Ideas for Faux Stone in an Office Building
Let’s face it: most office buildings are pretty ho-hum when it comes to finishes. The office you’re sitting in now probably looks an awful lot like the office down the hall.
The problem is the term “building standard”.
This means every suite/tenant gets the same doors and hardware, the same light fixtures in the ceiling, the same carpet, and the same floor finishes. It’s very cost-effective for the owner and builder, but it’s pretty boring for the people who have to work there every day.
Break Free from the Dreaded Building Standard
We spend a lot of time at our workplace, whatever business you happen to be in. But there is nothing that says you have to do it in a dull and drab space—in a space that looks like the one next door, or on the floor above you or four floors above you.
Many of the same design cues used for homes can be adapted to an office building. This allows the mixing of material finishes, colors, and textures to create a warmer, more comfortable work environment.
One trend that is getting very popular is the use of stone to add contrast to interior and exterior walls. But stone and masonry work are dirty, dusty, time-consuming, and most of all, expensive.
Stone As a Design Element for Office Buildings
GenStone has created an entire line of faux stone panels that install with basic hand tools, fasteners, and carpentry skills. This means you can skip all of the above-listed issues associated with using a real stone product.
Best of all, GenStone faux stone panels cost a fraction of the price of real stone!
The faux stone panels manufactured by GenStone can be used almost anywhere around the office building.
Here are a few ideas that might get your attention:
Let’s start with the building exterior, and then we will move to the inside of your office building.
- The front door: Faux stone can be used to create a stacked stone entryway. Or, use them to frame around the door. Alternatively, if you have an inset entrance, faux stone can be used on the exterior inset walls to create a warm and inviting entrance.
- Exterior walls: Faux stone can be used to create an exterior wainscot effect (typically ran from the ground up to 48”), or they can be used to cover the first-floor walls, up to the second floor (and higher, if desired).
- Retaining walls: Hiding that dull gray concrete on any retaining wall on the property adds contrast and texture to an otherwise necessary evil.
- Mechanical and trash enclosures: Your office building may have air conditioner/heat pump equipment sitting on small concrete pads around the building. Once again, faux stone can hide those drab mechanical equipment and trash enclosure walls to add an architectural element where there wasn’t one before.
- Outside employee area: You may have an outside dining or sitting area for employees to use when the weather is nice. Faux stone makes the area more appealing, and also adds contrast against the rest of the exterior walls, which will help to aesthetically define the area.
Stratford Stacked Stone in an office conference room
Faux Stone Ideas for Your Office Building Interior
- Entry vestibule/lobby walls : If your building has a vestibule entrance and/or a lobby, faux stone can be used either as a wainscot or run from floor to ceiling. The stacked stone panels add an elegance to the entryway, something other finishes simply can’t match. The linear lines created by “stacking” will actually help guide visitors in the right direction toward the reception desk.
- Restroom alcove: Yes, that area between the men’s and ladies’ restrooms. You probably have a drinking fountain there, too. Because the area is pretty small, faux stone creates a big impact for a tiny price.
- Hallways: A wainscot made from faux stone will add visual interest as your clients move through the office space (using faux stone to go from floor to ceiling isn’t recommended here unless your hallway is at least 8′ wide).
- Conference room: here’s a great opportunity to add a solid, floor-to-ceiling accent wall. Or, consider wainscotting the wall where your projection screen is located.
These are just a few ideas for the innovative use of faux stone in an office building. With a little creativity and some high-quality GenStone faux stone, it’s easy to add contrast, texture, and visual interest to an otherwise plain and dull work environment.
Kenai Stacked Stone in an office lobby
