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Frequently asked questions

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Frequently asked questions

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We’re opening a new office in 90 days—can you handle end‑to‑end?

Yes. We run parallel tracks: workplace strategy, concept, statutory, MEP coordination, procurement, and site execution. A 13‑week fast‑track Gantt shows dependencies and critical path.

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One owner only—no contractor ping‑pong

You get a Project Lead who owns design, vendors, permits, schedules, and risk. Single Slack/WhatsApp thread + weekly executive summary.

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What do you need from us to start?

Carpet area, floor plate, headcount, neighborhood plan (growth/remote), brand guide, IT/security policies, budget target, move‑in date.

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Can you make a ballpark in 48 hours?

Yes—based on area and spec tier (Essential/Premium/Flagship). Includes fit‑out, MEP, IT/Security, furniture, fees, contingencies.

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We have multiple cities—can you standardize?

We build a Workplace Design Kit (WDK): room sizes, finishes, furniture specs, AV/IT standards, signage, and a governance guide.

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NDA and data security?

NDA-tight workflows, expiring drawing links, and on-prem option for sensitive layouts; visitor/device logs for site.

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Leased shell & core—can you assess viability before we sign?

Yes—test fits, services due diligence, grid/shaft positions, exit stair widths, and lift/BOH adequacy; landlord interface notes included.

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We want minimal downtime—phased build possible?

We plan swing space, night shifts, and dust/noise isolation; critical services sequenced to keep business running.

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Hybrid workforce—how much seat count vs. collaboration?

We model occupancy and peak overlays to set desk ratios, touchdown areas, focus rooms, and collaboration zones.

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Who signs off what?

We set a gate plan: strategy → concept → design dev → GFC → vendor lock → mockups → snag/closure; each gate has owners and deadlines.

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Can you run a quick workplace study?

We do interviews, pulse surveys, utilization mapping, and adjacency matrices; outputs inform zoning and room counts.

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Brand + culture in the plan—not just décor.

We translate values into spatial behaviors: openness, privacy, collaboration, focus. Brand codes map to materials, lighting, and wayfinding.

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Acoustic problems kill productivity—solve up front.

Wall STC specs, ceiling NRC, floor underlays, door seals, white-noise options; test rooms before rollout.

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We need client-facing wow zones without wasting space.

A compact front-of-house with modular furniture and light/media that doubles as townhall space.

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Focus vs. collaboration balance?

We zone by noise, provide phone booths, focus rooms, and multi-purpose huddle spaces; booking rules documented.

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Inclusive design?

Accessible routes, door pulls, braille/tactile signage, height-variable desks, nursing/quiet rooms.

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Wellness and biophilia?

Daylight access, planting strategy, CO₂ monitoring, ergonomic standards, circadian lighting options.

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Food/coffee and informal areas?

Pantry with safe flows, hot/cold zones, odour control, and spill-proof finishes; café seating as informal work.

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Future growth baked in?

Demountable partitions, spare capacity in MEP, and furniture systems that reconfigure.

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Wayfinding and space logic?

Color/graphic coding, landmark features, and clear sightlines so new hires navigate on day one.

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Show us concepts we can feel, not just plans.

Mood boards, materials trays, and quick 3D visualizations; one room mocked up for touch-and-feel before mass ordering.

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Natural light is great—but glare and heat aren’t.

We model sun paths, specify glazing films, blinds, and lighting controls; desk orientations avoid screen glare.

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Finish palette that ages well.

High-traffic ratings, easy-maintenance laminates/tiles, stain-resistant fabrics, and replaceable wear layers.

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Furniture: buy vs. custom?

We mix systems furniture for speed with signature custom pieces where they move the brand needle.

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Phone booths and focus rooms—how to get them right?

Right STC, ventilation, power/USB, and lighting that flatters faces on calls; booking signage included.

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Townhall without a giant dead space?

Retractable seating, mobile AV, and divisible walls so it becomes collaboration space off-event.

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Sustainable materials that still look premium.

Low-VOC paints, FSC timber, recycled tiles, energy-rated appliances; we share EPDs where available.

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Lighting that sells the space on camera.

Layered plan: ambient, task, accent; high CRI, flicker-safe for video calls; tunable in key areas.

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Artwork and brand without plastering logos.

Subtle brand moments in textures, patterns, and wayfinding; a hero wall for storytelling.

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Documentation that contractors can actually build from.

GFC package: plans, RCP, BOQs, details, door/window schedules, and coordination drawings with MEP.

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Can you do design-and-build turnkey?

Yes—single contract for design, procurement, and execution with performance-linked milestones and LDs.

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How do you control quality on site?

Daily checklists, material approvals, mockups, and stage-wise inspections; NCRs resolved before next stage.

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Dust, noise, and neighbors.

Containment, negative pressure zones, silent hours, and polite notices; delivery schedules aligned with the building.

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Fast-track procurement?

Long-lead items (glass, lights, HVAC, furniture) ordered early; alternates pre-approved to avoid delays.

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Safety on site?

HSE plan with toolbox talks, PPE, hot-work permits, and lift plans; audits at milestones.

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Coordination between trades?

Weekly coordination meetings, clash detection, and a single source of truth drawings folder.

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Mockups before mass?

Yes—sample rooms/areas signed off for finishes, acoustics, and lighting before rollout.

