M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal — Owners, Developers & Managers — August 2024 — 31
www.marej.com
O wners , D evelopers & M anagers By Whitney Van Dean, AIA, LEED AP, CFI Workspace Workspace Design and the Value of Partnership
A
and make the right selec- tions. It becomes a matter of integration – taking the
though job sites. As an ar- chitect, I’m always looking at how furniture integrates and reinforces the architec- tural elements and details within the space. Having someone who understands the constraints and possi- bilities is helpful in provid- ing A+D teams with the best possible solutions. These are only three of the many ways furniture dealers help A+D and project manage- ment teams regularly. However, if I was to provide one overriding takeaway, I’d say that companies like CFI
lot goes into achieving a beautiful, comfortable, welcoming workspace
package, including image galleries of final selections and pricing, is created. This
are invaluable resources. Partnering with a dealer representative that under- stands the challenges facing A+D teams and has “walked in their shoes” can prove invalu- able. The results show it. Whitney Van Dean, AIA, LEED AP is an account ex- ecutive at CFI Workspace. Whitney is a registered ar- chitect with over 25 years of professional interiors expe- rience including corporate furniture and design. She regularly works with clients on regional, national and in- ternational projects. MAREJ
that supports an organiza- tion’s culture. No one knows that more than the A+D community and project manager s who make it
A key service focuses on working side-by-side with A+D and project managers helping them earlier in the project and perfecting the finest of details.
well-designed drawings, cre- ative vision and space itself, then making sure what is on paper or screen will trans- late into a comfortable and thriving workspace. Personally, I love walking
reduces errors and trans- lates to detailed furniture coordination drawings for project installation. Understanding the space It is not enough to simply know the measurements
Whitney Van Dean
happen. As workplaces con- tinue to evolve in this return- to-work environment, so too has the role of furniture dealer- ships. Today, dealer partners have become an invaluable, collaborative resource provid- ing product and finish selec - tion, budgeting, phasing, and logistics planning. A key service focuses on working side-by-side with A+D and project managers helping them earlier in the project and perfecting the finest of details. Looking back to my 20 years as an interior architect and project manager, I recognize the challenges faced with each new project and find there are some constants. Never enough time I remember the days of se- lecting fabrics, browsing count- less chairs and tables, search- ing out the right accents, and sometimes selecting wall art. Today, architects and design- ers don’t have enough time in their day. This is why I’m asked to help and take on many of these time-consuming tasks. To support their A+D part- ners, dealers interpret the designs in order to develop complete furniture packages. This includes space planning, specifying products and fin - ishes, providing 3D visualiza- tions of the space, and budget- ing. By taking these tasks off their plates, our partner firms can focus on the architectural details, which are countless. Bringing designs to life To answer the many design questions that come up dur- ing each project, the use of 3D visualization tools such as CET Design help streamline the decision-making process. By presenting variations of designs onscreen, client teams can see a complete furniture package that showcases the designer’s vision. Colors, sizes, and con- figurations can be changed within the interactive tool and rendered in real time for buy-in. From there, a validation
Creating spaces
where people thrive
Collaborating with architects, designers, and project managers to create innovative, dynamic workplaces.
• Design + Space Planning • Furniture Solutions
• Project Management • Delivery + Installation
• Warehouse + Storage • Service + Maintenance
(215) 279 9999
cfiworkspace.com
@cfi_workspace
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