7 Things to Consider When Planning Commercial Architecture
Commercial architecture firms have been busy in Nashville over the last decade. A brief glimpse at an older picture will show a stark difference from what you are liable to see as you travel through any section of the city.
Nashville’s growth over the last decade has afforded many opportunities to a wide variety of businesses. We’ve seen national companies open new offices here in Music City, while also seeing the emergence of numerous small, independent businesses.
Commercial architecture has served many of these businesses by providing the headquarters in which to complete their work. And whether this is a reimagining of an existing space or building and entirely new structure, there’s a lot of work that goes into the process.
So what do you need to keep in mind before setting out to design and build a commercial space of your own? What are the essential considerations that are going to guide every new project, no matter how large or small?
Here are 7 things to consider when planning commercial architecture projects in Nashville:
- The Intended Use
- Your Budget
- Securing Financing
- A Skilled Architect
- Proper Permits
- Trusted Contractors
- Scope of the Project
1. The Intended Use
Every project needs to start with a goal. And while this might sound obvious, it’s important to have a solidified idea of exactly how the new structure will be used once it’s operational.
Some types of commercial properties can seem fairly vague in their intended use. But even something as generic as “office building” will have specifications that will make it more suitable for one type of use when compared with another.
Having a concrete idea of your end goal is essential.
2. Your Budget
Construction projects can be difficult to budget out. There are often aspects of the project that are estimated or simply unknown at the outset of operations. However, the available funds for the project aren’t likely to be as flexible as some contractors would like.
Keeping a close eye on the financial aspects of the project will help avoid unforeseen challenges. Take complete stock of your available assets and aim to remain well within what is scoped out for the project.
Visit Southeast Venture to learn more from a commercial architecture firm in Nashville!
3. Securing Financing
A realistic view of your budget will be necessary when attempting to find additional financing for your project. Investors and banks are going to want to know exactly how you will be using their money, as well as when they can expect to get it back.
Financing is perhaps the largest impediment for many commercial real estate projects. These projects take a lot of money to get off the ground, and you aren’t likely to be able to do so without a clear plan and itemized budget.
4. A Skilled Architect
Commercial architecture firms in Nashville, TN need to be skilled in order to compete. There are a lot of projects going on at any given point in time. The prevalence of these projects means they are going to need to stand out from the crowd once they are completed. And what is the best way to do that?
Hire an architecture firm that has proven experience with completing top-tier projects. Planning is everything when it comes to large-scale projects. Architectural design is an integral aspect of preparation.
5. Proper Permits
Nashville — just like every other city — has a set of permit procedures and standards for every construction project. These are in place to keep everyone safe and to make sure new projects don’t negatively impact the area around them.
It’s an absolute must to procure these permits before beginning your commercial construction project. Compile all the necessary documents and information, and apply for the applicable permits.
6. Trusted Contractors
And now that you have your plans, funding, and permits in order, it’s time to get to work. The construction company you work with is going to be responsible for the most important aspect of this entire process — bringing your vision to life.
Interview multiple options and choose the one that has the best track record, comes with the highest recommendations, and will be the best fit for the project at hand.
7. Scope of the Project
Throughout this entire process, take note of every stage to adjust your vision of the entire scope of the project. This includes the amount of time it will take from beginning to end.
The amount of money spent on the process will be directly tied to how long it takes to complete. And the people you work with are going to have a huge impact on this timeline.
