
Measure Twice, Cut Once: The importance of Mock up rooms in Hospitality and Multi-family Projects
Mock-up rooms are a template for your project team,
as it is easier to make trial-and-error adjustments on a
single room than on many. Every detail is meticulously
planned at critical points in the construction process
before replicating the style and amenities throughout
your property.
We recommend the two-phased approach when
constructing a mock-up room—rough mock-up and
finished mock-up. Reviewing design during both the
rough and finished stages of a mock-up help mitigate
risk and saves time, verses waiting until the very end
and working backwards if there is a problem.
Rough Mock-ups
Rough mock-ups expose the structural framework
during construction. Your project team decides where
to place electrical outlets and at what elevation. They
decide where to place plumbing, ceiling lights, and
built-in furniture.
Visualizing where the furniture will go is done
through 3-dimensional modeling. Stick frame models
can be built of chairs, night stands, desks, and other
large pieces of furniture to determine if the height
off of the finished floor or placement of the furniture
creates any conflicts.
Your project team also decides if particular walls
require extra ‘backing’ to support televisions,
mirrors, artwork, or built-in furniture, such as
headboards and shelves. Backing is an especially
important element needed when installing balance
and support systems for disabled guests.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulates
many of these requirements. Grab bars must be
installed in your accessible rooms within reach of
the toilet, tub, and shower. Rough mock-up room
decisions lay the foundation for functional and
successful guest rooms.
Finished Mock-ups
Finished mock-ups focus on layout and style, and
the stage in which the project team implements your
property’s brand standards. Common standards
include specific color palettes, flooring, wall
coverings, furniture, appliances, window treatments,
linens, and art.
Brand representatives often attend finished mock-
up room reviews to ensure conformity. They also
make sure negotiated variances do not affect other
brand elements or tarnish guest experiences. Brand
representatives are experienced critics—it may be
daunting to work through their list of specifics, but
they are a reliable resource for your investment.
Approved finished mock-up rooms gives the
construction team the go-ahead to replicate the
design work throughout the other guest rooms.
The finished mock-up room is fully functional with
the exception of utilities. Implementing two-phase
mock-up rooms often increases productivity by
reducing construction ‘stand still.’
Original project documents also need to be updated
after each mock-up room phase is completed. It
ensures your design decisions are consistent room-
to-room and that the new plans do not interfere with
other elements.
The entire project team alongside the brand
representative is encouraged to do a walk-through
of the finished mock-up room. Changes may arise
post mock-up, but typically 95% are addressed
during review.
The importance of timing
These days, many construction materials are ‘made
to order’ due to the economic recession in 2008.
Inventory is limited and suppliers do not want to
foot-the-bill to store excess materials.
Ordering mock-up materials well in advance is key.
Because of the delay, it may seem easier to place
your entire project order at once, but only order
only what you plan to use in your mock-up rooms.
You will end up paying twice for shipping, but the
cost is worth the insurance. It mitigates the risk of
having to reorder everything if major changes are
made during your mock-up reviews.