Commercial Architecture and business operations

Commercial architecture can be easily explained as the architecture focused only on buildings and spaces that are used for commercial purposes. These spaces include: 

• Offices
• Retail outlets
• Storerooms
• Meeting rooms, etc.

How does commercial architecture differ from other types?

In many types of architecture, the basic processes seem the same. All types of architecture project: commercial, residential, institutional, etc., tends to follow the same basic steps:

1. Site evaluation
2. Design conception
3. Design finalization
4. Blueprint creation
5. Permit documentation
6. Construction administration

There is quite a difference in the details and considerations of commercial architecture compared to other types of architecture. These differences define commercial architecture as its own category of design.

Commercial architecture is business focused

Commercial architecture focuses on the client’s business needs. The entire design must be engineered to accommodate the type of business run within the facility and make the client’s business goals easier to reach.

In residential design, the design must cater to the needs of a small group of people while in commercial design architects must meet a higher challenge. The architect must create an architecture design that must satisfy the whole business members (employees, customers, etc).

Architecture Designing with Consumers in Mind

Commercial architect must clearly identify and understand the behavior of customers who interact with their client’s business. This requires a firm grasp of the psychology of sales, as well as a familiarity with consumer trends.

It’s very important that commercial architects investigate various design to see how they can influence consumers behave. Commercial design plays a vital role on how the customers perceive the client’s brand, products, and services.

Architecture must accommodate business operations

Consumers considerations make up a part of commercial design duties. Architects must approach design for their client’s specific facilities and business operations. They can work to accommodate a particular equipment, merchandise and storage needs.

Different commercial projects have different needs, sometimes architects must be able to strategically incorporate parking lots, elevators, and other features that would rarely be seen in the residential design.

It’s important for the architects to account for the way that the client’s business functions on day-to-day basis. Design should enable all business activities to be as efficient as possible.

Thinking Ahead

Architects can’t develop a good commercial design without a sharp business sense and an eye for future developments. Commercial design must be suitable for many years to come. They should also spot opportunities to give their clients a competitive edge.

Successful commercial designs can adapt to market trends and allow for business growth, even as the client’s industry evolves and changes. This is why flexibility is a prized feature in commercial architecture, and market research is such a powerful tool.