Silicon X Construction, Author at SiliconX Construction

Should you Remodel your Office?

November 27, 2013 By Silicon X Construction

Is it time to start remodeling your work office? Are you not sure if you should start a remodeling project?

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to see if it really is time for a remodel:

What is the objective of renovating the building or interior space?
Why do it now?
Who will occupy the space?
How will they use it?
How will value ultimately be accessed?
How can capital investment be minimized and property value maximized?
What are the physical and economic barriers to success?
Are corporate sustainability goals driving the decision to renovate?

If you answered these questions and decided that you do want to remodel here are a few things to consider while making your remodel decisions:

Take a realistic look at the surrounding neighborhood. What “value-perceived” amenities are present today that were not in place when the property first came on the market?
Look for local or regional economic incentives for the remodel.
Will this remodel offer more jobs?
Try to make improvement that will be of value later such as making sure each aspect of the remodel can serve multiple purposes if you were to resell.
Take advantage of on the building’s strengths.
Are you in an area that is surrounded by natural beauty? Can this beauty be seen from inside the office? If not find a way to open it up and reveal what is hiding outside.
If you plan to replace mechanical units, system controls, and lobby lighting then you should seek an Energy Star rating which signifies that the building’s energy consumption is below the standard for buildings of its type and size and will draw in customers and clients.

Taking the step towards remodeling is a big one. Make sure you have considered all of your options before leaping into the commitment.

What is Ground Up Construction?

November 20, 2013 By Silicon X Construction

Ground up construction values every step of the construction process.

We help you plan: In the planning phase, we work with you to define goals, responsibilities and schedules up front. We believe clear project objectives and open lines of communication provide a strong foundation for a positive working relationship.

We help you build: In the building phase we are your advocates. We will oversee the project budget, schedule and workforce, and we make sure your needs are put first.

A SiliconX specialty. We can take any existing building or space and transform it so it’s like new again. Examples include our $10 million Junction Office Center renovation, $15 million Club Auto Sport in San Jose, and a $2.5 million refresh of Fremont Business Park.

We offer construction services such as:

Safety Assurance
Project management, reporting and administration
Schedule & budget control
Workforce coordination and management
Material, housekeeping & equipment control
Quality assurance
Specialty contractor bid submittal coordination

We help you improve:

With us you can get cost-effective interior renovations and build-outs of tenant spaces, from 300 sq. ft. to 500,000 sq. ft. or more. We’re flexible, efficient and sensitive to your needs — completing our work quickly and with the least amount of disruption to your business.

We offer so many things to make your building project easier and go smoothly. We will be there from day and every moment that you need us for anything you need us to do.

You can count on the SiliconX team every step of the way. From site selection, land acquisition and design to budgeting, bidding, planning, and permits to zoning, entitlements and regulatory approvals and of course the interior finishing and final signoff.

Don’t do it alone. We can help!

A Simple Remodel

November 13, 2013 By Silicon X Construction

Is your office looking a little worn down, gloomy, or not so attractive? You might not have the time to unleash a full blown remodel project for your office but there are some things you can do to spruce the place up a little bit.

1. De-clutter!

Get rid of the stacks of documents, files and receipts that you don’t need and electronically store the rest so there isn’t an overwhelming amount of paper everywhere.
Clean out the break area and throw away rotten and old food.
Have every employee clean their desk and throw away what isn’t needed and neatly store what is needed.
Get rid of things that don’t benefit anyone directly such as the ugly chairs that no one uses, or filing cabinets that have nothing in them.
Just get rid of everything that doesn’t serve a purpose!

2. Paint

One of the cheapest things you can do that will make the most visual impact is to paint the office.
Choose color based on the attitude of your office. It is said that cool colors can help calm the nerves so if you have a stressful environment choose a cool color. If everyone is full of energy choose a fierce fiery color.
You can paint the walls, ceilings and trim. Don’t limit yourself to one area.

3. Lighting

A dim office makes reading paperwork difficult and might even encourage you to doze off if your work isn’t particularly riveting. So make sure there is sufficient lighting in the office.
Create a natural light effect in the room and give your eyes a break.
Remove heavy, drab curtains and cover windows with blinds that open easily to allow sunlight to enter.
Lighting fixtures can add a lot of flavor to your office. Don’t just get plain boring lighting. Look into modern lighting fixtures and ones with some personality.

Remodeling doesn’t always have to be a full blown out project even though sometimes it needs to be. Use these simple steps to add personality to your office. If you feel your office needs more than contact us today and we can help!

Tips on Finding a Commercial Contractor

November 5, 2013 By Silicon X Construction

If you are looking for a commercial contractor you might be lost as to where to start your search. There are many things you should consider before hiring a commercial contractor.

