Designing a Commercial Building
You are to take the role of a construction manager tasked with consulting with an architect who is in the process of designing a mid-rise, mixed-use commercial building in a congested urban environment near your community. The owner of this commercial building has specified that the ground and second floors should have sufficient space flexibility to allow for a variety of potential tenants.
Possible ground floor tenants may include grocery stores, urgent care medical facilities, and similar service-oriented spaces that require larger floor to ceiling heights and that have challenging HVAC and electrical needs. Possible second floor tenants are anticipated to be law offices, investment brokers, and similar professional spaces. The upper floors will be residential condominiums.
These spaces should be energy efficient and constructed so that all utility billing (domestic water, HVAC costs, etc.) can be charged to individual condominium owners. To the extent possible, the owner would like this project to be a green commercial property. To assist the architect in his design, you decide to write a report that answers his questions and includes your recommendations.
Your report should be approximately 1,200-1,500 words in length and include the following components:
Introduction
Describe the overall design of your suggested building. Your response should include floor area, number of floors, floor-to-floor height, provision for automobile parking, and project site area configuration.
Specify your location and climate.
What is the governing building code in your location? Who is the governing agency?
Describe the impact that your location and climate might have on the building’s design and construction process decisions.
Research similar commercial buildings that have been constructed near your community. What was the total cost associated with these construction projects? Use these costs to estimate the various component costs of this commercial building.
Foundation
Describe the foundation that is most appropriate.
What functions does this foundation serve for this commercial building?
What are the challenges associated with building this foundation for this structure?
What is the estimated cost for the foundation that you have recommended? Explain your rationale for your estimate.
Framing Material
Identify the framing material and structural system that you think would be most appropriate for this structure.
What are the construction advantages for your recommendation?
What is the estimated cost for the framing material that you have recommended? Explain your rationale for your estimate.
Mechanical Systems
What are the necessary mechanical systems for this structure? Describe the functions of each. Your responses should be specific to commercial and condominium spaces.
What are the equipment options available for these systems?
Which distribution system do you recommend? Why? What are the advantages of your recommendation?
What are the inspection requirements for these systems?
What alternate control systems can be used to provide energy efficiency in this commercial building?
What is the estimated cost for the systems that you have recommended? Explain your rationale for your estimate.
Electrical Systems
What are the necessary electrical systems for this structure? Describe the functions of each. Your responses should be specific to commercial and condominium spaces.
What are the inspection requirements for these systems?
What alternate control systems can be used to provide energy efficiency in this commercial building?
What is the estimated cost for the systems that you have recommended? Explain your rationale for your estimate.
Plumbing Systems
What are the necessary plumbing systems for this structure? Explain the purposes of these systems. Your responses should be specific to commercial and condominium spaces.
What are the inspection requirements for these systems?
What alternate control, maintenance, and sustainability systems can be used to maximize efficiency in this commercial building?
What is the estimated cost for the systems that you have recommended? Explain your rationale for your estimate.
Building Envelope
Describe the recommended elements of this building’s envelope.
How does your location and climate impact the building’s element?
What is the estimated cost for the building envelope elements that you have recommended? Explain your rationale for your estimate.
Building Core
Describe the recommended elements of this building’s core and their functionality.
Describe the recommended active and passive fire safety approaches for this commercial building.
Describe the recommended life safety features of this commercial building. What active and passive systems should be used?
What vertical transport systems do you recommend for this structure? Provide an explanation for your rationale.
What is the estimated cost for the building core elements that you have recommended? Explain your rationale for your estimate.
Accessibility
What are the building access regulations for commercial buildings in your locale?
What recommendations can you make ensure that this building meets the regulations specified in your community?
What is the estimated cost for the accessibility elements that you have recommended? Explain your rationale for your estimate.
Sustainability Considerations
How do the recommended mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems impact LEED credits?
How do the recommended building envelope elements impact LEED credits?
What additional green elements do you suggest for the design of this building? What sustainable construction materials can you suggest?
What is the estimated cost for the green elements that you have recommended? Explain your rationale for your estimate.
Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and additional scholarly sources as appropriate. Refer to the Harvard System of Referencing guide to ensure your in-text citations and reference list are correct.
