August 2022
Planning for Facility Expansion Success
Navigating a facility expansion can be both exciting and overwhelming. The fact that you need to expand your current space means your business is growing and doing well, but with growth can come challenges. Change is hard even in the best of circumstances. For many clients, the thought of disrupting operations and employee/customer routines can be daunting.
At Peter Schwabe, Inc., we have managed thousands of expansions, remodels, tenant improvements and other similar projects over the decades. As such, we are able to anticipate unique and unexpected situations that may arise during the process. Our experience helps us work efficiently and effectively to complete your project quickly with minimal impact on your employees’ productivity and your customers’ ability to access you. As you begin to plan your facility expansion, consider these important questions and key takeaways to ensure a successful project outcome.
Evaluate your current conditions
Audit your facility and assess your building. Conduct a needs analysis, and consider the following:
- How much needs to be changed to meet the demands of your growing business and customers?
- What functionality improvements are needed? Does your current space allow you to accommodate those needs?
- How much land do you have to work with? How does this limit what you want to accomplish?
- What is the overall physical condition of your building? Are there health or safety concerns regarding your space? Is it up to date on all fire and building codes?
- Does your facility need technology upgrades?
- Which segments/divisions of your facility need to handle new and future growth?
Make plans for future growth
As you plan your expansion, do so with a forward-looking vision for even more growth down the road. Consider short- and long-term needs. Taking the time to think this through and plan in advance will make it much easier the next time you expand and can offer significant cost savings in the future. If done thoughtfully, it may even allow you to push out the timeline for your next expansion.
Communicate
Prepare your employees and customers for this new and exciting change in advance. Communicate and share your plans as you go. Be inclusive and transparent. Doing so can encourage a positive response and help garner support for this growth opportunity in your company.
With more than 95 years in the business, we at Peter Schwabe, Inc. are prepared and ready to help you achieve your project goals. Our team of highly experienced and disciplined professionals can help guide you to make the best, well-informed decision for your business needs. We go beyond the ordinary. We are here to guide you step by step throughout the expansion process.
For more information on how Peter Schwabe, Inc. can help with your facility expansion, contact Michael Gilbert, Director of Business Development, at 262-352-9786 or mgilbert@pschwabe.com.
Project Profile: City Volkswagen
This project, currently underway in Downtown Chicago, includes the extensive remodel of both the interior and exterior of an existing VW dealership. The 36,000 square foot building will include an updated service department, showroom, bathrooms and additional offices to handle increased traffic. With little to no space for a staging area due to real estate constraints, Peter Schwabe, Inc. is able to run this project as a live remodel with very minimal disruption to current operations. When complete, this 100-year-old building will be transformed into a state-of-the-art VW dealership and service center.
Welcome to our newest team members
We're pleased to welcome three new members to our growing team!
Hunter Yanel – Labor Carpenter
Ty McDonald – Labor Carpenter
Alissa Carey - Project Accountant
We're also seeking additional superintendents and an estimator to add to our crew. If you know of any positive, people-focused individuals who agree with our core values, send them our way! Please have them contact Kadi Nowak directly so they can receive special consideration as a referral from one of our clients and friends.