Here are a few tips on how to choose the right commercial contractor for you.

Go with your gut: If you have a bad feeling about a contractor right off the bat then don’t even consider them any further. You need to be able to trust your contractor and sometimes your gut instincts are saying no and you can see red flags flying. If there are red flags go back to the drawing board and start looking for a different contractor.
Make sure the contractor is licensed to work in your area, bonded, and insured: Having a license and insurance demonstrates a contractor’s credibility and knowledge. The license shows that contractors have taken an exam and proved they know building codes and processes. You should know that if a contractor doesn’t have insurance and a worker gets hurt on your project, you could be liable. The same goes with accidents that damage your next-door neighbor’s home. Always make sure these things are in place before hiring a contractor!
Pick a contractor who specializes in your project type: If the project you need done is completely new for the contractors there might be more errors and it might turn into a more lengthened project. Make sure the contractor has experience in what you need done to make sure it gets done right.
Have a very detailed contract written up: If you have specific concerns and needs then these things need to be known upfront so there is no confusion. Have a contract written up so that you can show it to the contractor immediately and if there are any problems you will know upfront. Not after you’ve already put time and effort into hiring this contractor. Lay everything out on the table as soon as possible.

There are so many things to be considered when choosing a contractor. You need to have someone you can trust and has the experience to be able to get your project done correctly and in a timely manner.

Do your research before committing to a contractor.

Bay Area Family Fitness: A Healthy Transformation in Record Time

August 29, 2013 By Silicon X Construction

Bay Area Family Fitness: A Healthy Transformation in Record Time

Project Highlights

• Transformed a vacant, aging Rite Aid store into a state-of-the-art fitness facility

• Relied on a well-managed design-build process to complete all tenant improvements on budget and on schedule in just over 3 months

• Seamlessly handled specialized requirements such as electrical and data connections for more than 200 exercise machines with digital displays

• Demoed and constructed large men’s and women’s locker rooms with showers and spa/Whirlpool area

Bay Area Family Fitness, owned by long-time trainer Dave Morrison, is not your typical fitness club. Unlike some of the larger fitness chains, the club takes good care of its facilities as well as its members and highly professional staff. More importantly, it is results-driven — focused on designing individualized training programs and teaching people how to get the workouts they need, even if it ultimately means the members may no longer need the services of a personal trainer.

Challenge

Timing is everything. In September 2011, when Bay Area Family Fitness had the opportunity to open its second club in an old 38,000 sq. ft. Rite Aid pharmacy on Capitol Expressway in San Jose, Morrison knew he needed to move fast. For starters, January is the month when a fitness facility must be open for business — to cater to the hundreds of well-intentioned people who flock to fitness facilities as part of New Year’s resolutions. In addition, Morrison had negotiated favorable lease terms, and the sooner he opened his doors, the more he could capitalize on the lease’s financial benefits.

Solution

SiliconX Construction took advantage of the City of San Jose’s Special Tenant Improvement (STI) program, designed to streamline the permit process for companies locating in vacant buildings — receiving the construction permit on September 13, 2011. Construction started the same week, managed under a design-build approach working closely with Michael Zucker & Associates, AIA, of San Francisco.

After finishing demolition of the remaining interior improvements, SiliconX began to transform the former Rite Aid into a state-of-the-art fitness facility. SiliconX handled construction of an entirely new mechanical, electrical and plumbing infrastructure to meet the club’s requirements. This included electrical and data connections for approximately 200 pieces of cardio and other machines equipped with fitness displays and TV screens in the 13,000 sq. ft. main exercise room.

SiliconX also demoed and constructed 2,400 sq. ft. for men’s and women’s locker rooms — with 12 showers, granite countertops and tile floors throughout. In addition, the project included a spa area with sauna and Whirlpool, a 4,200 sq. ft. free weight area, and a 1,500 sq. ft. group exercise area for yoga, Pilates, Zumba, kids fitness classes, and more.

Results

Moving quickly — but building to the highest standards throughout the facility — SiliconX Construction was able to complete its work two days before Christmas, 2011. That gave Morrison and the staff of the new facility ample time to have the club ready for the New Year’s rush of new members. Morrison commented, “I was extremely pleased with both the speed and attention to detail that SiliconX demonstrated in completing the new facility for us in such a tight timeframe.”

Morrison recently acquired a majority interest in Express Fitness Center in Pleasanton, which he helped found a number of years ago, and he plans to use SiliconX to upgrade those facilities as the location becomes part of the Bay Area Family Fitness brand. More club locations may be added to the family as Morrison seeks to serve the Bay Area market.

Should you Remodel your Office?

What is Ground Up Construction?

A Simple Remodel

Tips on Finding a Commercial Contractor

Bay Area Family Fitness: A Healthy Transformation in Record Time