Five Things You Need to Understand About Your Commercial Lease in NYC
Navigating the commercial leasing process in New York City can be overwhelming, especially with the intricacies of lease terms and hidden costs. Understanding the critical aspects of a lease can help you make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes. Here are five key things every business owner needs to know about their commercial lease in NYC to set themselves up for long-term success.
1. Define Your Needs Before You Begin
Before signing a lease, it’s crucial to clearly identify your business’s space requirements. Consider factors like square footage, location, and essential amenities. Without a clear understanding of your needs, you risk wasting time on options that don’t align with your goals. A well-defined plan ensures your office space effectively supports your team and business growth.
2. Don’t Underestimate Costs
The listed rent is just the beginning. Many leases include additional costs such as utilities, maintenance, insurance, and NYC-specific expenses like the Commercial Rent Tax (CRT). The CRT, for example, can increase your costs significantly, as you might pay a tax on real estate tax increases included in your lease. A clear understanding of all potential expenses is essential to prevent budget surprises.
3. Lease Terms Can Make or Break Your Flexibility
Leases often include complex terms around renewals, early termination, and relocation clauses. For instance, some NYC leases allow landlords to move tenants within the building—a detail that could disrupt your operations if overlooked. Ensure you review these terms carefully and negotiate where possible to maintain the flexibility your business may need as it grows.
4. Location Is About More Than Cost
Choosing a location solely based on affordability can lead to challenges down the line. Accessibility for clients, employees, and vendors is key to maintaining productivity and satisfaction. Consider factors like proximity to public transportation, nearby amenities, and the neighborhood’s appeal to ensure your space works for everyone involved.
5. Understand the Different Lease Types
In NYC, you’ll encounter options like subleasing, direct leasing, and coworking spaces. Each comes with its own set of pros and cons. For instance, subleasing can save money upfront but limits your ability to customize the space. Direct leases provide long-term stability, while coworking spaces offer flexibility but may lack privacy. Assessing your business’s current and future needs will help you choose the right fit.
Understanding the nuances of a commercial lease in NYC can save you time, money, and stress. Carefully evaluate your needs, costs, and lease terms to ensure your business is set up for success.
Want to dive deeper into these considerations? Download our free guide, The Free Guide to Common Mistakes Made When Looking for an Office Space, for more detailed insights and practical tips.
Let OFH help you find and design a workspace that perfectly fits your business’s needs. Contact us today to get started!
Preparing for 2025: Why a Workspace Refresh Can Boost Your Team’s Morale and Performance
As we approach a new year, many businesses are thinking about how to set themselves up for success. One way to energize your team and boost performance is with a workspace refresh. The design of an office can significantly impact employee morale, productivity, and overall job satisfaction. With a focus on adapting spaces for today’s diverse work styles, OFH helps companies make meaningful updates that prepare them for the year ahead.
1. Support the New Way We Work
The modern workforce includes full-time, part-time, remote, and hybrid workers, and each group has its own needs. To keep morale high and productivity flowing, offices should cater to these diverse work styles. This means creating comfortable spaces for all types of employees—whether it’s a private room for Zoom meetings or open areas for group collaboration. OFH takes pride in designing offices that balance these elements, ensuring that everyone feels supported. For example, the Metropolitan Commercial Bank project included areas that enhanced focus and collaboration, aligning with the evolving needs of their team.
2. Move Beyond Traditional Setups
Many offices still rely on traditional designs that no longer fit the way we work today. Sticking to outdated layouts can hinder productivity and employee satisfaction. A refresh that includes modern amenities like ergonomic seating, adjustable desks, and quiet workstations can make all the difference. Our project on Madison Avenue has shown how updating office spaces can align with current work practices and make teams feel more engaged and valued.
3. Examples of Successful Redesigns
Our project for Stamford’s Finance Firm is a prime example of how workspace updates can boost morale and performance. By incorporating collaboration areas, ergonomic solutions, and flexible layouts, we created an office that inspires productivity and supports different work styles. These tailored updates not only reflect the company’s culture but also prepare teams for a successful new year.
