So, you’ve decided it is finally time to move your home business operations from your dining room to a professional office building or tackle the tenant improvements you have been planning for too long.
With more than 40 years of experience behind us, Chad Fisher Construction has been building commercial construction professional offices for more than 30 years.
We have worked on numerous projects under various conditions. From remodeling Skagit State Bank while they were still in operation, to construction services for businesses like Cascadia Eye, a technologically advanced vision center, within 9 days, we have seen it all!
What Does Professional Office Commercial Construction Involve?
Planning
The usual steps of the process require you to:
- Decide on a planning committee
- Establish a budget for the project
- Speak to the landlord to assess and gather all the space requirements
- Source and approve various contractors, up to and including architects and designers.
Thereafter, the project owner needs to design and finalize plans with the help of an architect, before moving on to secure any permits.
At Chad Fisher Construction, we offer all our clients an integrated approach that includes doing all these steps. So, you don’t have to spend so much time on the administrative efforts of gathering all the stakeholder input.
Projects usually go through several different phases, namely planning, construction, and, finally, preparing your space. One of the first steps is to ascertain what it is you want to build in the first place.
Sometimes we make decisions quickly, but it is just as important to assess whether the project decision is a financially sound one and not solely emotionally driven. When looking at the timeline of your project, it would be a good idea to leave around 2-3 months of planning time.
Material Type
Steel construction is one of the more popular means for construction in the commercial industry sector, particularly for anyone that needs to develop multi-story office buildings.
The benefits of steel construction are endless. Not only is this material highly cost-efficient, but it is also flexible enough to allow for servicing and fit-out activities that a tenant may need to complete.
Steel construction is a great tool for everything from natural ventilation possibilities to renewable energy technologies. The options are endless. Steel-framed building systems are also available in pre-fabricated forms and allow for speedy design and building development.
Team Effort
When designing an office for all your construction needs, you will need a highly-skilled team of sub-contractors committed to delivering projects to a high standard.
Teamwork is essential. Everyone needs to work together to make sure that the project comes to life seamlessly. This is why having a team of architects, engineers, and contractors all working together is a valuable asset.
Office Construction and Space Preparation
The construction process itself can take between 4-6 weeks, or longer depending on the project scale.
The process includes:
- Demolishing existing walls and barriers
- Laying out the new floor plan
- Construction itself
- Plumbing
- The installation of electrical equipment and fixtures customized to the space
There are also activities that can take between 1-2 months. These include interior design, lighting, painting, carpet installation, and if you work in an office largely consisting of twenty-something-year-olds, the request of standing desks to deal with.
Budget
The one thing about life that we should all know by now is that nothing ever goes quite according to plan. When looking at your budget, you would be wise to start by planning to ensure your priorities are covered.
Thereafter, we advise you to keep a contingency fund of around 10% for unexpected occurrences during the project life.
Some budget considerations will also affect your design building requirements and decisions. For instance, energy-saving spaces. Energy-efficient buildings may have slightly larger initial outlay costs, but these types of considerations would save the company money further down the line.
We advise you to do your research as tax credits and financial incentives may be rewarded as a result of these considerations.
Safety and Regulations
You will need to ensure your construction project meets all regulations and permit requirements before you continue with your building project. All systems should be up to code and in accordance with the area permit allowances.
In addition, there is the safety aspect. Safety for the site visitors, laborers, and project stakeholders is of extreme importance for any firm to consider. This step is of particular importance for building projects that will occur while the usual day to day operations continue to occur.
Final Thoughts On Professional Office Commercial Construction
As with any type of construction project, there are many important things to consider before you can start building. It is essential that you work with an experienced construction company to help advise you on the best layouts and practices for your new office building.
If you would like to find out more, don’t hesitate to contact us at Chad Fisher Construction.