5 Ways You Can Boost Productivity With The Right Workplace Arrangement

Image
  For most employees, just like most businesses, success and growth are priorities. The productivity of employees feeds directly into big-picture business goals, creating a cycle that drives businesses to achieve more. Unfortunately, only 13% of the global workforce is actively engaged and satisfied with their workplace arrangement. Taking the time to invest in a workplace arrangement that supports this cycle is essential, improving job satisfaction, reducing turnover and burnout, boosting productivity, and most importantly, encouraging a  safe return to work during COVID-19 . Of course, developing your workplace environment is not a quick or inexpensive solution – but it is a critical one if you want to achieve these goals. Here are 5 ways to ensure this investment accomplishes real returns, from specialists in the design and fitment of contemporary office interiors. #1 – Make the Design Phase a Priority Many businesses upgrade to contemporary office furniture or swap out office c
Read more

In Every Pandemic, There’s an Opportunity

Image
  If you were considering an office-buildout before the pandemic hit, having lived through it can only be considered a blessing. At BE Builds, we’ve seen our clients designing workspaces that are dramatically different than the ones they would’ve designed just 12 months ago. Of course, there are enhanced safety considerations, but the reality is that the pandemic has created a design aesthetic – and opportunity – that doesn’t show any signs of going away soon.  Health and Wellness Tech Re-opening in a post-COVID world means making health and wellness a focus of office design rather than a productivity-enhancing perk, and the tech industry has really risen to the occasion. From touchless control systems and sensors to air purification systems, contactless access control and germ-killing UV lights, these systems work behind-the-scenes to support the health requirements of a post-COVID workplace. And these enhancements are not just a temporary investment due to the pandemic – they’re
Read more

Boardroom Furniture – A Buyer’s Guide

Image
Boardrooms are one of the most important areas of your office space, at the top of the office furniture hierarchy. This is because it holds important functions for both your executive team and employees, as well as clients, shareholders and committees. As such, it has to not only embody the focus and culture of your business, but also provide a high level of functionality – and achieving this means buying the right  modern boardroom furniture . Here’s a quick, useful guide. Function first through modern boardroom design  While looks are important, they come second to functionality. Boardroom furniture has come a long way from simply being the biggest and most expensive desk in the office, and clever designs now incorporate a wide range of practical functionality into this important furniture. Desks are now available in a huge range of shapes and sizes to allow for more flexible seating and use. A Boardroom table can be a single table or a composite table that can be split up fo
Read more