One Workplace Launches Off-Site Interior Construction Firm

By Barbra Murray

Vantis portfolio, medical facility in San Francisco

One Workplace recently made a major move to provide a specialized service to the construction industry in Northern California. The office furniture dealer just launched Vantis, an interior commercial facilities construction company centered on the off-site construction of custom interiors for healthcare, office, educational and other high-density facilities.

The demand for Vantis’ services already exists in the $6 billion regional market it will serve, and it’s a demand so strong that One Workplace found it important to go beyond simply creating a dedicated internal division to address the need.

“One Workplace has long provided space planning, design and construction services to create spaces that inspire people and transform organizations. But the opportunity for commercial interior construction services as a compliment and as a niche business is so large and compelling that it makes sense for Vantis to be a separate company in order to become a leader in the market,” Mark Baker, chief operating officer of One Workplace, said in a prepared statement.

Vantis makes its debut with a staff of 27 to accommodate a full range of client needs, including architecture, design, engineering, construction and account services. The design-build and design-assist firm’s off-site construction platform will yield singular interiors, individually tailored to clients, who will be able to “see” what they’re getting through state-of-the-art technology.

Ryan Ware, head of Vantis

“We have the capability of Virtual Reality using a headset to view the space, as well as viewing the space in real time on any computer screen or monitor. Interior elements and pricing are updated instantly within our software as we make changes, which are visible in plan, elevation or 3-D views,” Ryan Ware, head of Vantis, told Commercial Property Executive. Ware, possessing a long and successful history in the construction industry, takes on the job after serving as vice president of construction with One Workplace.

Analyzing the benefits

Vantis portfolio, tech firm in Sunnyvale, Calif.

Through Vantis’ off-site construction process, clients reap a series of advantages over traditional on-site construction. By providing expertise spanning the various facets of facility interiors under a single umbrella, Vantis increases the speed and efficiency of the construction process. The One Workplace spinoff designs and produces build-outs with technology and electrical integrated into walls and other building components, permitting enhanced performance. Additionally, the front-loaded process results in greater accuracy of construction cost estimates, a valuable feature in a climate of rising construction costs.

Vantis’ touted list of benefits also includes decreased disruption—less noise and less time-consuming installation—as a result of off-site production. Additionally, the process is more eco-friendly than conventional on-site construction, as it produces less waste and generates fewer off-gases.

“With our current approach, which is not modular, the interiors are designed locally working with general contractors or users, fabricated off-site and installed on-site. At the end of the day, the result is a custom and flexible interior space designed just for the user,” Ware added.

Vantis has gotten off the ground with a One Workplace-contributed business pipeline valued at approximately $33 million. Looking ahead, the company sees expansion beyond the Northern California market as a distinct possibility. 

Image courtesy of One Workplace