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Snagging and handover?

Digital snag lists with photo refs; close-out pack includes as-builts, warranties, manuals, test reports, and training.

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Furniture delivery choreography?

Staggered installation by zone; protection layers to save finished floors and walls.

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Working in an occupied floor?

Night shifts, dust curtains, and safe cordons; MEP shutdowns communicated in advance.

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HVAC sizing and comfort.

Load calculations per headcount + equipment; zoning by use; fresh air per code; low-noise diffusers in focus areas.

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Power and redundancy.

Clean power for IT/AV, UPS rooms with cooling, generator interface; labeled panels and spare ways for growth.

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Low voltage & IT rooms.

Server room sizing, hot/cold aisle logic, access control, CCTV layouts, Wi-Fi heat maps, and cable trays with separation.

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AV that ‘just works’.

Standardized rooms (huddle/VC/board), plug-and-play codecs, acoustic treatment, echo control, and user guides.

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Fire and life safety.

Egress widths, exit signage, emergency lighting, detector/sprinkler layouts, and integration with building systems.

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Statutory approvals (fire/NOC/lift).

We interface with building management and authorities; submissions, inspections, and closure notes handled.

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Acoustic performance in meeting rooms.

Partition specs, door seals, slab-to-slab closures, ceiling breaks; we field-test and tune.

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Water & pantry services.

Supply/return, grease traps where needed, venting, and odor control; spill-proof finishes.

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Security & access control.

Zones, badges/biometric, visitor flows, CCTV coverage; privacy where needed.

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Sustainability/green targets.

Energy targets, low-VOC, waste segregation, and metering; LEED/IGBC pathways if desired.

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Work within ₹X per sq.ft.—still look premium?

We tier specs, prioritize impact zones, and value-engineer back-of-house; you’ll see what’s worth paying for.

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What drives cost the most?

Glazing/partitions, HVAC capacity, custom furniture, specialty lights, stone/veneers, and change orders late in the game.

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Transparent estimates?

Line-item BOQs with alternates; vendor quotes attached; our fee separated.

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Procurement strategy?

Long-lead items early, bulk buys for multi-site projects, and pre-approved alternates to avoid delays.

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Change order control?

Every change logs time/cost impact; we don’t proceed without your sign-off.

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Payment milestones?

Design, GFC, mobilization, mid-progress, pre-handover, and close-out; linked to deliverables.

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Vendor marks-up?

No hidden margins; vendor quotes shared; our management fee is explicit.

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Warranties & spares?

Manufacturer warranties recorded; spares kit for consumables and critical items documented in handover.

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Insurance and liability?

Contractor all-risk during build; public liability where required; handover documentation for your insurers.

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ROI—how do interiors pay back?

Recruitment magnetism, retention, productivity, energy savings, and brand perception; we baseline and measure proxies post-move.

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What does a standard timeline look like for 20,000 sq.ft.?

Strategy 2–3 weeks, design 3–4, approvals 2–4 (parallel), procurement 3–5, build 8–12 — overall 16–24 weeks depending on site.

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Standups and reviews?

Weekly business review with execs; daily site standups; one deck, one thread.

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How do you track risks?

RAID log (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies) shared and updated weekly.

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Approvals without delay?

Gate owners + deadlines; if blocked, we escalate with options.

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Documentation control?

Single source of truth, versioned drawings, and transmittal logs; contractors only build from current GFC.

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Reporting cadence?

Weekly KPI roll-up (schedule, cost, safety, quality); monthly deep-dive.

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Decision latency kills projects—how do we avoid?

We flag decisions two gates ahead, pre-read packs sent, and hold fast decision meetings.

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Escalation path?

Clear ladder—PM → Program Lead → Partner in Charge—so issues don’t fester.

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Snag closure before move-in.

Digital snag list with owners and due dates; zero-defect walkthrough before handover.

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Handover and KT?

As-builts, warranties, vendor contacts, maintenance schedules, and a training day for your facility team.

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Support after we move in?

30/60/90-day tune-ups, warranty management, and minor works bank for tweaks as teams settle.

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How do we measure success?

Utilization, satisfaction, acoustic/light comfort, and energy vs. baseline; we share a dashboard.

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Churn—teams keep moving.

Furniture systems and demountable partitions planned for quick reconfiguration; we maintain an as-built model.

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FM manuals and vendor list?

You receive maintenance SOPs, service intervals, and vendor contacts with SLAs.

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Spare parts & finishes.

Attic stock logged and stored; finish schedules list exact SKUs for easy re-orders.

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Energy optimization after 3 months.

We retune lighting/HVAC schedules based on actual occupancy and seasons; quick wins are implemented.

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Adding a new floor/city.

We reuse the WDK and roll forward—same look, faster delivery.

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Brand refresh later—will it break things?

We choose surfaces that accept overlays/graphics so updates don’t require demolition.

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Help desk for little fixes?

Ticketing with severity SLAs; minor works team handles patches without disrupting work.

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When do you consider the project ‘done’?

When the space runs without friction for one full quarter and your team scores it above our threshold on comfort and utility.

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We’re the interior design vertical of Garage Collective—the award-winning design house behind campaigns and experiences for brands across India and beyond

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C-102, ATS Bouquet, Sector 132, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201304