What Is Commercial Construction?
Commercial construction is the building of structures that are designed to be used for a specific purpose, such as restaurants, universities, hospitals, and retail centers. This construction involves several different aspects, including site planning, architecture, and engineering.
In general, commercial buildings need to be designed and constructed in a way that attracts users and is able to provide a variety of services. These projects can range from large, high-rise office buildings to smaller single-use properties.
The process of commercial construction is similar to residential building construction, but commercial projects typically involve a greater number of stakeholders and involve more complex processes. Those involved include architects, engineers, construction managers (CMs), general contractors and subcontractors, and owners.
CMs work to manage construction budgets, oversee the bid process, select vendors and suppliers, and purchase materials. They also track and monitor daily expenditures to ensure a project stays within budget.
Commercial construction has a strong career outlook and is expected to grow eight percent between 2019 and 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. CMs have an opportunity to become more involved in the management of larger and more complicated projects.
The work is more challenging than that of a residential contractor, but it has more rewards as well. CMs must be prepared to handle unforeseen expenses, staff turnover, delays, and other challenges that come with building a commercial structure.
This type of project is more expensive than residential ones, due to the size, complexity, and need for specialized construction expertise. Commercial builders must also meet a variety of governmental and regulatory requirements.
It takes longer for a commercial construction project to complete than a residential one because it requires more time to find funding, create a design, and solicit bids. Moreover, there are many other considerations that come into play, such as city zoning and parking regulations.
These requirements can add weeks or months to a commercial construction project. This makes it more difficult to plan, and can increase costs and lead to a delay in the process.
There are three main scales of commercial construction: small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale. A small-scale project may simply be a remodel of an existing space, such as a business’s offices or warehouse. It could also be a construction project that involves a rebranding or an addition to an existing structure.
The medium-scale project is more complex and can include things like building a new office space or expanding an existing office building. It can also include the construction of a water park, such as inside the Mall of America.
This type of project is generally longer than the other two, but it can also be shorter. It can include building a custom treehouse for an Airbnb rental or renovating a warehouse to house a sports facility or other business.
It takes more time for a medium-scale project than a residential one, but it can be shorter than the other two, and it can be easier to plan because it doesn’t involve as much work. It can also include the construction of specialized equipment, such as a solar wind farm.