Preparing for 2025 starts with creating a workspace that supports your team and their varied work needs. A refreshed office can make employees feel valued and ready to take on new challenges. With OFH’s experience and strategic approach, we can help you design a space that enhances morale and performance. Contact us today to start planning your office transformation for the new year.
Maximizing Productivity in the Workplace: How Strategic Office Design Can Make an Impact
Productivity is the heartbeat of any successful business, and the design of your office space can be a significant factor in fostering an environment where employees thrive. Strategic office design goes beyond aesthetics it considers how spaces are used, how they impact focus and collaboration, and how they align with the needs of all types of workers. At OFH, we believe that a well-designed office can transform your team’s productivity and set the stage for long-term success.
1. Designing for Different Work Styles
Today’s workforce is diverse in how, when, and where it works. To maximize productivity, office spaces must be designed to accommodate full-time employees, part-time staff, and those who work remotely or in hybrid roles. This approach means creating spaces that provide comfort and functionality, no matter the work style. We’ve completed projects for Metropolitan Commercial Bank and Madison Avenue Finance, which exemplify how strategic design can meet the varied needs of a modern workforce. These projects incorporated flexible workstations and adaptable meeting areas that encourage productivity and teamwork.
2. Quiet Spaces for Enhanced Focus
For many employees, virtual meetings and focused tasks are a significant part of their day. Designing quiet zones within the office ensures that workers have the privacy and calm they need for important video calls or heads-down work. At OFH, we prioritize these types of spaces to support workers who need uninterrupted time to perform their best. By integrating soundproof meeting pods or secluded work nooks, businesses can enhance overall productivity and job satisfaction.
3. Collaborative and Flexible Zones
While quiet spaces are essential, equally important are areas that foster collaboration and creative thinking. Strategic office design should include zones that encourage brainstorming sessions, casual team discussions, and spontaneous idea-sharing. Our Stamford project is a great example of how collaborative spaces can be seamlessly integrated into an office layout, providing employees with the flexibility to switch between focused work and team interactions effortlessly.
A productive workplace isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s a dynamic environment that adapts to different work styles and tasks. By incorporating elements like quiet spaces and collaborative zones, OFH helps businesses create offices that boost productivity and inspire employees to do their best work. Ready to transform your office into a space that supports productivity at every level? Contact OFH to learn more about our customized design solutions.
Upgrade Your Office With These 5 Furniture Additions
In today's fast-paced work environment, the right office furniture can transform your workspace from functional to exceptional. Whether you’re looking to enhance productivity, improve employee well-being or create a more welcoming atmosphere, strategic furniture upgrades can make all the difference. At OFH, our design experts ensure your office furniture perfectly aligns with your business’s values and culture. Let’s explore five essential furniture additions to build your dream workspace.
1. Lounge Seating
Create a space to destress and conduct informal meetings with lounge seating. Whether it’s a stylish sofa in the lobby or comfortable chairs in a break area, lounge seating encourages employees to recharge and fosters collaboration in a more relaxed setting. Our consultants will help you choose the right pieces to match your office design and culture, ensuring both comfort and aesthetics.
2. Executive and Working Chairs
Comfortable, ergonomic chairs are a cornerstone of any productive office. High-quality seating not only enhances focus but also promotes better posture and health. From sleek executive chairs that exude professionalism to ergonomic working chairs for day-to-day use, we’ll guide you in selecting seating solutions that blend form, function and comfort.
3. Height Adjustable Desk
Experience flexibility and comfort with height-adjustable desks, perfect for any dynamic work environment. With the flexibility to sit or stand while working, employees can stay more active and focused throughout the day. Our team can recommend adjustable desks that fit seamlessly into your office design, ensuring a perfect balance between flexibility and style.
4. Workstations
A well-designed workstation boosts productivity and supports collaboration. Whether your office needs individual desks or collaborative spaces, we provide design consultation on workstation layouts that maximize space, efficiency and employee satisfaction. From open-plan setups to partitioned workspaces, we’re your design ally.
5. Storage and Accessories
Cluttered spaces can hinder productivity. Your workspace can stay organized and efficient with innovative storage solutions and functional office accessories. Our experts advise on everything from modular storage units to cable management systems, helping you maintain a tidy, functional office environment.
