The First Facility Management Blog

Coworkers like knowing that they were missed while they were out during their vacation or remembered on their birthday, and nothing says “we missed you” like decorating their office or cubicle to celebrate.

If you are among the skeleton crew working during this holiday week, maybe you and those few in the office can liven up your time by creating a Holiday/Happy New Year/Welcome Back cubicle display. But anything from birthdays to a welcoming party can be reasons to decorate all throughout the year.

1) Find the cubicle or office of the person you intend to throw a party for.

2) Identify a good way to decorate it, particularly in the most noticeable way possible, so they know you really want to tell them something ( happy birthday, welcome back, congrats, etc.)

3) Place streamers from the floor to the ceiling.

4) Wrap the desktop in wrapping paper.Wrap any usable items (like the phone, mouse or monitor) in tissue paper.

5) Decorate with fun party items.

6) Rig the desk with party poppers that will explode when drawers open or when chairs are repositioned, if your coworker is good-natured and loves good laugh.

7) Fill the office with an item that will stop them from getting right to work before they have to, like balloons or packing peanuts. This will keep them from getting back to work promptly and will give you enough time to tell them why they are getting a celebration.

Take pictures so that you can remember the fun you and your coworkers had for years to come.

9) Be responsible. Tidy up the decorations after the fun is over so that the coworker is not left with a mess and so that everyone can get back to work as usual.

Tips
* Only use party items that have effects such as loud sounds or are visually poor taste for people who will like them and in workplaces where pulling a bit of fun is not frowned upon. Otherwise, such items don’t add to the fun and might end up in management and the coworker lodging complaints.

* If you are good friends with the coworker show him or her through the decorations and give a bit of background.

Warnings
* Make sure that the coworker has a good sense of humor, is tolerant or is easily delighted. If you know the coworker is very territorial and easily ruffled, just don’t do this.

* Don’t decorate for people who won’t like it. You might regret it when they decorate your cubicle the same way.

* Don’t keep it up all day; there’s still work to be done. Always help to tidy up so that everyone can get back to work.

* Make sure that you’re decorating the office because you want to make someone happy, not to aggravate someone.

* Decorating an office can get you fired! Make sure you get management involved or in agreement before you trash the office.

Have Fun and Happy New Year!

The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), the insurance industry organization focused on reducing property losses, is providing the following tips to help prevent damage freezing weather and heavy snow can cause commercial structures.

* Pay attention to snow accumulation on the downwind side of a higher level roof, where blowing snow will collect and could lead to collapse.

* To maintain proper drainage, remove snow from window wells and all walls. Clear debris from basement drains. Make sure gutters are clean and stable to ensure proper drainage and lessen the chance they will be torn off in high wind.

* Make sure everyone knows how to shut off the main water supply. If a pipe bursts, turning off the water quickly will help minimize damage.

* Commercial buildings with flat roofs are particularly vulnerable to water leaks because roof drains can become clogged due to ice dams. Water can also find its way inside on sloped roofs along the eaves. Once the weather improves, consider installing heating strips around the drains to help avoid this problem or adding a moisture barrier to the roof decking can offer increased leak protection.

For more information, visit the IBHS web site www.DisasterSafety.org. The site has a ZIP code tool that identifies specific projects designed to help property owners become better prepared to weather the natural hazards facing their areas.

In a competition sponsored by the Vinyl Institute (VI) and administered by the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), two Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design students won first place for their use of vinyl in an architectural competition to design a transit stop for the Milwaukee County Transit System.

The competition was the second in two years sponsored by VI and administered by the AIAS. The entrants were required to design a usable bus stop including seating, shelter, and display space for transit information. At least 60% of the visible structure had to be made of vinyl products and showcased in a creative way.

Reflecting the AIAS Forum 2007 convention theme, “Architecture in Motion,” the first place winners Danielle Jones and Annabelle Luedtke featured rows of lighted vinyl cubes and a shelter enclosed in translucent vinyl and built around a tree.

Explaining why they awarded this design the top honor, the jury of five architects and a Milwaukee Transit System official said, “This graceful and completely usable simple bus shelter provides an iconic landmark in the fabric of downtown Milwaukee.”

One judge, George Middleton, AIA, LEED AP, called the design “a unique piece of urban art” and agreed with other jury members on the designers’ success in integrating the practices and professions of architecture and city planning in their solution.

Jones and Luedtke will be honored and accept their $2,500 cash prize at the AIAS Forum 2007, which is being held today through January 1, 2008 in Milwaukee. Second and third place winners, as well as honorable mentions and merit award winners, will also be recognized and receive cash awards.

Tim Burns, VI president, said, “We are honored to be able to sponsor this competition and are delighted with the creativity with which these students are using vinyl in their concepts. As architects and designers of the future, they are learning that vinyl’s durability, energy efficiency and adaptability are qualities valued in a sustainable building material.”

To see all the winning projects, visit www.aias.org/vinyl, and click on “2007 results” on the left.