shared workstations by a series of partitions of varying heights. Although privacy is sacrificed in an open environment (and thus is probably not an option for some professional services firms, such as law firms, that put a high premium on privacy), open offices are effective in fostering interaction because professional and administrative are not isolated in individual private offices. Additionally, open floor plans often force people in the office to interact with one another more often than they might in the closed office environment. Indeed, some open office plans incorporate common walkways that force professionals in the firm to go out of their way to reach a destination (e.g., the restroom or kitchen), which can also be beneficial in encouraging spontaneous interactions. While these informal interactions may be deemed by the firm as more of a distraction than a benefit, such brief discussions can be healthy and help promote a greater sense of cohesion among the professionals and staff at the firm. Because the open plan has few boundaries and high visual access, however, the office can be very busy and may be distrac-tive to some employees.

Hoteling. One of the more recent developments in office design, which can be employed in either a closed or open office environment, is a concept known as hoteling. Hoteling most often occurs in firms where the professionals spend a good deal of time traveling, such as analysts or consultants who are often staffed on long-term engagements out of town. In such an environment, all of the offices and workstations are configured the same and are wired to be compatible with any computers or related equipment that the firm has issued to the professional. When a professional plans to be in town and requires office space, he or she calls ahead to reserve an office or workstation and any equipment needed.

Hoteling can help the professional services firm save significant money by avoiding paying rent for office space that goes largely unused. However, hoteling does not provide the professionals in a firm with their own office, which is something that many professionals have come to expect. Thus, if the firm is contemplating a hoteling office system, or some hybrid thereof, it should do so in consultation with the professionals in the firm to eliminate any discontent.

Finish-Out

The finish-out construction that needs to be completed before taking possession of the leased premises-often referred to as leasehold or tenant improvements-is the nonremovable installations such as walls that must be built in order to meet the firms needs. New office space, which may consist of only exterior walls and flooring, often requires substantial finish-out before occupancy by the tenant; on the other hand, existing office space, or space that is going to be subleased, may include certain fixtures that the firm

can take advantage of and use. In many cases, the landlord will be willing to pay for all or a portion of the finish-out that is required to bring the office space into tenantable condition by the firm.

The issue of finish-out is often raised during the lease negotiations; however, in the final analysis, it is important for the firm to have an understanding of what the landlord is paying for and whether and under what circumstances the firm will be responsible for completing any aspect of the finish-out. One way to accomplish this is to attach an exhibit to the lease that includes detailed descriptions, drawings, and specifications of exactly what improvements each party is responsible for making. Depending on the amount of work that is required, the finish-out of the premises could be accomplished relatively quickly or could take several months.

There are a number of different parts of the office that the firm should consider when it is assessing its needs and whether and to what extent finish-out is required. Most professional services firms include at least the following types of space within the office: professionals offices, staff workstations and/or cubicles, reception area, filing areas and copy rooms, common areas and conference rooms, restrooms, and a kitchen or cafeteria. Again, the firm may be able to find existing office space that meets its requirements; however, it is much more likely that at least some finish-out will be required before the firm takes possession of the premises.

Furniture

In selecting furnishings for the professional services firm, there are various issues to consider.

Design and Style. The design and style of the furniture selected by the professional services firm is important for a number of reasons. As with many of the other issues that must be considered in opening a professional office, clients and potential clients have very real expectations about the style of furniture that they expect to see in a professionals office. Traditional furniture styles that incorporate dark woods, leather, and brass predominate many professional offices; however, it is not mandatory that all professional offices be furnished in this manner. Indeed, there is a wide range of contemporary furniture styles that should be considered in light of the image that the firm is trying to project and the business that the firm is trying to attract.

For example, if the firms client base is largely high-tech companies whose executives and employees are accustomed to more modern office design and furnishings, they might not feel comfortable meeting in an office furnished with dark woods and leather chairs. In much the same way that wearing formal business attire in the wrong setting can have a chilling effect on client interaction, clients might perceive more conservative furniture as being dark and too formal and inconsistent with the image the client is trying to project.