Consult with Design Experts
Upgrading your office is more than purchasing new furniture—it's about creating a space that enhances your company's productivity and culture. At OFH, we are your design allies. We work to understand your specific needs and recommend aesthetically pleasing furniture that serves a practical purpose.
Ready to design your dream workspace? Contact us today for a free personalized consultation.
A Guide to Office Design Consulting: From Concept to Completion with OFH
Are you ready to create your dream office but don’t know where to start? Whether you have a space in mind or need to find your office’s next home, it can feel overwhelming to get ideas out of your head and into reality. At Office Furniture Heaven, we created a helpful guide that details what you can expect throughout our office consultation process for your next space. As your design ally, we’re with you every step of the process, ensuring your questions are answered, and you feel confident in your investment.
Location, Location, Location - Finding the Right Space
Before you can even begin picking colors or furniture pieces, it’s important to understand your space needs. Transforming or renovating your existing space is the quickest and easiest way to go, but sometimes, you just need a new location. Before you sign a lease, contact OFH to discuss your space needs and start the process of mapping your new floor plan. If you don’t know what you need, we can help with that, too!
Step 1: Initial Consultation and Space Assessment
The first step is a thorough consultation to understand your company's brand and values. Our design experts then visit the current space and your new space to assess your office concept and determine what works and what doesn’t.
If you’re moving to a new location, we’ll also visit the new space to evaluate its layout, dimensions, and any unique features before developing our office design concept.
Step 2: Developing Your Design Concept
Based on our findings, we’ll create a preliminary presentation showcasing design options, layout ideas, costs and potential solutions tailored to your business and employees’ needs. At this time, we’ll also address additional questions and feedback.
Depending on the scope of your project we may require a space design, furniture consultation or project management fee. We’ll require this consultation fee before proceeding to the fun part – designing and planning your space. A portion of the consultation fee will be applied towards the cost of design services and furniture purchases.
Step 3: Design and Planning
Next, we develop a comprehensive furniture plan that outlines the layout and placement of each piece in your new space. After you review and approve this plan, we will create a formal proposal that includes a breakdown of costs, furniture options and design elements.
At OFH, we love implementing creative solutions that fit your business. Now is your chance to do the same. You’ll have the opportunity to select colors, finishes and furniture pieces. This may involve visiting showrooms or reviewing samples from previous projects and selecting finish samples from our virtually unlimited selection of options.
Step 4: Coordination with Contractors and Other Professionals
We’ll coordinate with contractors and other involved parties to ensure all aspects of the project align with the design plan. This includes discussing installation requirements, timelines and any modifications needed.
Step 5: Preparation and Installation
Before installation, our design consultants will visit the site to ensure everything is ready for the new furniture. We’ll then schedule the delivery and installation of your furniture, coordinating logistics to ensure a smooth process. We oversee the delivery and installation to ensure all furniture is placed correctly and meets our quality standards.
Step 6: Moving In
Once the installation is complete, we’ll conduct a final walkthrough to address any last-minute adjustments or touch-ups.
Your new workspace space is now ready for move-in!
Need More Information?
Feel free to contact us with any questions or to book your free consultation. As your design ally, we're here to help you build your dream workspace!
Five Design Tips to Create an Olympic-Caliber Collaborative Workspace
With the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics in full swing, we’re dedicating this blog to discussing how you can transform your workspace into the ultimate area for teamwork and record-setting collaboration. Creating a collaborative workspace is critical for your company’s success, whether your team is entirely in-person or hybrid. Here are five design tips for creating a collaborative workspace worthy of a gold medal.
Start with Brand Identity & Design
When it comes to office design, the first place you need to start is with your branding. Your space is the ultimate reflection of your organizational brand and values. If you’re a people-oriented company or pride yourself on innovation, your space should reflect these values.
Your brand sets the stage for your teams, and how you expect them to act and infuse this into the physical spaces where they work only reinforces this message. These design choices can range from minor decisions, like putting your core values on the wall, to more substantial design elements, such as adding technology features to support a culture of innovation.
When your team takes pride in its brand, your customers notice, and people want to join that team. Designing an office that helps your brand stand proud, like an Olympic team carrying its country’s flag, will help you stand out.
