ERD Wing, Planning Commission: 500 sft Government Office Renovation in Dhaka
A 500 sft wing renovated while the office kept working
- Client:
- Planning Commission Bangladesh
- Area:
- 500 sft
- Location:
- Planning Commission, Agargaon, Dhaka
- Completion date:
- 2022
- Scope of work:
- Office renovation, Interior design, Supervision
When the Planning Commission Bangladesh needed to renovate their ERD wing office in Dhaka in 2022, they faced a critical challenge: turn 500 square feet into a functional workspace without disrupting daily operations. Studio Archifiction delivered an office renovation that kept the wing running, respected government protocols, and finished within the agreed timeline.
The project sits at the Planning Commission in Agargaon, Dhaka’s government hub, where space constraints and tight security protocols demanded meticulous planning. Before intervention, the office layout created bottlenecks. One large room held multiple workstations separated by barriers, forcing staff to navigate chaotic circulation patterns. Our team reimagined this space entirely.
What the renovation actually changed
We used a full office renovation approach that addressed three core problems: circulation, workflow, and aesthetics. The solution included defining clear workstations, creating a dedicated executive room with space for confidential meetings and secure file discussion, and establishing a service zone with upgraded kitchen and toilet facilities. Custom-made cabinetry maximized vertical storage, eliminating clutter from work surfaces.
Our process prioritized ergonomics, critical for staff comfort during extended work hours. We positioned furniture to minimize repetitive movement, installed task-specific lighting set at comfortable levels for long document review, and ensured each station provided adequate elbow room. Modern finishes replaced the dated government office aesthetic with a contemporary, professional appearance.
Design consultancy under a compressed timeline
Time became the constraint that shaped everything else. The project was led on site by Architect Shakhawat Hossain and reviewed by Principal Architect Kazi Mohammad Alam Kaiser. The team planned each phase before work started on site. The Planning Commission needed the office operational within a compressed timeline while maintaining strict security protocols. Our team managed both civil work and renovation simultaneously, implementing strict scheduling to prevent operational disruption.
This required precision planning: phasing work to isolate areas, coordinating with security personnel, and supervising every detail. The result was a seamless execution that transformed the space without compromising the client’s daily responsibilities.
Results for the ERD team
The renovated office now features improved traffic flow, better staff comfort, and a modern professional environment. Before, employees struggled to move freely. Today, the defined circulation paths and ergonomic layout support comfortable, efficient operations. The compact space now feels purposeful, not restrictive.
Why renovation is harder than a new fitout
An empty floor gives you freedom. An occupied government wing gives you constraints on every side. You work around desks that cannot move, files that cannot leave the room, and staff who still have deadlines. Every noisy task has to fit a window when the wing can absorb it.
That is the real skill in a renovation like this. Not the finishes. The sequencing.
Cost follows the same logic. A renovated floor usually sits inside the same BDT 1,800 to 3,500 per sft band as a new fitout, but what you keep, what you rebuild and how many phases the work needs decide where it lands. Our guide to office renovation cost in Dhaka sets out the cost heads and why renovation needs a site survey before any figure is quoted.
This project shows how a compact government wing can still support long workdays, file-heavy operations and formal meetings. Thoughtful planning, professional supervision and quick on-site decisions kept the ERD team productive during and after the work. We removed barriers, literally and operationally, and installed systems that work.
The Planning Commission’s ERD wing stands as proof that government interiors in Dhaka can balance modern design with practical constraints. We have applied the same discipline across other protocol-heavy environments, including the Wing Chief room at the Planning Commission, the SPARRSO office renovation in Agargaon on a technically heavier brief, and the UNCDF FinLab open office layout.
A 500 sft government wing and a full corporate floor get the same discipline from us: phased planning, protocol awareness, and supervision until handover. If a renovation like this is on your desk, our office interior design services in Dhaka page explains scope, process and what to prepare before the first meeting. How we handle office renovation in Dhaka inside an occupied building is set out in more detail on the service page.
Related reading: for the full scope of an office renovation in Dhaka, including phased work inside an occupied building, and the office interior design FAQ for Dhaka.
The wing stayed open every working day of this renovation.
Five hundred square feet, rebuilt in sequence so no desk lost a day. If you are facing a renovation that cannot close the office, we can walk you through how it was phased.