Commercial building construction sequence
Whether it’s a new apartment building downtown or a mixed-use facility in the suburbs, a lot has to happen before that ceremonial golden shovel is plunged into the earth. While everyone notices the excavators, cranes, and chain-link fences at the site, months and even years went into the planning. It’s all part of the commercial building construction sequence.
And while no two construction sites are the same, there are basic principles that go into such endeavors. From finding the land to officially completing the building and final inspection, there are timelines, deadlines, and bottom lines that need to be established and met.
Commercial building construction sequence
Although the steps during the development stage may be interchangeable, they should all be completed before you start moving earth around. Financing plays a huge role of course – you’re going to have to pay (or at least finance) for everything.
Secure Financing
The ever-changing price of materials, the ebb and flow of the workforce, the permitting process, and more can make forecasting a total project cost tricky. Establishing a budget at the start, and adhering to that budget, will determine just what you’ll be able to build.
Or maybe you already know what the construction work will cost. If so, the initial outlying of money will be creating documents to show financial institutions and potential partners that the job pencils out. This could include a set of drawings, projected costs and revenues, contingencies, and so on.
Location Considerations
They aren’t making any more land, so if you find an ideal location, make sure to do your due diligence. There may be great site access, but is it zoned for what you want to do? Are there environmental concerns, existing utility connections, or limits to what you can build at the site?
Bending the ear of a building official will help answer these questions. Although it sounds unthinkable, there have been times when construction has started without the proper research. Nothing casts a pall on a construction site like a stop-work order.
Site Design
Now it’s time to develop a general construction plan. Hiring an architect and project manager, creating schematic designs, listing desired amenities, and even the building orientation will be established. Materials will be selected, deadlines will be established, contract documents will be drafted, and other pre-construction will be completed before construction can begin.
Once everything is in order, the bidding process can begin. Hiring vendors, securing materials, and choosing a general contractor to oversee construction are the next steps in the building process. That’s one of the advantages of working with a design-build construction company.
You’ll have one point of contact throughout the process, from the initial walk-through at the property to when you finally get the keys to your finished facility. This cuts down on miscommunications and lends clarity to every project.
It also improves the communication between the two sides of the commercial project coin. During the design phase, you’ll discuss what your structure needs, where certain areas need to be positioned, and even what the facade of the building will look like. Whether you’re looking for a modern vibe with lots of windows and steel or a more traditional look.
Jurisdictional codes and regulations will obviously need to be part of the equation, too. A good architect will be familiar with any restrictions for a given location. But they also have to abide by natural law, too. If their design is physically impossible, it’s important to know that as soon as possible.
Construction Phase
Now you’re ready to start seeing some action. Excavators level the land or the demolition of an existing structure. Foundations, infrastructure, framing, and so on finally become a reality. The heavy lifting you did during the planning stages of the commercial building construction sequence will go a long way to making this part of the puzzle go smoothly.
That’s another asset of working with a design-build firm. With the construction team on board from the start, they’ll point out potential problems during the design stage. Will every potential issue be covered during the planning stage? Probably not, but bringing everyone together during the design process certainly keeps them to a minimum.
As the project comes to a close, punch lists will be addressed, final inspections will be conducted, and post-construction plans for tenants will be underway. Whether it’s your first construction or your tenth, seeing your idea come to fruition is quite satisfying.
Looking to build a commercial facility in Missouri or throughout the Midwest? Contact Storee Construction. We’ve been building commercial, industrial, and manufacturing facilities for decades and have established ourselves as one of the design-build leaders in the region. Reach out to see how we can help streamline your commercial building construction sequence.