Create Spaces for Different Types of Collaboration
Not all teams operate the same way; some are collections of individual competitors working towards the same goal, while others require close teamwork. When workers have different needs or requirements, it’s critical to design spaces that meet those needs based on their work styles, personalities or job functions. Building your workspace to feature multiple styles of collaborative spaces to support your team allows them to work in a way that supports their needs.
This means moving away from only having sweeping conference rooms and creating a floor plan that offers features like hot desks, small group meeting rooms, quiet rooms or hybrid meeting rooms to support in-office and remote workers. Ensure your office can support a world-class, winning team regardless of your arena.
Don’t Forget the Kitchens
As any high-performer will tell you, proper fuel and hydration are as necessary in business as in world-class athletics. If you expect teams to work on-site, collaborate and be productive, you also have to consider their well-being. This starts with a welcoming, well-stocked kitchen. Gone are the days of the basic break room with uncomfortable chairs and a single, poorly stocked vending machine. It’s essential to offer refrigeration space, freezer space, and basic amenities such as a microwave, coffee machines, and maybe even an air fryer!
Depending on your budget, a well-stocked kitchen might also mean providing a commissary or snack bar. While your office doesn’t need a restaurant or personal barista, looking for ways to offer a unique kitchen experience is a great way to ensure in-office satisfaction and well-nourished teams. Make sure your team has a well-stocked kitchen for peak performance.
Pay Attention to Your Team & the Ambience of the Office
Olympic athletes perform on the world stage and require a world-class facility. If you’re looking for high-level performance from your team, you must provide a high-performing, world-class office environment. Not every team operates the same way or has the same needs; some workers are extroverted and productive when working alongside their colleagues, but others need quiet to focus. When designing a collaborative workspace, it’s important to create a space that reflects the needs of your whole team, not just one group or the other.
Offering quiet spaces and focus rooms to provide an escape for introverted workers while still allowing groups to work together can achieve a balanced work environment. Gathering input from your office teams is integral to any good office design project and will help you identify what is needed for your next space.
A Welcoming Space for Events & Gathering
Big wins require big celebrations, and every time your team takes home the gold medal on a project or in a client negotiation, having the right place to celebrate is critical. The office is where we work, but it is also where our teams celebrate birthdays, baby showers and impromptu happy hours. Building a collaborative team means creating a culture where your team wants to work together towards a common goal.
To achieve this, it is vital to think about how your office can support work-adjacent activities and the day-to-day functions of your business. Whether you have the room for a dedicated event space or spruce up your lobbies or break rooms, creating a place where your teams can gather is a crucial way to foster collaboration.
Collaboration takes many forms, and building a team that works seamlessly together is a monumental task for any company. A well-designed space can help you improve collaboration and build better teams. When you build the arena for Olympic-level performance, it becomes the catalyst for your team to go from watching the podium ceremony to earning the gold medal.
If you need help designing your dream workspace, contact us today for a consultation.
Embracing The Next Chapter: Launching a New Website & A Renewed Focus
I’m excited to announce the launch of our new website at OFH. The launch represents a digital overhaul and a significant milestone in our ongoing journey to serve you better, reflecting our commitment to innovation, excellence, and community. However, our site isn’t just a fresh face on the same company we’ve always been… it’s a renewed focus on delivering impactful office design to meet a changing world.
Reflecting on Our Journey
OFH has always been more than a business; it’s a passion-driven endeavor. Since our inception in 1991, we’ve been dedicated to helping businesses create beautiful, functional, and inspiring workspaces. Our journey has been one of growth, learning, and constant evolution. We’ve transformed countless offices, collaborating with diverse clients, from small startups to renowned institutions like Madison Square Garden and Squarespace. Each project has been a stepping stone, contributing to our story in a unique way.
Over the years, we’ve seen the world of office design change dramatically. From the days of cubicles and rigid office layouts to today’s dynamic, flexible, and ergonomic workspaces, our mission has been to stay ahead of the curve, bringing you the best in office design and furniture.
