Australia's financial sector has been captivated by the workplace design trend of ABW (Activity Based Working), with major firms such as PWC adopting the model almost a decade ago and other similar firms following suit. 

When BRM Projects began working with knp Solutions, a Melbourne-based accounting firm, it was settled into its 22 year old traditional office space with a location and building that was suited to both clients and staff.

It was an unexpected eviction notice mid-lease and additional partners that triggered the need for a change of location and company direction.....

​Good design goes hand in hand with good business. At BRM Projects we’ve seen design trends move from innovation to the norm as we continue to implement new fit-outs and concepts that respond to business issues.
 
Every business faces challenges regarding cost, space and productivity when moving to a new premises or re-furbishing the current premises. But it’s the design of one specific area in your workplace which can be most effective in overcoming these challenges. This area sits at the front of your office and ideally, will sit at the top of your design priority list...

​Just because there’s an option in your lease to roll over, is it really the best option for your business?
 
The question “Should I stay or should I go?” is one that should be considered carefully, even as early as mid-way through your lease. Commercial leasing is undoubtedly a more lengthy and complicated process than residential leasing, therefore more time should be given to sorting out possibilities, from lease renewal, to searching for a new premises altogether. 

Parenting Research Centre offers a unique service with the mission of helping children and families thrive by helping governments and community agencies put the best scientific evidence on parenting support into action. This fantastic organisation is changing the way we approach parenting support and helping Australian children thrive. 

Christian Thompson joined Parenting Research Centre in 2008 bringing with him a rich history of not-for-profit management experience. BRM Projects has worked with Christian across a number of projects and we had a chat with him about how he sees his workplace. 

Congratulations to our team "Bark Raving Mad" for participating in the annual Cancer Council Relay For Life. The event was held at Albert Park and our team members did us proud. A special congratulations to Project Manager, Alex for winning the 'Spirit Of The Relay' award! Our team fundraising page is open for another month so if you haven't donated, we urge you do so. Every cent goes towards valuable research and can save lives. Donate now!

We sat down with BRM Projects Interior designer Beatrice Poirier Laforce to discuss our latest design project with OzChild which focuses on the need to create a child centred space in the organisation’s Front Of House area. Here are some of her ideas….

According to the Superfriend's "Thriving Workplace Survey 2017", a report on the current state of mental health in the Australian workplace, 2 out of every 5 workers reported that they had left a job because of a poor workplace mental health environment. 

October is Mental Health Month across Victoria,  and given that BRM Projects sees wellbeing as a central element in every one of our projects, today's blog will provide workplace leaders with some helpful tips on implementing and maintaining a mentally healthy workplace. 

In A Nutshell…
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Activity based working is rapidly taking over traditional ways of working. The flexibility and freedom to move throughout different spaces in the workplace is a highly valued and very necessary part of modern work. These spaces are tailored to different types of work activities and are used by employees for different purposes, making the workspace more dynamic and ultimately more productive. 

Leesman defines activity based working as more of a “business strategy” than a “workplace strategy”, providing multiple work settings to meet the individual’s working needs and helping them implement certain tasks. 

BRM Projects has always enjoyed working on meaningful projects for organisations with a powerful message. Our work in the Not-For-Profit sector has seen us working with teams and individuals who care about their cause and work tirelessly to promote it.
 
We’ve partnered with Mike Zervos in the past on a number of different projects for charities he has worked for, providing property advice and office fit-outs. We’re now excited to join him as commercial property advisors in his newest role as Chief Executive Officer for Courage to Care, an outreach program that uses the memory of the Holocaust to encourage the fight against prejudice and discrimination.
 
We recently sat down with Mike to talk about past experiences together and to discuss his current role in this fantastic initiative.

What Is A Make Good?

A ‘Make Good’ obligation is essentially what it sounds like. It is the tenant’s obligation, when reaching the end of the lease term, to ensure that they ‘make good’ the premises before leaving. This is a standard clause of most commercial leases requiring the tenant to return the property to the landlord in its original, clean and tidy state. 

Make Goods exist in order to be fair to both parties when it comes to the make good works the tenant will be required to undertake. A well drafted Make Good clause will specify how certain areas and items will be handled at the end of the lease, making it clear for everyone. This may involve fit-outs installed by the tenant or ownership of certain items within the property. Ultimately, the Make Good clause contributes to a more seamless leasing process and avoids disputes between the tenant and landlord upon the end of the lease.