When it comes to designing a space that makes employees and patrons feel at home, few things are more important than a clean, modern restroom. Touchless fixtures, efficient hand dryers and exceptional design not only improve sustainability, hygiene and long-term maintenance costs by a dramatic margin – they attract return business and higher spending from customers.
Unfortunately, updating restrooms or designing new ones from scratch can be a headache, and there are reasons property managers might hesitate to get the ball rolling:
- They know they’ll be working with a large commercial vendor who may not provide the right fixtures in the right sizes or materials to fit their existing spaces. They’re in for extensive planning, research and compromises without outside help.
- They know they’ll be coordinating both with general contractors (GCs) and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) specialists who may not understand the products they’ve selected, only to end up without support if those products don’t work as advertised.
When dealing with large venues (airports, universities, stadiums), or chains with multiple locations (convenience stores, retail locations, restaurants), the potential for complications and additional expenses are endless.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this way. At D|13, we believe that a commercial restroom partner should be ready to help you at every stage of the planning process, from design through installation and post-installation support: that’s what our design-assist approach is all about.
What is a Design-Assist Partner?
If you’ve ever worked with a commercial fixture company before, you know the drill: they offer a product, and leave the details up to you. They are not involved in the design process, and their involvement after installation is minimal to non-existent.
By contrast, a design-assist partner is available for the full journey, ready to work with decision makers, designers and contractors to ensure an end-result that is perfectly aligned with your vision and business needs. Key differentiators of a design-assist partnership include:
- Involvement at Any Stage– a design-assist partner will work with you no matter when you reach out. If you’re in the early design phase, they are ready to help – if your plans are finalized, they will step in to meet your specifications. If necessary, they will work on an accelerated timeframe.
- Design and Technical Expertise – a design-assist partner offers extensive guidance on their own products and customization options, including materials, fixture types, brands, and their suitability for different purposes. They also provide technical documentation for contractors and troubleshooting throughout the installation phase.
- Collaboration with All Parties – a design-assist partner knows how to communicate with all stakeholders including property managers, business owners and executives. They can provide input to GCs, MEPs, architects and designers. They work to ensure smooth coordination between all parties and eliminate friction to getting the project done.
- Post-Installation Support – a design-assist partner doesn’t disappear when the job is done. They check-in periodically, providing lines of communication to resolve post-installation problems and ensure their products are working optimally.
While other partners are content to sell you fixtures, a design-assist partner wants those fixtures to look right, work right, and fit right wherever they may be installed, on your timeframe. They offer more than a product: they take ownership of end results.
A Design-Assist Partner for Commercial Restrooms
At D|13, we pride ourselves in offering superior design, customization and consulting at every phase of a commercial restroom project. We are excited to work with our customers on restrooms that are not only functional but designed to promote comfort, ease-of-use, and on-brand aesthetics.
Early Phase Consulting
During the early phases of a new restroom project, there are many factors to consider:
- How can you make the best use of a small or unusual space?
- What materials will hold up in a high-use restroom over time?
- What color choices are most consistent with the surrounding area?
- How many sinks and fixtures do you need per countertop?
With a small team of committed restroom design experts, D|13 is ready and willing to help you answer these questions and any others that may arise at the beginning of your journey.
Limitless* Customization Options
We know that every project is unique. Every customer has a different vision, a different clientele, and different spaces to utilize. That’s why our fixtures are made-to-order (MTO), with customization options for every piece, including:
- Numerous materials, from solid surfaces like Corian® to stainless steel, quartz stone, natural stone, concrete and more.
- A large catalogue from leading fixture companies, including Stern, Kohler, and Delta.
- Custom configurations: want a quartz countertop but solid surface sink? No problem. Want a dry deck for protecting phones and other items from moisture? You got it. Want two sinks in a space that would fit three for more countertop space? We can do it.
With so many options to choose from, no two D|13 projects are exactly identical. The restrooms we help to build reflect each client in a special way.
Working Around Space Constraints
Space constraints are one of the most common headaches that arise in commercial restroom planning. Since our fixtures are MTO, they can fit countertops of any size. Furthermore – within the federal requirements defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – we help our clients to make the most effective, comfortable use of small and irregular-sized spaces.
Continual Support
Whether an issue arises before, during or after the installation phase, D|13 has your back: we provide the design expertise to solve unexpected problems that may arise at any time, and the technical expertise to ensure your restroom fixtures are working properly. In the post-installation phase, we provide servicing guidance and check-ins to ensure your restrooms are clean and functional for many years to come.
Commercial Restroom Planning Without Headaches
D|13 is versatile enough to provide service for large-scale restroom projects across regional chains, airports, universities and other large venues. At the same time, we are small and agile enough to provide a personalized approach to each client that our competitors just can’t beat.
With a committed team of technical and design experts who are ready to assist you at any stage of your project, we ensure that you can enjoy the full benefits of a modern commercial restroom without the headaches. Ready to experience the D|13 difference? Contact us today.
* Our customization options are limitless except where customization requests may conflict with federal ADA guidelines and standards.