Stackable Panels And The Modular Office

By Author: Larry Tang
Total Articles: 507
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Modular offices, also known as cubicles, first appeared approximately 40 years ago as an alternative to office layouts sometimes called bullpens. Here workers (as opposed to baseball players) sat cheek by jowl in an environment punctuated by clacking typewriters and ringing phones - an atmosphere not conducive to heavy thinking.

The early cubicles provided some relief including a degree, albeit small, of privacy from the bullpen atmosphere. At the time they represented a partial transition to full-wall private offices generally located on the outer perimeter of the building and inhabited by upper management.

While a decided improvement over the bullpen, early cubicles were monotonous monoliths due largely to their sameness across the office landscape, says Mark Bassil, vice president and co-founder of MAiSPACE, a modular office furniture systems manufacturer based in Mt. Olive, NJ. Our stackable panel systems provide an exciting alternative to the same height, same color cubicle walls characteristic of the earlier designs while supporting not only visual variety but also customization to tasks being ...
... performed.

Stackable Panel Elements

Framing

Advances in engineering and construction techniques applied to modular offices allow a freedom of design limited only by the imagination of the facility manager or interior architect. These advances are embodied in the framing to which panels are attached, Bassil says. Look at framing as a structure not unlike the skeleton of a building. Both are called upon to support the weight of the structure. In the case of modular offices, weight can be surprisingly considerable.

MAiSPACE structural elements are comprised of knockdown, ready-to-assemble 3.5-inch wide load- bearing panel frames fabricated of 16-gauge cold-rolled steel to remain distortion free during move in and subsequent changes in floor plans. These framing elements are fitted with self-aligning connectors to simplify moving elements into and throughout the office area.

What differentiates MAiSPACE from older construction techniques is its ability to accommodate increases or decreases in an office footprint or variations in wall height in a matter of hours at a fraction of the cost of conventional systems, Bassil says. With MAiSPACE wall elements can range from 30-inches to 14 feet in height and require only two horizontal sub-assemblies and two vertical uprights to support panel frames up to eight feet wide. Wall heights can be increased or reduced without disturbing adjacent workspaces.

In terms of strength, a MAiSPACE configuration comprised of eight-foot panel frames stacked ten feet high and supported by two 24-inch returns supported 2.5 tons in a test conducted by Underwriters Laboratories.

Off Module Design

Conventional construction techniques restrict freedom in placing bins, shelves and related furnishings including returns and divider panels. MAiSPACE counters this with its off-module design that gives unprecedented freedom in locating these structural elements and fittings within three-inch increments, Bassil says. Benefits include comfort, convenience and improved ergonomics for the office occupant.

Cable Management

Cabling is the lifeline providing electrical, voice, data and video circuits to the workspace via Local Area Networks (LANs). In developing its stackable panel system, MAiSPACE seized an opportunity to greatly simplify and lower the cost of cable management both during initial installation and in subsequent moves, adds and changes (MACs) that are so much a part of the changing office landscape.

Rather than the conventional method of bundling cable then fishing it through structural elements, MAiSPACE cabling is comprised of plug-and-play factory terminated and tested modular cable connectors and assembles - called consolidation points - that are laid in behind lift-off panel segments, Bassil says. With our fully standards compliant cabling system reconfiguring an office floor plan can be accomplished in hours instead of days without disrupting the entire office LAN.

Workstations to be added or moved are simply plugged into or unplugged from the nearest consolidation point, while work continues uninterrupted elsewhere in the office. This activity can be undertaken by in-house personnel after a minimum of training. He adds that the system holds a Best of NeoCon award, which the highest award in the contract furniture industry.

The Panels

Panels are the visible elements in a stackable panel modular office. As the ‘skin' of a workspace panel segments provide an opportunity to add style and color to the office landscape while contributing to the strength and durability of the installation, Bassil says. To add to the structural integrity of MAiSPACE modular office systems, our solid panel segments are constructed of 24-gauge steel.

Facility managers and interior designers can select from interchangeable panel tiles in more than 18 options in colors, textures, patterns or finishes to create harmony, contrast, to identify specific functional areas and to otherwise create exciting interiors with an aesthetic appeal. Other panel options include paper management, marker board and clear, frosted or patterned glass.

Mixing and matching is not constrained by minimum orders, Bassil says. The degree of customization companies can offer employees depends only on that company's policy. More compelling are our price points, which average some 40% below those of our leading competitors. Thanks to our approach to global sourcing, manufacturing and supply chain management we can provide ready-to-move-in offices from $12 to $15 per square foot within 4 to 6 weeks of receiving an order. He adds that pricing is not based on the number of units sold, and that MAiSPACE offers a lifetime warranty and guarantee against obsolescence.
MAiSPACE.com will help business owners and operators make smart choices in Systems Furniture and Office Cubicles for their offices and selecting the right Stackable Panels and the Modular Office.