A master architect keeps a lot of tools and skills in their back pocket, ready to be used at any time. They won’t always use them – in fact, some skill sets might never be useful for the properties they’re building – but their foundational knowledge will always give them an edge over lesser tradespeople.
To quote a cliché, knowledge is power when it comes to architecture. Some techniques for building business complexes might come in handy when planning a residential area, and vice versa. Each skill is transferable to any situation – so it’s time to tool up and get learning.
Warehouses, for instance, might not seem like they’ve got much in common with cosy homes or slick offices. But the placement and purchase of a mezzanine in a warehouse has a lot in common with other forms of design.
Most warehouse architecture is purely practical, unlike the aesthetic concerns of a house or workplace. No one will be disappointed that their storage complex doesn’t have a south-facing garden or a water feature in the foyer. Yet placing a mezzanine requires a special awareness that moves beyond the practical – does it interfere with or help productivity, for example – and into the realms of the aesthetic.
With that in mind, we’ve come up with a few tips on who you should purchase your mezzanine from, and considerations to make before you do. Take a look and you’ll have a new skill to add to your arsenal.
Who to buy from
There are plenty of companies to purchase from, each offering varying levels of quality and price. But for our money, the ideal warehouse mezzanine supplier is Invicta, a company with 25 years of experience and plenty of knowhow.
They’ll offer single, double or triple-tiered mezzanines, depending on the needs of your warehouse, and their main aim is to maximise the amount of storage available in your business. Any architect should know a pro they can contact for more specialist enterprises, and Invicta are your best bet when it comes to mezzanines.
Worker Morale
Sociologists have a theory about buildings and mental health. They describe “sick building syndrome”, the idea that workers are only as healthy as the building they’re working in. If an employee feels claustrophobic, they’ll become anxious and less productive. Similarly, they’ll feel exhausted if the staff room is too far away from their workstation.
Bear this in mind when installing your mezzanine. If it’s situated above numerous workstations, employees might feel closed in or, worse, as though they’re being watched all the time, diminishing productivity rapidly.
Speed and convenience
Where is the entrance to your mezzanine situated? Is it close to employees or obscured at the back of your building? These considerations fall purely in the ‘practical’ bracket.
The placement of your mezzanine’s entrance will affect the efficiency of your staff, altering their route of travel or blocking the movement of cargo.
This is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of considerations in your warehouse. If you’ve got any other suggestions, we’d love to hear them.
