Interior designs of commercial construction projects have changed a lot to reflect the needs of the 21st Century. Today’s designs gravitate towards collaboration and ease of access. You should consider adopting these three design tactics to transport your next commercial construction project to the 21st Century.
1. In-depth Space Planning
Space planning and floor plans are the first significant step toward interior design. We work with clients to develop a design that efficiently maximizes space and functionality according to their needs. Use these tips to ensure easy navigation and aesthetically pleasing designs:
i) Determine the purpose of each space
It’s important to discuss what you intend to do in each zone to determine the space’s purpose and optimize it.
For instance, if you are planning to use a particular zone as the washroom, work out how many people will be using it to determine how much ventilation the room will require, the number of bathroom stalls to budget for, and the robustness of installations. Of course there are also code requirements that go into these numbers as well, and your contractor can help you determine what those codes are.
ii) Allow easy circulation
Always ensure that navigating the space is straightforward and secure. Clearly define the paths people will use, chart ways around obstacles, and make access to passageways effortless.
iii) Outlets and switches placement
Take note of the number of appliances they will plug in and their intended locations. Develop strategic placement of the outlets and switches after acquiring this information, ensuring they are within easy reach. For example, in a break room you’ll want to make sure you have outlets at the proper heights for refrigerators and microwaves. In a conference room, make sure you recess an outlet for your TV so it can be mounted flat on the wall. You can also future-proof this design by installing extra outlets and switches.
iv) Accessibility
It is a legal requirement to provide reasonable access to the differently-abled, so design the interior with that in mind. It also helps to accommodate the needs of the elderly.
2. Open Layouts
Design tactics also consider how a space is used by the people inside your business. How your business operates and the industry you work in will be the most significant determinants of how we plan the open layout of commercial construction projects.
For instance, if your team builds software, that’s likely to involve a lot of collaboration, so it pays to have large open workspaces.
Similarly, you might need ample space if you’re in construction, but these spaces could be fashioned as boardrooms where you can meet for updates and presentations. Moreover, you might need a lot of space if you produce products, but it should also be suitable for storage.
Additionally, determine your future needs and modify the design accordingly. If you intend to have more staff, or add more products, or pivot the business towards another industry, the design should reflect these future plans.
3. Glass/Windows/Natural Light
Natural lighting boosts the well-being of workers. A study shows that adequate natural light led to 63% fewer reports of headaches, drowsiness by 56%, and 51% fewer incidences of eyestrain among workers.
Further, the key findings from another study show that a lack of natural light or window in their office led to 47% of employees feeling tired. We always make every effort to incorporate sufficient natural light inlets such as glass windows and doors when developing commercial property designs.
One way to do this is to incorporate multiple windows within rooms to spread natural light evenly. You can use frosted glass, glass blocks, or patterned glass for skylights or windows near ceilings to diffuse more natural light into the room.
If your building is in a cold climate, the windows should face the south, west, or east. On the other hand, if your property is in a hot environment, the windows should face north to provide quality lighting without overheating the interior.
Consider installing light tubes on buildings with no skylights, which are a great way to channel light through a reflective tube and into an installed light diffuser.
Take away
With so many design tactics to consider, it’s important to involve professionals as soon as possible in your design process. Contact us if you need help getting started!