A MAJOR PAYOFF MINUS THE PRICE TAG
When this leading immigration law firm made its move from downtown Houston to Greenway Plaza, their real estate broker called on us to help create a gorgeous new space that would attract exceptional employees. Shortly before we entered the order, however, the budget was significantly tightened, forcing us to truly bring our “A” game.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• Deliver a beautiful space without splashing the cash
• Collaborate with interior design firm
• Plan early and provide two rounds of value engineering
• Adhere to goals set by real estate broker

For this client, and a multitude of reasons, the traditional bid process was not beneficial. Instead, we collected quotes from a variety of different vendors and ultimately chose the one that had the products, price tags and professionalism for the job. Thanks to smart budget management, we were able to stay within our price range and achieve our ultimate goal – a stunner of an office space, done on a dime.

As experts in all things furniture, kimiko designs was hired to direct a new office for a financial advisor who wanted a space that better represented his vision and business values. The result was a beautiful and functional workspace that reflects their experience, process and care in the way they value their clients. The pieces that were selected were chosen with function, style and durability in mind; all while maintaining an extremely tight budget and corporate standards. The resulting space is welcoming, functional and timeless.

AFTER

• Large desk that provides privacy and functionality
• Comfortable, beautiful and accessible healthcare seating options
• Relevant floor coverings and lighting for acoustics and aesthetics
• Tables with no sharp corners
• Multiple storage options

As objective experts in the commercial furniture industry, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System (SLEHS) hired our firm to develop a program of furniture standards for the hospital. Pulling from decades of experience in the furniture industry, we worked closely with the Facilities and Capital Projects team at SLEHS to:

• Determine the goals and vision of the hospital
• Define “Best Value” as it pertains to SLEHS
• Determine criteria based on the needs of SLEHS to be used as guidelines for furniture selection
• Develop methods to ensure the process is maintained for the future

The development and use of such a program allowed SLEHS to reduce and avoid a buildup of obsolete product in inventory, reduce furniture expenses, effectively manage/implement projects, efficiently recycle furniture throughout the facility, and create a consistent brand cohesive with the care provided by the hospital.

We served as technical experts on the furniture services team driving the implementation of furnishings for a new seven-story administrative building at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Galveston. We were then contracted to provide similar services plus onsite construction administrative support to the new eleven-story replacement hospital. In both instances, we brought our technical expertise to the UTMB project in being able to thoroughly understand and interpret the furniture vendor submissions. We guided UTMB to best value selections that function within the space, are aesthetically pleasing, and fit within the overall budget.

As the HUB women and minority owned business partner on this project, we are masters at:

• Ensuring furniture plans are accurate
• Ensuring specifications of furniture are accurate, creating bid documents and issuing them out to bid, reviewing bid submissions, and awarding the bid; reviewing furniture orders and ship dates
• Managing installation processes, communication and scheduling of all furniture vendors, and coordination with building/facilities management

We led the furniture planning and selections for a four-story expansion at the VA Hospital in Phoenix. Our team is working closely with the architect, VA designer, VA project manager, and future occupants to develop a space that:

• Reflects each department’s needs
• Utilizes the building’s furniture standards
• Complies with hospital regulations
• Fits within the project budget

With so many stakeholders (facilities, real estate, contracting, equipment planning, staff, and patients) involved in the process, attention to detail is critical. Input from every angle is recognized and part of a cohesive solution. We continually refer to the guiding principles and priorities established at the beginning of the project. It’s also a very large facility in constant flux so the VA is concerned about and focused on furniture and products that are movable, flexible, easily configured, durable, and adaptable. Through a decade-long relationship with the service dealership, we are able to facilitate clear communication, thorough planning, and mutual technical respect, which eases the process significantly for the VA Hospital.