There has been balanced growth in the commercial construction industry as has been witnessed in the beginning of 2015. Looking at the recent past trend, one can predict successfully that similar growth trends will continue for the rest of the year. This is indeed a good piece of news for all the commercial contractors who will definitely reap rewards because of a rapid increase in the number of commercial construction projects.

But the real worry is something else. With the increase in number of such projects, can these contractors get their hands on successful completion of the projects? This is because the real issue is how to manage the commercial projects in the most effective manner as sometimes the ill-equipped contractors can face problems. Effective management of a commercial construction project can be a tough task but at the same it is not rocket science at all. Effective management of your project will ensure that your business enjoys a competitive edge.

Here are some great tips for managing your commercial project effectively:

1. Project goal definition plays an important role: You must outline the specific objectives of your commercial project in clear terms. Mapping all the teams that will be involved in your project with defining the responsibilities and roles of each team member is also a good idea.

2. Systematic planning through brainstorming sessions: Organized and comprehensive planning is one of the most critical factors in the success of any commercial projection, and planning, brainstorming sessions can be conducted with different department so that a clear picture of the deliverables of your project emerges. Eventually, you get a fair idea about how to achieve them. Creative solutions and innovative ideas can also come out from these sessions.

3. Try to achieve project deliverables on time: You just cannot devote your entire time for only one commercial project. One of the most important aspects of a commercial project management is to make sure that all the project deliverables are achieved by the teams without any delays. To achieve this important goal, a complex process has to be broken down into a sequence of simple steps. This was you can evaluate the speed of the project in an effective manner.

4. Successful team coordination: If there is proper coordination between the team members as well as among the team members, there will be a superior construction strategy and the goals can be also achieved within the stipulated time frame.

Silicon X Construction provides all types of commercial construction – from ground-up to simple tenant improvements. Contact us for more information and to talk about your project.

This government regulation is specifically made for constructions that are made on a new piece of ground in an area designated as commercial zone. As the construction is being done from the ground up with new foundation the company making the building will have to get a special building permit for starting the procedure. If you are planning to demolish a building in commercial zoning area then a building permit application is required. When granting permission for constructing ground up buildings in a commercial area, the authorities provide guidelines about size of building based on the zoning district and height limits of buildings in that area.

Understanding construction permits

All new construction in commercial districts is regulated by the local district authorities who    maintain the planning code. To maintain appearance and symmetry in every area geographical area of a city it is divided into different districts and a planning code is given which states details about what buildings are allowed and not allowed in a particular area. Before drawing up plans to start construction in any district you need to understand the zoning district limitations to support the project you are planning.

Site planning 

When carrying out construction from ground up with a fresh foundation and base pillars you need to plan the basic infrastructure in such a manner that its base stands strong and powerful for several years and meets norms set by local authorities. A new building that is being constructed from ground up requires a building permit, so that the builder understands local construction codes and ordinances. These projects have to be presented with complete blue prints for foundation and each phase of construction with inputs by sustainability experts to get approval by local authorities.

List of documents for ground up construction permit

1. Completed Building Permit Application issued by residential zoning district which will have the completed description of project i.e., details about whether it is residential or commercial.
2. Neighborhood notification.
3. Detailed drawings about plat plan, floor plan with elevation details, both mechanical and electrical diagrams.
4. Structural and engineering calculations of new building.
5. Waste management plan.
6. Verification certificate to determine if construction is being done in a flood zone.
7. Land use authorization which states that the land which has been identified is available for the construction that has been planned for it.

It is very critical to describe complete details of construction project else the inspection and review team will have no idea about building under construction and the permit can get delayed or canceled.

Contact SiliconX Construction today for all of your commercial construction needs.

How do you decide that the time has come to remodel your commercial space? This is a baffling question for businessmen all across the world. Workspaces that are old might not have been originally designed for the purpose they are being used at present and can even appear unattractive, discouraging, gloomy and cramped to the employees. Such unattractive features can actually result in a negative growth in productivity and employee morale. Moreover, many times it has been observed that buildings that are relatively older have often made compromises with electrical and plumbing systems. Energy is often wasted in these older buildings putting a strain on the resources and hiking the utility costs. If your workspace is not well-laid, looks unattractive or inefficient, the merits of commercial remodeling can be limitless.

1. Cost-effective: One of the most attractive merits of a commercial remodeling is reduction in business costs. By remodeling a commercial space, the efficiency of the workspace can increase that in turn can bring down your energy bill by 65%. Moreover, a newer space requires less maintenance leading to reduction in repair and maintenance costs. Over a long period of time, these reduced costs can add up to big savings that can be used for developing your products or increase the employee salaries.