The Need for Change
In today’s fast-paced digital age, a company’s website is often the first point of contact with its clients. It’s where impressions are made, stories are told, and relationships begin. As we grew and evolved, it became clear that our website needed to reflect the same level of innovation, creativity, and dedication that we bring to our projects.
Our existing website served us well, but it was time for an upgrade—time to create a digital space that showcased our products and services more effectively and provided a richer, more engaging experience for our visitors. We wanted a platform to tell our story, highlight our projects, and connect more deeply with our clients.
The Case for Space Design
More importantly, we wanted to highlight the years of experience and knowledge we’ve gained along the way. Our expert teams of designers and furniture buyers represent the very best in the industry and bring those skills to bear for every client project.
As offices look to retool and reimagine what physical spaces look like for the future, our team is here to provide strategic and creative solutions to where we work, no matter where you work. Whether you’re about to look for a new space or just signed a lease, our teams will work with you to design the ultimate expression of your brand with your space.
The Creative Process
We approached our website project with the same meticulous care and creativity that we apply to our office design projects. We started by understanding the project’s goals before brainstorming, designing, and refining with our marketing partners to build a site that is visually stunning, user-friendly, and moves our business forward.
In creating our new website, we prioritized reflecting our brand, focusing on a customer-first approach for easy navigation, showcasing our commitment to design excellence through a modern aesthetic, and ensuring the site’s adaptability and innovation with the latest web technologies.
Your trust and collaboration have been the driving force behind our success, and I look forward to continuing this journey together and creating beautiful, functional workspaces that inspire and empower.
Stay tuned, and get ready to experience OFH like never before.
Your Design Partner,
Marc Schwarzberg
Best Of Neocon: 2023 Winners Announced
As Neocon 2023 still rages on at the Merchandise Mart and Fulton Market in Chicago, the winners of the competition have just been announced. Since its establishment in 1990, the Best of Neocon has functioned as the official awards program for Neocon, showcasing new products in 56 diverse categories. Each of these entries goes through an evaluation process conducted by a jury of leading architects, designers, specifiers, and facility managers. These experts possess extensive knowledge and experience across various sectors, such as commercial, healthcare, institutional, and hospitality. View the complete list of winners here.
Flote by Hightower
Best of Competition | Gold Award
Tamara by Andreu World
Gold Award | Sustainability Award
Vida by Davis Furniture
Gold Award
Gala Pure Eco by Andreu World
Gold Award | Silver Award
CoLab by the Senator Group
Gold Award | Silver Award
Optic by Halcon
Gold Award
Rowen by OFS
Gold Award
Rowen Café by OFS
Gold Award
Zen Conference
Davis Furniture
Gold Award
Tate by OFS
Business Impact Award
Perle by Davis Furniture
Innovation Award Award
4-UP by Via Seating
Business Impact Award
Creating Balance + Returning to the Workplace with Confidence
The movement towards new ways of utilizing the workplace continues to be an ongoing conversation for office designers. In the last few years, employees have been interacting with the office differently, embracing remote and hybrid work, in addition to coming to the office. As these changes are here to stay, the most resilient workplaces welcoming their employees back to the office are doing so by embracing balance.
Tailoring a Workspace to Fit Evolving Employee Needs
With terms such as “remote burnout” settling into the office lexicon, employees are acknowledging the limits of communicating solely online. Multitasking during back-to-back Zoom meetings is an unsustainable solution, compared with the creative and interpersonal exchanges that occur within the meeting room.
In 2022, employees are expecting their in-person office experience to be tailor fitted to their unique needs. In addition to offering a space for collaboration, employees want the office to be a place where they can be more productive than at their home office. Employers are enticing employees back to the office by offering a balance of experiences. Offices are being redesigned with adjustments to amenities, in addition to incorporating design elements for enhanced privacy or collaboration.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Appropriate Office Design Varies Across Sectors
Design expectations for an office will vary across sectors. At some companies, employees engage in focused tasks with minimal communication, whereas others require continuous collaboration and meetings. Therefore, the appropriate design will vary greatly depending on what is relevant to the needs of one’s team.
Many companies are moving away from the office as a place for solitary work, and instead focusing on enhancing meeting rooms and collaborative areas. However, other companies are investing in privacy, including phone booths and sound minimizing solutions in their design plan, while also increasing the amount of space between desks.
