When it comes time to build a new commercial or industrial building for your business, there are a variety of approaches to the building process. Before you begin, step back and take a good look at your priorities for building the facility; then match those priorities with the best commercial construction solutions.
Here is an overview of viable commercial construction solutions to consider:
1. New Construction
The primary load-bearing structure of commercial buildings can come from a variety of sources.
- Timber – For precision, sustainability, and durability, wood is coming back into the commercial construction scene wherever it can be utilized within current building codes. Wood is one of the oldest materials used for construction, and it is now back in the spotlight when it comes to possible sources of materials for commercial buildings. Building with wood can save time and money. Building codes and the construction industry’s wariness to take on different materials for building have hindered the use of mass timber for commercial buildings from taking off.
- Steel – Since the late 1800s, steel has been a major component in the commercial construction industry. Structural steel beams set in concrete allow builders to frame tall buildings that are fire resistant and structurally sound. They are durable enough to withstand all kinds of weather elements for years to come.
- Concrete – Concrete has been used for over 2,000 years for construction (the Coliseum and the Parthenon, for example). It has some great benefits when used in commercial construction or for massive structures like the Hoover Dam and Panama Canal. Today, concrete is used in parking decks, skyscrapers, and modest commercial buildings. It is affordable and is generally supplied locally. One big plus is the fact that it can be shaped easily. It is also fire resistant and extremely durable.
2. Adaptive Use
Commercial construction sometimes comes in the form of a building that is renovated for a different purpose. Rather than demolish a structure, owners choose to restore and repurpose the building structure to enhance economic development and revitalize a community. Urban areas with factories, warehouses, and train stations often have life breathed into them through renovation and repurposing. This relatively new trend is bringing welcomed revitalization to areas of town that were unkempt in the past. It brings significant change to the commercial construction industry overall.
3. Off-site or On-site Construction
With labor shortages in the construction industry, and many construction material expenses rising, there is a renewed interest in modular and prefabrication construction methods that are now trending. Schools, retail buildings, and offices are being built in a factory and assembled on-site, cutting overall project time and expense. The condensed construction schedule and safer work environment for assembly line construction create appealing reasons to consider modular construction for commercial buildings. Factory-built construction minimizes mistakes and streamlines time frames due to no weather delays.
4. Sustainable Construction
Many commercial and industrial construction projects incorporate sustainable practices. Waste that ended up in a landfill in the past is now being used in other construction projects. This waste is used as a base for building foundations and helps reduce building material costs. Environmentally friendly green building is increasing, with many materials EnergyStar® certified, and many builders using sustainable design principles. Reducing waste at construction sites and recycling are also trending in the commercial construction industry.
5. Structural Resilience
It’s important to not only build a commercial or industrial building that has minimal environmental impact, but also one that can withstand natural disasters and extreme weather elements. Avoid the damage natural disasters can cause by building commercial and industrial buildings that can endure natural disasters.
6. Collaborative Delivery
The traditional design, bid, and build process is no longer the standard for today’s commercial and industrial construction projects. Now, project team collaborations—including architects, engineers, and project managers—consolidate the design and construction building process into one contract. Project costs, vision, and risks are determined collectively and save an owner’s time and money.
Construction by Daniels works with owners to develop a winning design and commercial construction plan catered to the company’s vision and future growth. Construction by Daniels assists growing companies by offering them:
- A single source for commercial construction advice
- Direction
- Professional design services
- Construction of commercial and industrial facilities
Get the best service with the design-build process for commercial and industrial facilities.
The design-build process is a system of contracting in which one entity manages the architecture, engineering, and construction of a commercial facility under one contract. In a design-build system, an architect and a contractor work together as a team. It’s like a one-stop shop for all your commercial and industrial design and construction needs.
The commercial design-build process combines the architect and builder’s skills. The builder assigns accurate numbers to the architect’s drawings and gives the owner an exact account of actual project costs. The design-build process allows the architect and builder, as a team, to value engineer the building project throughout the design phase, saving the owner time and money.
Benefits to the design-build process.
- Cost effective way to build a commercial or industrial building
- Eliminates duplicate communication between the design and construction phases
- Eliminates the need for an owner to mediate between the architect and builder
- Owners get accurate, up-front knowledge of the actual cost of the project
- Minimizes costly mistakes and changes in orders due to coordination and review by architect and builder throughout the design process
- Overall price decrease for building commercial and industrial facilities
Avoid the hassle of traditional construction processes.
Traditional commercial building processes leave owners making vital decisions on their own. They have to find their own architect to draw up their plans, then locate a contractor to build their commercial building. In traditional construction, it’s the owner’s job to make sure the architect and contractor work together and within the budget and vision. The design build process takes that burden off your shoulders.
See our design-build process and call Construction by Daniels.
