Control Room Console Upgrades
Top Challenges Teams Face and How We Solve Them
Upgrading a control room or control room furniture layout is a complex process involving multiple stakeholders, each with their own priorities. Whether you’re integrating new technology, improving ergonomics, or expanding operations, unexpected challenges can emerge. Here’s a breakdown of the most common hurdles—and how to navigate them effectively using ergonomic, modular, and mission-critical control room furniture.
Here is a table of contents to help you reach the information you need faster:
Table of Contents
- Why are you upgrading the control room?
- Expanding Responsibilities
- Technology Upgrades
- Improving Communication
- Adding Redundancy
- Ergonomic Upgrades
- Challenges by Stakeholder Group
- Operator Pain Points
- IT Challenges
- Facilities & Logistics
- Senior Management & Project Owners
- Procurement
- Additional Common Challenges
- What’s Next?
Why Are You Updating the Control Room?
Understanding the driving factors behind an upgrade helps define project priorities, lets go trough a list common reasons our clients go trough, and analyze the proposed solutions:
Expanding Responsibilities
- More operators or workstations needed for increased workload
- Consolidating multiple positions into fewer stations
Solution
Our modular control room consoles allow for easy reconfiguration, enabling you to adjust the size and shape of each console computer desk, add or remove workstations, or integrate new accessories as operational needs evolve—without a complete overhaul.
Technology Upgrades
- Implementing a new Distributed Control System (DCS)
- Expanding camera monitoring capabilities
- Digitizing previously manual controls
Solution
Our console furniture supports evolving technology with flexible monitor mounting solutions, structured cable management, and accessible IT compartments, ensuring seamless integration of new systems.
Improving Communication
Solution
There is a natural tradeoff between communication and noise control in control rooms. Open layouts improve visibility and teamwork but can increase background noise. We help clients strike the right balance by designing layouts aligned with their priorities—whether that’s maximizing collaboration or minimizing distractions. Through strategic workstation positioning, acoustic treatments, and ISO 11064 design principles, we create operator workspaces that support efficiency.
Adding Redundancy
Solution
Our modular control room furniture makes it easy to scale operations while maintaining a standardized design, ensuring redundancy without sacrificing space efficiency
Ergonomic Upgrades
- Older control rooms may lack ergonomic features like sit/stand console desks, optimized sightlines, and personal environmental controls
Solution
Our ergonomic console computer desks are designed for 24/7 operations with height-adjustable work surfaces, proper monitor positioning, and operator-focused layouts that reduce fatigue and support long-shift comfort
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Our team works directly with operations managers and integrators to design console layouts that actually work.
Challenges by Stakeholder Group
Operators Pain Points
- Wrong number of screens – too many or too few, leading to inefficient workflows
Solution
Our modular control room consoles offer long-term flexibility, allowing screen configurations to evolve with your needs. Adjustable monitor arms, structured cable routing, and integrated IT access support efficient reconfiguration.
- Poor ergonomics, limited posture variation, bad sightlines, inadequate lighting, and lack of space for essential tools
Solution
Our operator workstation designs feature sit/stand functionality, optimized monitor positioning, and thoughtfully integrated lighting solutions for ambient and task needs—minimizing fatigue and maximizing focus.
Solution
We leverage ISO 11064 acoustic guidelines and real-world expertise to design quieter control room environments. This includes acoustic panels, sound-absorbing surfaces, and console layouts that minimize noise transfer between stations.
- Insufficient Support Facilities, Operators need convenient access to restrooms, breakrooms, and meeting spaces.
Solution
Our design team helps plan control room layouts that account for critical support facilities to enhance operator well-being and performance.
IT Challenges
- Limited accessibility to IT equipment
- Insufficient space for hardware
- Poor cable management and ventilation
- Incompatible screen setups
Solution
Our control room furniture includes easy-access compartments, passive and active cooling options, and structured cable routing to extend IT equipment lifespan and simplify maintenance.
Facilities & Logistics Issues
- Space constraints
- Delivery logistics
- Remote installations and active construction zones
Solution
We provide space planning expertise and offer pre-assembled console computer desks to reduce installation time and minimize disruptions.
Senior Management & Project Owner Concerns
- Balancing stakeholder needs
- Managing timelines
- Staying within budget
- Coordinating contractors
Solution
We deliver design-phase packages on schedule, offer clear project timelines, and coordinate phased installations. Our project management support reduces the burden on your internal team and ensures a streamlined experience.
Procurement Challenges
- Vendor approval delays
Solution
We work under your existing vendor contracts—General Contractor, System Integrator, or Engineering/Architect firms—or assist in registering as a new vendor to simplify procurement.
- Managing multiple active projects
Solution
Our team supports the full lifecycle of your control room project, from design through manufacturing, procurement, shipping, and installation.
Additional Common Challenges
- Control Room Space Planning. Every mission-critical operation has unique equipment needs. This equipment must be accounted for early in the planning process.
Solution
Our expert design team creates 2D layouts, 3D models, and photorealistic renderings that include not only control room furniture but also key operational equipment to ensure an optimized footprint.
- Lighting Design Misalignment. Lighting that’s not aligned with the layout of your console desks can negatively impact visibility and operator performance.
Solution
We recommend integrated lighting solutions—task and ambient—that complement your workstation arrangement and reduce visual strain.
Whats Next?
Ready to transform your control room with ergonomic, modular console computer desks and high-performance control room consoles? Contact us today to learn how we can help you design a more efficient, future-ready space tailored to your needs.
Evan Turner
Key Account Manager
Evan Turner is a Key Account Manager at Tresco Industries, a leading manufacturer of 24/7-use control room furniture. With over nine years of experience in B2B sales and proposal management, he has worked with Fortune 500 companies to deliver tailored solutions for mission-critical environments. Known for his expertise in control room operations and client-focused approach, Evan helps businesses optimize performance and efficiency with innovative furniture solutions.
Manuel Rivera
Brand Marketing Strategist
Manuel Rivera is a Brand Marketing Strategist at Tresco Consoles, a leading manufacturer of 24/7-use control room furniture. With a background in industrial design and extensive experience in B2B sales, marketing, and customer relationship management, Manuel brings a unique blend of creativity and strategic insight to the team. He is dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that resonate with customers and elevate the Tresco brand in mission-critical environments.
