Commercial floor plans aren’t just about building design. They are about strategy too. The layout of a commercial space such as an office, restaurant, or retail store directly affects how people move, interact, and experience the space.
You may think that this makes it no different than a residential space because in a home you have a family moving and experiencing the space too. However, when you multiply the amount of people, take away privacy, and consider that commercial spaces have a purpose that’s wildly different from what a home’s purpose is, then the major differences make themselves clear.
So, what makes commercial floor plans unique?
Both residential and commercial spaces have a large building design element to them, but commercial floor plans are all about flow, functionality, and optimal customer and employee experience.
- Traffic flow is optimized.
From clients walking through a lobby to employees working behind the scenes to customers finding the restrooms, commercial floor plans focus on how people move through the space.
- Compliance with codes and regulations is a goal.
In a commercial space, you’re faced with ADA regulations, fire codes, occupancy limitations, and more.
- Front of house vs. Back of house.
Commercial floor plans establish clear customer facing areas and private employee areas for efficient operations.
- HVAC and utility planning are much bigger.
In a commercial space, the HVAC and utility planning can be quite massive. The efficient airflow and energy use of the space depends largely on this.
- Brand identity is part of the plan.
Commercial spaces reflect a company or brand, so this is often part of the layout within commercial floor plans.
Similar to a finished commercial space, an effective commercial floor plan doesn’t just look good, it performs well too.
If you’re preparing to build, renovate, or expand your business, working with us to develop your commercial floor plan is one of the smartest investments you can make!