When you hire a commercial contractor to fulfill your new building dreams, style may or may not be on the top of your priority list. There are plenty of other things that a custom-made building does, from smoothing out workflow to making logistical pursuits easier for your hardworking staff.
You’d be wise to focus on those practical features, as they’re a big part of what makes the work of a top-notch construction project management company so worthwhile for your business. However, the exterior and interior style of your building, which is largely the responsibility of your architect, also brings quite a bit to the table.
The right architectural design can speak volumes about your brand, helping to build a strong public reputation and customer base. A picture – or in this case, a building – really is worth a thousand words.
An attractively designed space also boosts worker morale and helps your team to embody whatever spirit your brand desires, further securing your public reputation as you serve an increased customer load.
In short, style is important! So let our design build experts guide you through the process.
Here are some tips for deciding on a style for your new building.
Get Help to Refine Your Style
Style can be tricky to nail down for some, as every customer is so individualistic. The good news is that personalized service is where we excel!
Our team of architectural design professionals thinks both form and function as they design, and we spare no effort during consultations in discovering what both of those mean to you.
We’ll get to the bottom of the following questions, which you can start brainstorming before your first appointment:
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Would you prefer your building to exude a traditional or modern feel?
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What kind of emotion would you like your building to evoke in visitors?
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What does your ideal vision for the building look like?
Traditional vs. Modern Building Design
Do your customers tend to appreciate how forward-thinking your business is, or do they love how you embody traditional values? The answer to this can dictate where you’ll look for design inspiration.
As you consider your options, remember that current design trends may lack staying power. They’re called “trends” for a reason – their popularity may fade over time.
While it can be tempting to go wild with what’s in vogue, know that this is a purchase that should be both functional and attractive style-wise for what may be the rest of your business’s life. Choose your architectural design wisely.
Of course, the right level of trend usage will depend on your build’s purpose and your industry, so keep that in mind when you consult with your construction project management company.
How Do You Want People to Feel?
An open-floor design, for example, might not be the best fit if you’re looking into funeral home construction. Consider how a given style might influence your customers’ experiences.
First and foremost, your architect should design a functional space that caters to the way your business operates. If the right trends facilitate that, wonderful. But if they don’t, the architect should find a system that will.
Your new build will be made to be both physically appealing and functional, and one should never come at the expense of the other.
What Have You Always Envisioned?
The help of a commercial contractor will allow you to make it happen from a stylistic standpoint, so don’t be afraid to toss ideas around or go for a style that you know will carry your company into the future.
5 Phases of the Architectural Design Process
Miller Architects & Builders breaks down the five phases of our architectural design process here.
1. Initial Meeting: Discuss Your Building’s Needs
First, our team will sit down with you to learn about your vision for the space, as well as your building’s functionality requirements.
We’ll also go over our portfolio of similar projects to help you develop your ideas and get a more concrete idea of what we’re capable of creating.
2. Information Acquisition & Site Planning
After we’ve discussed your building’s design needs and your ideas, we’ll visit your construction site to assess what we’re working with.
We’ll also visit with your surveyor(s) to discuss the site and project and will then gather any information we need, including code requirements, records, permits you’ve obtained, etc.
3. Visioning & Preliminary Design
After visiting your site, it’s time to dig into the planning process!
We’ll look into suitable sustainability options (if that’s something you’d like to delve into) and develop rough sketches of your building’s exterior and structural design.
4. Schematic Design
As your team and our team finalize various project decisions, our architects will work on developing the building’s schematic design into actual permitted documents. They’ll refine drawings and renderings to include measurements, materials, and methods of construction.
At this point, our team will also include all of the project details from other contracted professionals, such as electrical work, plumbing design, and mechanical and structural details.
5. Construction
Last but certainly not least comes the construction part of the process! After collecting all of the necessary permits, our construction manager will determine when to begin the building construction process.
The project architect(s) will remain available throughout this process to ensure the build is following the schematic design and, when necessary, to make any necessary adjustments to the existing design to ensure all engineered systems line up according to plan.
The Benefits of Architectural Renderings
Photorealistic 2D or 3D renderings of your building’s architectural design offer an excellent way to get a concrete idea of what your new project may look and feel like in the future.
At Miller Architects & Builders, we strive to go above and beyond when we provide you with project renderings to ensure you’re able to:
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Visualize the outcome of your project. Renderings allow you to see what your finished project will look like on a smaller scale.
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Communicate any changes you’d like to make. Don’t see something you wanted in the rendering? Let us know, and we’ll make the appropriate changes to ensure your ideas, wants, and needs are included in the final build.
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Conceptualize every detail of the finished product. Renderings allow you to see the aerial view, the floor plan, and every little detail to understand exactly what your project will look like when it’s finished!
For a more in-depth breakdown of why these 2D and 3D images of your project are so beneficial, check out our blog, The Amazing Benefits of Architectural Renderings.
Contact Miller Architects & Builders for Commercial Construction
From pre-construction to post-construction, we handle it all with a philosophy firmly rooted in top-quality customer service!
To learn more about our comprehensive commercial construction services, give our Saint Cloud office a call today at 320-251-4109.