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Renovation or New Build? Key Questions to Ask When Evaluating Your Office Space

By Mike Niezer, RA

September 24, 2025
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When is the right time to renovate an existing office, and when does it make more sense to start fresh with a new building?

While every organization’s needs are unique, these questions can help guide thoughtful decision-making across industries and scales.

Ultimately, the right choice depends on how your space aligns with the way you work today and where you’re headed tomorrow.

Mike Niezer, Partner and COO, is currently leading our own headquarters renovation. His unique perspective—as both architect and business executive—offers valuable takeaways for any organization considering its next move.
Branded Graphic designs in the elevator lobby of the Design Collaborative office on the 6th floor of the 1st Source Bank building in downtown Fort Wayne, IN.
Branded Graphic designs in the elevator lobby of the Design Collaborative office on the 6th floor of the 1st Source Bank building in downtown Fort Wayne, IN.

What are the first signs that it might be time to rethink your current office space?

It’s rarely just one thing; usually there are multiple contributing factors. For many organizations, key drivers include:

  • Outdated aesthetics that no longer reflect the company’s image.
  • Capacity constraints, specifically related to workstations and meeting rooms.
  • Evolving workstyles, like increased reliance on technology, remote work, and cross-team collaboration, that the current space doesn’t support.
  • Practical concerns, such as security, safety, parking, and lease renewals.

At DC, all of these were present and played a significant role. We realized our physical space could do better to support Our Way of Working, which is fundamental to how we collaborate as a team and serve our clients.

Once you identify the need for change, how do you decide whether renovation or relocation makes sense?

Establishing clear goals and outcomes—both short and long-term—is super important. For any business, it is near-impossible to project what will be needed, but it is important nonetheless to dream about the space that will support your future-business five, ten, or even fifteen years ahead. That means considering:

  • How many people you expect to have.
  • The types of spaces you’ll need—workstations, collaboration areas, meeting rooms, amenities.
  • Ratios of square footage per person, which architects and interior designers can help right-size.
  • The way in which you anticipate working and understanding trends in your industry.

We’ve had some clients overestimate their space needs early on, but through early engagement with design teams, we’ve helped them uncover efficiencies and align space to actual work strategies. This not only prevents unnecessary costs but ensures the space truly supports how they work.
People working in the First Merchants Bank Office Space with wood desks and a large window.
People working in the First Merchants Bank Office Space with wood desks and a large window.

What are the biggest factors influencing whether a renovation or a new build is the better long-term investment?

No question, the financial analysis is always front and center. But money isn’t the only driver. For DC, maintaining a downtown presence mattered deeply, as did creating a space that reflected who we are as a firm.

Other considerations include:

  • Parking and accessibility
  • Proximity to amenities
  • Whether the space supports your full program (not just square footage, but the types of spaces you need)
  • Single-floor vs. multi-floor layouts

At DC, we spent nearly a year evaluating multiple sites while also exploring a renovation in parallel. We are fortunate that we had the time to study both options, and we recognize not every business is afforded that opportunity. Starting early gave us the opportunity to establish goals, evaluate options, and ultimately determine the best path forward.

Should every business explore both options—renovating and building new?

It depends. Some companies already know they need to move, but for many, it can be helpful to study both options and evaluate the pros and cons for each. While renovations often appear more cost-effective upfront, new builds may offer long-term savings through efficiency, optimized layouts, and reduced operational disruptions. The key is always to return to your original goals and criteria, which should serve as guiding principles to ensure alignment with all decisions.

How do you plan for a space that will still serve the company 10–20 years from now?

You plan for change. In our industry and others, change is one constant, and so designing for flexibility is critical. The way businesses work today will not be the way they work in 10 years. Locking into a rigid layout is a mistake.

That’s why our renovation prioritizes adaptable zones, movable furniture systems, and modular layouts that can shift as our teams and tools evolve. We’ve also learned lessons from prior renovations that didn’t take into account flexibility and have since become a barrier to our team’s ability to collaborate.
Indiana Michigan Power Center - Corporate Headquarters Raytheon Fit Out - Kitchen
Indiana Michigan Power Center - Corporate Headquarters Raytheon Fit Out - Kitchen

From a leadership perspective, what questions should executives be asking as they evaluate their options?

Two stand out:

  1. Why? What’s driving the need for change? Understanding the core issues—whether it is space, culture, function, or image—is paramount.
  2. How well does our space reflect our values? When employees and clients walk in, does the office express who you are as a company? If the answer is “not really,” that’s a powerful reason to pursue a change.

What advice would you give to leaders preparing for an office renovation or relocation?

Start early. At DC, we began exploring options years before our lease was set to expire, which gave us time to make thoughtful decisions instead of rushed ones.

Also, don’t underestimate the logistics. Beyond design, leaders must navigate change management, employee communication, and operational details. Surround yourself with the right advisors and involve your team in the process to build buy-in along the way.

Whether renovating an existing office or investing in a new build, the process is complex and multi-layered. The most successful outcomes begin with asking the right questions: Why now? What will we need in the future? How do we want our workplace to reflect who we are?

Design Collaborative’s own renovation has underscored that while no decision is simple, thoughtful planning and a focus on flexibility can create workplaces that not only support how teams work today but can adapt to how they’ll work tomorrow.

Is it time to evaluate your own office space? Whether you’re facing space constraints, planning for growth, or reimagining how your teams collaborate—start with a space audit or a discovery session with our design team. Contact our team to start the conversation about your future workplace.

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