Designing Commercial Builds
Hello, readers! Welcome to the Architecture Plus blog! We provide useful information concerning architectural design, unique trends, and essential aspects of the residential and commercial building process. Based out of Charleston, our full-service firm specializes in new residential construction, renovation, and commercial design. We aim to create sustainable structures which facilitate the health of their inhabitants while pairing harmoniously with their surrounding community. We encourage you to take a look at our residential and commercial galleries to glimpse our work and assess our artistic vision. If you need any additional information, reach out to us! We are members of the Better Business Bureau, the American Institute of Architects, the National Association of Home Builders, the Royal Institute of British Architects, and are licensed in South Carolina, North Carolina, as well as several other states. The members of our firm hold over sixty years of combined experience and are dedicated to continued excellence. You can contact us through our website or by calling (843) 718-3416.
Our last article was an interesting assessment of the role architectural design can play in the psychological health of individuals and communities. We defined neuroarchitecture, an emerging field of research which combines cognitive behavioral sciences with architectural theory to “design buildings which are more intuitive, productive, and pleasing to occupy.” We detailed how architects are taking into account “variables such as colour, light, smell, sound, and temperature, [and] the engagement of the brain in positive-negative responses” to cultivate beneficial experiences within a space. It’s important to take neuroarchitecture under consideration as early within the design process as possible. To showcase the importance of this, we discussed the controversy surrounding University of California, Santa Barbara’s plans for Munger Hall and the apparent lack of concern for the psychological ramifications of such a design. We also took a look at the University of Arizona’s Behavioral Health Pavilion & Crisis Response Center as an example of what can be achieved when facilitating mental wellness is made a design objective. If you’re interested in learning how architectural design influences our mental health, our last article is a great place to start!
Today, we’d like to identify the major points of difference between designing for a commercial build (as opposed to a residential build). While residential builds can vary according to their scope and layout, they serve a primary purpose–that is to act as a residence. Kitchens, living areas, bedrooms, and bathrooms are the staples of such a medium and these basic components can be found in almost every residential building. Commercial buildings, on the other hand, can (and often do) serve a variety of purposes. Commercial buildings are held to a different standard than residential buildings and, as such, certain considerations are necessarily undertaken during the design process to ensure all of these qualifications are met. We’ll give a brief overview of how the design process for commercial buildings may differ from the design process for residential buildings, before giving you a few tips to help navigate. If you’re interested in designing your own commercial build or simply want to learn more about what this process entails, keep reading!
What is commercial architecture?
Just as novels have their own genres–thriller, romance, mystery, young adult–there are dozens of genres within architectural design. These genres may be defined by their period, as Classical Greek architecture is based around the structures built by ancient Grecians from around 900 BC to the 1st century AD. These genres may be defined by their most easily recognizable features, as Brutalist architecture is named for its rigid and unyielding style. These genres may also be defined by their function, as residential architecture is constructed for the purpose of housing individuals and families. Commercial architecture falls into the latter category and is defined as “the design of buildings and structures for use by business… [Commercial architecture is] focused on combining function with style to meet the needs of a wide range of business types.”
Office buildings are the most straightforward iteration of commercial architecture, as they serve a simple purpose: to provide a space in which companies and their employees can conduct their daily business. However, a farm could also be considered a commercial build, as its purpose is uniquely related to business. Multifamily housing can also be considered commercial, however, this distinction is dependent upon how many units are within said building. The general rule-of-thumb is, a multifamily housing building with more than five units is considered commercial real estate. This can include high-rise apartments, condominiums, townhomes, and more. Malls and retail establishments are also examples of commercial architecture, along with hotels and garages.
What is the architect’s role in commercial architecture?
Given the larger scale upon which most commercial projects are built, architects play a vital role in ensuring commercial buildings are safe and able to fulfill their ultimate purpose. For example, an arena might be used for a concert or a football match. The architects of such a large-scale project must take into account the sheer quantity of individuals who will make their way into the arena. There are a great number of considerations to be taken into account, such as fire safety, crowd safety, seating functionality, accessibility, and more. While an architect can work entirely alone to draft the necessary plans for a single-family home, they’ll usually choose to work with a team for a commercial project. This is for many reasons, but chiefly because of the considerations previously mentioned, architects will need to consult with the expertise of those knowledgeable in areas they might be unfamiliar with.
Commercial buildings, depending on their size and complexity, can take years to realize. The project planners of the commercial build consult with the architectural team to flesh out the vision. This is the period in which the project requirements are laid out and made clear. These requirements may be small (i.e. the number of restrooms) or large (i.e. ample parking) or complex (i.e. flow of traffic throughout the building). That said, this process tends to follow the same steps as a residential project, flowing from design development through to permit acquisition. If you’d like to read about the full design process, from blank page to finished design, you can read our two-part series here and here. There will be plenty of digital mock-ups during this process, to ensure the final product is in alignment with the project’s goals and objectives.
How does commercial architecture differ from residential architecture?
Beyond scale and purpose, residential and commercial architecture differ greatly in their complexity. Consider the different elements required to design a successful hospital and a successful government building. Both structures will require ample security, but the means by which this security is achieved might differ greatly, since a hospital is concerned with keeping patients inside and a government agency is concerned with keeping those without clearance out. A hospital may require elevators, a cafeteria, rooms for backup generators, and surgical rooms which can be sealed off. Meanwhile, a government building may require underground parking, gyms, conference areas and soundproof rooms. Commercial buildings tend to require a larger scope of expertise from architects and engineers.
What are important considerations for designing commercial architecture?
Scale. Budget. Requirements. Classification. The scope of a project refers to its overall size and complexity. As we discussed earlier, the scale of commercial projects is what tends to make them take longer to complete. It’s good to know upfront what the scale of your project is, as this will allow you to better vet architectural firms and construction companies. The scale of your project will also help determine the budget. The larger the scale, the larger the budget, generally. Your budget will help you determine which design features are absolutely essential and which can be sacrificed. Finally, your building will have a classification based on its purpose and this classification will determine which permits and licenses you’ll need to complete the project. For example, commercial buildings can be split between business, factory, mercantile, storage, utility, assembly, educational, and institutional (B, F, M, S, U, A, E, I, respectively).
We hope we’ve given you a bit of insight into the realm of commercial architecture! These are merely the basics. With imagination, commercial architecture can fly far beyond its purpose and display the splendor of creative architectural design. If you’re interested in learning more about our commercial work, please take a look around our website or reach out to us! For more information on architectural design and building, keep up-to-date with the Architecture Plus blog. If you’re ready to sit down with an experienced team of designers and hash out the elements of your next project, reach out to us! We’re eager to hear from you. Until next time, thank you for reading!