Commercial architects in Sydney create designs and specifications for commercial structures, including factories and offices, retail shops and apartment complexes, air and rail terminals, hospitals, educational institutions, and sporting facilities. They collaborate with the owner, developer, and other key players to determine the building’s maximum practical use. They ensure the structure’s strength and reliability and match the specific local and national needs. Commercial architects are usually involved in every stage of the planning, construction, and commercial building design. Here are some of the most important duties these professionals perform.
The first task that commercial architects prepare for a client is analysing the site’s zoning requirements. Zoning regulations often dictate how many floors a building can have, what number of stories it can have, the minimum amount of setback required, the maximum number of parking spaces allowed, and other rules. Local governments may also require that developers provide access to public areas. After the analysis is complete, the commercial architect will work with the property owner or developer to determine the land’s best use. This involves drawing up plans and specs for the building, discussing designs with structural and construction engineers, and negotiating contracts with suppliers, architects, and contractors.
When a commercial architect is hired to remodel a property, they must create a new set of blueprints. This includes elevations and floor plans, new windows and doors, electrical layouts, landscaping, and any other specifics that will help the project meet all the legal requirements and the desired specifications. After remodeling projects are complete, the architect sends the blueprints to the client for review and approval.
Commercial architecture requires a creative ability to design, flexibility to change demands, detail-oriented, detail-oriented, artistic, and a problem-solving professional. It requires knowledge of the legal aspects of commercial architecture, which requires a long-standing education and extensive training in design principles and drafting and technical and structural considerations. A commercial architect must also be able to demonstrate that his or her proposed designs will meet the client’s business needs.
The commercial architect may construct the buildings himself or hire a sub-contractor to do the actual construction. In either case, the architect has the final responsibility for the structure’s integrity and must ensure that the building meets all legal requirements. Once constructed, the architect will submit a final architectural plan to the local authority for approval. The final plan often contains a detailed description of the proposed building and drawings and specifications of the construction materials and techniques used.
Before commercial architects can take on a particular project, they first complete all the required drawings and other documents. Some commercial architects prefer to take on smaller, more individual-focused projects, while others have experience planning large projects. Regardless of what type of commercial architecture an individual commercial architect specialises in, they usually have prior experience working in the field. This experience can usually be gained through an apprenticeship, college internship, or similar program. Most good schools will provide architects training in various fields, such as mathematics, engineering, environmental science, and building analysis.
As commercial architects continue to grow in experience and knowledge, the line of work they take on will likely change. Many new, smaller buildings will now be handled by general contractors, who will continue to manage them after the commercial architect has left the site. Some buildings will still need to be managed by the commercial architect, especially if there is a specific detail that the contractor is struggling with.