Offices are now required to enhance workflows and be human-centric. What makes the most productive layout is an open-ended question, especially when balanced alongside an evolving staff of remote, hybrid and in-person teams. Reach out to an office design professional for help determining what layout works best.
Strengthening the Bridge Between Remote and In-Person Work
Having a seamless integration between remote, hybrid and in-person employees has become an expectation post-pandemic. Inevitably office layouts evolve alongside technology, and it is far more likely technological integration will be the norm as opposed to less.
Having an office that is fully supported with the appropriate infrastructure to balance multiple working arrangements is critical in today’s office spaces. Fully integrated technology with minimal feedback and appropriate collaborative office design removes the hierarchal barriers between staff members and offers a fully inclusive meeting experience.
Embracing Balance and Flexibility in Your Next Office
Determining the best office design for your team will come down to balance. And while many offices will likely embrace a fully in-person team as restrictions loosen, there will remain a diversity of different approaches taken across different companies. Tailor fitting the solution that fulfills your office requirements in a transitionary period of health and technology will require some creativity and flexibility, however the result will be worth the effort.
OFH is a full-service office furniture and design company, we offer companies of all sizes expert assistance in space planning, design, and office reconfiguration. We are happy to provide guidance at every stage of your project. Reach out to our team for expert help in creating the best possible space for your employees.
Do I Need An Office?
Reposted from OFH CEO Marc Schwartzberg’s Linkedin.
With all the change and disruption due to the worldwide pandemic, so many office workers and business leaders are wondering – Do I need an office? I remember it well, back in March of 2020, when Governor Andrew Cuomo mandated all non-essential businesses close their doors effective Monday March 16, 2020. I thought it wouldn’t matter to me. I’ll still go to work every day. That plan lasted until my wife Jill said “you can’t go to the office.” I got on my bike Sunday evening before the shutdown to pick up some essentials from the office and start working from home.
Here we are 18 months later. We have adapted to this new way of working. We are flexible, resilient humans and we have done what humans excel at; we have evolved to a new way of working. I wonder if this evolution is an improvement.
For some workers, the answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’ If your daily commute took up hours each day; if most of your work is independent and needs lots of concentration; if you have a dedicated space in your home with reliable high speed internet access and well-functioning communication technology, then you are in this category. Ricardo, our Director of Finance & HR falls into this category. He was a remote worker prior to the pandemic. The rest of us caught up to him. A home office works very well for Ricardo; he thrives there.
There are others who are very agile and flexible. Hard workers who can work anywhere. They are usually very comfortable with technology, they can respond to texts and email on their watch. They can work from their bath or bed, a camper or motorcycle, from any location at any time. These workers are often happiest with convenience. Ian, our Director of Operations falls into this category. He thrives anywhere.
For me, space is very important. I like to look around and see the things that bring me inspiration and joy. There are physical things that I ‘need’ nearby. As much as I try to go paperless, I still need files. I live in a small NYC apartment with little privacy. I like being around others. Perhaps it’s because I’m competitive. I like seeing how other people work. I observe others to see if I can learn something new or do it better. I enjoy human interaction—saying hello, being friendly. It brings me joy. Don’t get me wrong. I need uninterrupted focus time as well. However, I think it’s natural and healthy to break that up at times. I often need to meet with others outside of my company, so having a centrally located hub is an important key to my productivity. Also, I love my commute. I bike every day regardless of the weather. It’s a treasured time for me. As soon as I could go back to the office, I did.
As my company grows and we hire new people I’m reminded how important a gathering space is. We have adapted to setting times for video calls and I’m grateful for the convenience; thankfully, they are with us forever. However, I find that a video call cannot replace an in-person face-to-face meeting. Casual conversation, having a colleague close by to answer a question, or share common experiences, fears and dreams, are all positive professional experiences. A cup of coffee, snack, or the breaking of bread are essential parts of our human experience. The in-person personal, professional, and collegial relationships we build in the office are an essential element of company culture.
I’m in the office furniture business. How can I be objective? That’s a fair question. We’ll find out together what the future holds for the office. You know where I stand. Please let me know what you think.