Commercial construction can be termed as the process of building, renovating and leasing spaces or building for business purposes in the private or government sector. Commercial construction operations are widely spread projects that not only deal in offices but also retail shopping centre, manufacturing plants, hospitals, warehouses and industrial buildings.
Commercial construction will always vary in size and scale. We have small scale enterprises that venture into the areas of rebranding and remerging. An outdated space can be rebranded through interior design to give it a new look by adding fresh painting with new floors. This kind of job activity falls under light commercial construction.
We have mid-size commercial construction, here where business is expanded and restructured to accommodate more workers. Also, a building that has aged and can’t keep up its prime condition, can undergo a renovation and restructure. The commercial construction projects are mostly undertaken by general contractors who work both in commercial and residential construction.
Different Categories of Commercial Construction Projects
The commercial construction industry is a large sector that covers a lot of projects. Below are categories that are commonly known in commercial construction.
- Medical facilities
- Shopping malls
- Factories
- Warehouses
- Schools
- Universities
- Sports facilities
- Restaurants
- Retail stores
- Hotels and Apartments
Phases of Commercial Construction
Commercial construction has different phases depending on the scale of the proposed project.
The phases can be grouped into three categories which are, small scale, medium scale and large scale.
Small-scale Commercial Construction Projects
We have smaller projects that do not require a lot of skilled labour and are less costly. Examples of these projects include office space redesign, buildings repairs, business rebranding and extending business structures. In a nutshell, we can say it is a facelift to business premises and office space.
Medium-scale commercial construction projects
The construction industry is growing rapidly every day with the innovation of skyscrapers and outstanding buildings. This means old buildings will get old and run out of style, to keep up in the market they will need to restructure.
Business owners are mostly found in this situation where they will need to remodel and expand the structures.
Large-scale Commercial Construction Projects
These are construction projects that start from the ground. A lot of preparation is required starting from the owner’s vision to architectural drawings then preparation for the new structure to be constructed.
On large scale projects, you can have a building that needs demolition, this may delay the process of construction. This means you will come across elements that infringe the whole process.
Types of Commercial Properties
Commercial properties are divided into five branches namely;
Offices
Office buildings can be subdivided into two groups, urban and suburban.
Urban offices are found in big cities and they include skyscrapers and tower buildings that can serve both single and multi-tenant
Retail
These are properties that we visit frequently. They include restaurants and retailers. Some retail provides parking areas with good sidewalks, escalators and elevators.
Examples are malls, shopping centre and pad sites.
Industrial
Industries deal with industrial operations for different tenants. Most of them are erected in urban areas along transportation routes. They are grouped as heavy manufacturing, light assembly, Bulk warehouse and flex industrial.
Multi-dwelling units
This comprises residential areas such as condominiums, townhomes and apartments.
Healthcare
Healthcare is large spaces that are divided into small spaces that serve as treatment rooms, offices and also waiting rooms.
Conclusion
Commercial construction projects can be overwhelming before you venture into this undertaking, make sure you take the needed steps for a good project. Hire general and qualified contractors who will be able to deliver a successful project.