Remote Control Room Upgrade
- Oil & Gas
- South Asia
Interior design is a completely integrated component of our control room architectural plans and human-factor ergonomic dictates, whether for a new build or a renovation of an existing control room. Often associated with the artful execution of form, shape and color—interior design is in fact driven first and foremost by functionality in our control rooms. That is because the measure of great control room layout design is the extent to which lighting, acoustics, consoles, furniture and material finishes succeed in meeting or exceeding the needs of the operator. Function leads, form follows, and the goal is to maximize safety and increase efficiency by enabling operators to respond to abnormal situations in the smallest window of time possible.
The console design, furniture, color palette and control room floor plan are an expression of best practices in safety and efficiency. Indeed, the interior design choices are safety-driven, science-based and dictated by ISO 11064 requirements. Durability also plays a big part, and we carefully select finishes that withstand heavy traffic and stand the test of time—finishes that will look good 20 to 30 years down the road. We aim for timeless, not trendy, at every turn.
Our interior design solutions solve operator problems, and there is a reason behind everything we do. Nothing is purely subjective, whether we are talking non-porous materials, the coefficient of friction, thermal considerations, vibration, decibel levels or the correlation of luminance. The return on investment in operator safety and efficiency is real and demonstrable—abnormal situations and catastrophic events have a better chance of being avoided, which saves lives, money and the environment.
When you partner with BAW, you access unsurpassed expertise in control room design, and it all starts in one place: with your operators. Our interior designs are operator-centric, and all design decisions emanate from there.
The human form at the center
A funny thing tends to happen on the way to achieving optimum functionality: when something is perfectly fitting—that is, its geometry, proportion, symmetry and composition are just right—harmony is achieved. This type of functional beauty is far from frivolous or whimsical. In fact it is rooted in classical architectural principles of form and function.
By way of illustration, consider for a moment Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvius Man. This most famous of drawings depicts the geometrical correlations of ideal human proportions, a concept first explored 1,300 years earlier by the 1st century Roman architect Vitruvius. Vitruvius considered the human form to be the principal source of proportion. He placed it first among the Classical Orders of Architecture, which states “an order in architecture is a certain assemblage of parts subject to uniform established proportions, regulated by the office that each part has to perform”. In other words, the human form, and the functions it must execute, is at the heart of classical design. Sounds like operator-centric to us.
Our operator-centric approach to control room interior design is thus both leading-edge modern and firmly rooted in the ideas of the ancients.
The essential elements of control room interior design
At BAW we employ people who are classically trained in interior design. Control buildings are not generally architectural wonders from the exterior, so it is in the interior design that our buildings really come to life. Ergonomics are at the heart of each design decision, to enable an operator to perform in perfect concert with the surroundings. This is achieved by carefully orchestrating the following elements:
Integrating interior design like no one else in the industry
Our control room interior design portfolio spans 30 years, and includes over 100 new-build or renovation projects around the globe, for firms such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, Fluor, and Honeywell. Our integration of interior design with architecture and human factors in control room layout design is our defining feature, unmatched in the industry.
Find out more about the 11 reasons why BAW is the global leader in control room design, or contact us to learn more about what our team can do for you.
Control Room Interior Design FAQs
What does “control room interior design” mean in a mission-critical environment?
Control room interior design refers to the integration of architecture, human-factors engineering and interior finishes in a control center—focusing not just on aesthetics, but on how things like lighting, acoustics, consoles, furniture and material finishes support the operator. Function leads, form follows, and the goal is to maximize safety and increase efficiency by enabling operators to respond to abnormal situations in the smallest window of time possible.
Why is an operator-centric approach essential in control room interior design?
Because the interior environment must support the way operators work, especially in 24/7, high-stakes settings, BAW emphasizes starting with the operator’s needs—how they sit, reach, collaborate, respond to alarms, monitor displays. The interior design decisions (lighting, console layout, finishes) stem from those needs.
What are the key interior design elements that influence control room performance?
According to BAW these include—
- Lighting (and glare control)
- Acoustics (noise control, auditory clarity)
- Console and furniture design (reach, visibility, ergonomics)
- Material finishes (durability, reflectance, maintenance)
These design elements, when optimized, help reduce error, fatigue and downtime.
If we already have a built control room, how can interior design improvements help?
Even in existing control rooms, applying the right interior design refinements can yield major benefits: upgrading lighting or finishes, re-configuring furniture for better ergonomics, improving acoustics, replacing outdated materials—all can enhance operator comfort, performance and safety. BAW’s 30-year interior design portfolio shows the value of intervention in both new build and renovation contexts.
What is the return on investment (ROI) for investing in high-quality control room interior design?
Good interior design in control rooms isn’t just cosmetic—it affects safety, error-rates, operator fatigue, maintenance/upgrade costs and lifespan of the facility. The return on investment in operator safety and efficiency is real and demonstrable.
Contact us to learn more.