2. Enhanced productivity: Cramped, unhygienic, dark or enclosed work spaces can actually have a negative impact the morale of the workers and can also have a detrimental effect on the productivity of the workers. This is one of the major reasons why several new office or commercial remodeling projects continuously come up letting in more light to foster working relationships. Promoting camaraderie and employee collaboration are often the targets of open work spaces. When workers interact more with each other, sharing of ideas can happen and plans can be converted to effective action. An open workspace can also have an impact on the flexibility of operations that many proprietors will find extremely useful for their business. Uninhibited and big work spaces can be remodeled as the business requirements change from time to time.

3. Going Green: There have been recent surges in the number of commercial remodeling projects that may be due to the various innovations and advances related to plumbing, fixtures of lighting system, insulation and temperature regulation methodologies. These methods have all transformed drastically over the last couple of decades. More and more organizations are engaging in green business practices while remodeling their spaces thus contributing in protection of the environment. Organizations that give high preference to green business spaces and green business practices demonstrate that they have a responsible, contemporary and relevant business.

Silicon X Construction provides all types of commercial construction – from ground-up to simple tenant improvements. Contact us for more information and to talk about your project.

Every business owner who operates a retail space is aware that even though it is possible to buy and sell commercial properties like residential ones, the investment needed to ensure that the store is operating efficiently is quite significant.

Contrary to residential spaces, where building owners repair broken fixtures, plumbing etc., commercial property leasers only guarantee that the utilities in the building are working. Besides this aspect, if anything goes awry and requires fixing or replacement, it will be the responsibility of the individual renting the commercial retail space.

Why remodeling is necessary

It is necessary to remodel your commercial retail space if you wish the store to be in a condition that fulfills the business needs of a renter. There are times when leasers formulate an agreement where they take care of a part or the entire remodeling expense. Alternatively, the remodeling costs may be taken up solely by the renter of the commercial retail space. This particularly holds true if somebody opts to renovate an existing place halfway through the lease.

1. Identify areas that need work

The remodeling of an existing commercial retail space could require a complete demolition, but you still need to check and figure out what parts of the current framework and infrastructure of the building can be used.

Remodeling expenses can often be trimmed by retaining existing plumbing fixtures, gas lines, electrical panels, load-carrying beams and phone and cable wiring. These might not require a complete replacement.

2. Hire professionals

When thinking of remodeling your commercial retail space, consider consulting commercial contractors. They can give suggestions and guide you with regards to the latest approaches, trends strategies with respect to retail space renovation. Look for a reliable contractor with a good reputation who will be able to meet deadlines. Also ensure you hire someone who has a license and insurance.

3. Get your staff involved

Remodeling can be an intimidating project which necessitates moving several pieces and parts. Feel free to involve your staff in the process by asking them for ideas for the store and merchandise layout. You could also bring in a professional facilitator who could successfully channel and collect feedback. This can in turn be used by the contractors.

4. Time-line establishment

It is crucial to hire somebody who promises to meet deadlines and completes the project keeping the budget in mind. You can motivate the contractor by negotiating an incentive for early completion of the project.

Silicon X Construction specializes in commercial space remodeling, tenant improvements, and ground-up construction. Contact us today to talk about your project.

Tenant improvements’ essentially refers to the changes that an owner makes to a commercial/industrial property for accommodating the requirements of its tenant. These could include wall and floor coverings, partitions, ceilings, fire protection, air-conditioning and security. The amount of the Tenants Improvements (TI) expense borne by the lessor and the tenant is typically documented in a lease agreement. So the allowance for tenant improvement is a major component of all lease agreements. Both TI allowance and duration of lease period have a significant bearing on the negotiation of the rental rate.

Accurate expense forecast

It is important for the tenants to sit for negotiation with a proper estimation of the cost of renovation planned. The other scenario would be accepting a fixed TI allowance (say $10) per square foot. This fixed amount would perhaps end up covering only the plumbing, air conditioning and electricity.  The remaining expenses that need to incurred, in order to render the space usable, will then be extracted from the tenant’s pocket.

If you wish to avoid any kind of unpleasant surprises, it is best to consult space designers/ planners in advance so as to have exact cost estimation in hand.

Turnkey build-outs

A situation where the landlord decides to take charge of the entire construction process, promising to deliver the fully renovated space to a tenant, it is termed as turnkey build-out.

In the case of turnkey build-outs, tenants might be concerned that the landlords would have no incentive to purchase the best quality products for the best price. Rather he/she would think about finishing the renovation project by spending minimally. The contractor hired by the landlord might or might not be ideal for the build-out. In such a situation, tenants end up compromising and losing out on the opportunity to seek competitive bids.

Tenant control for TI allowance

In certain cases, particularly for larger projects, tenants would like to oversee construction themselves. It would mean more work for the tenant; however it helps in yielding huge benefits since the pick the contractor on their own, make changes to the construction plan so that it fits into the budget or requirements better, and use better quality materials when desired. Tenants would also end up being in better control of time-lines and can avoid paying holdover fee (from the space being vacated by them).

Contact us today to find out how we can build the perfect “TI” for your new commercial space.