One of the earliest decisions commercial developers must make is which construction method to use. Different types of commercial building construction offer important advantages in terms of project delivery times, scale, and costs. Discover the tradeoffs of various traditional and modern building techniques for new construction and commercial build-outs.
What Are the Main Commercial Building Construction Types?
One of the biggest differences between commercial construction methods comes down to a single factor: on-site versus off-site. Where construction happens has a major impact on labor costs and project speed.
1. Concrete Construction
Concrete is a high-quality building material that offers outstanding strength, stability, moisture resistance, and chemical resistance. These qualities make concrete a popular choice for industrial worksites.
Concrete also provides significant fire resistance, electrical resistance, and vibration resistance. It can be a good investment for new commercial building construction in data center projects, though deployment takes significantly longer.
Key downsides of concrete are its labor-intensive processes and vulnerability to weather conditions. Crew mistakes can introduce critical defects, and severe weather can add unexpected delays.
2. Steel Frame Construction
Steel frame buildings help operators who need performance and durability but also want a shorter development cycle. Steel is fireproof and highly resistant to moisture and pests, so structures last for ages with minimal maintenance.
Steel is the material of choice for rapid construction, mid-size projects, and high-rises:
- Office buildings
- Multi-family housing
- Shopping centers and plazas
- Big box stores
- Manufacturing facilities and warehouses
- Luxury apartments and skyscrapers
Steel technically weighs more than concrete, but its increased strength cuts down on the total mass. The size and gauge of columns and beams depend on project specs.
3. Wood Frame Construction
Wood is lightweight and readily available. Wood frames are more popular in residential construction, but some operators also compare steel vs. wood framing for short-term or temporary commercial building projects.
Unfortunately, wood has most of the vulnerabilities that commercial metal building construction avoids, being prone to moisture damage, freeze-thaw cycles, pests, and especially to fire. As wood prices rise, the potential benefits aren’t worth the drawbacks for many developers.
4. Masonry Construction
In commercial construction, masonry building projects usually involve concrete blocks, brick, or stone. Sometimes, the objective is to have the durability and fire resistance of concrete without a simpler installation process.
Other times, developers want a luxurious aesthetic for high-profile buildings. In either case, this option tends to carry a high labor cost.
Curtain walls are a cost-effective style alternative for many types of commercial buildings. Lightweight facades of metal and glass add elegance and uniqueness without the hefty price tag.
5. Prefab Construction and PEMB
Prefab projects and pre-engineered metal buildings bring assembly-line design principles to the world of commercial construction. By following a repeatable design process, developers can lower total project costs, reduce build times, and increase output.
With PEMB, most components (except the slab and interior finishings) are created in a factory and delivered to the site. On-site contractors assemble the frame, wall panels, roofing, plumbing, and other elements.
Structural insulated panel construction is a related option that ships building panels with a foam core. This cost-effective and energy-efficient option works well for commercial storage, retail, and hospitality applications, but it has size limits. Developers also have to pay attention to local fire regulations.
6. Modular Construction
Modular buildings also involve off-site design and construction, but the difference is that entire sections are completed in the factory. Finished modules are shipped to the construction site and maneuvered into place with a crane.
Each module is “ready to deploy,” with integrated insulation, plumbing, electrical, and even finished interior surfaces. Developers can use one or multiple modules to quickly bring projects to life.
Steel modular construction can follow a pre-engineered plan or adhere to custom specifications for each unit. This process scales easily, making it ideal for quick-service restaurants and franchised locations.
7. Poured-in-Place
The “original” type of commercial building construction, poured-in-place or cast-in-place construction still has its uses. This fully on-site option involves building forms for footings, slabs, pillars, and other structural components. After crews reinforce the frames with steel rebar or mesh, they pour concrete in stages, finishing it and waiting for it to cure.
The main benefit of this traditional construction process is that it allows for unparalleled customization, including distinctive architectural details, aesthetic accents, and higher security ratings.
8. Shell
Shell construction takes a minimalist approach to building projects. The point is to create the building’s outer envelope and slab while leaving the interior unfinished.
Developers sometimes choose shell construction for multi-unit commercial building projects, like shopping plazas with restaurants or coffee shops. This option minimizes upfront building costs and gives tenants more design freedom.
9. Tilt-Up or Tilt-Slab
Tilt-up is a concrete construction method with on-site pours but a prefab mindset. Teams use horizontal forms to create reinforced wall slabs quickly. Once cured, the concrete panels are hoisted into place with a crane. This saves time compared to cast-in-place methods.
10. ICF
Insulating concrete forms enhance the insulating properties of poured concrete. ICF foam panels or blocks outline the building profile and remain in place after the concrete hardens, acting as a vapor barrier and insulator. ICF has similar downsides to traditional concrete construction.
Which Construction Method Fits Different Types of Commercial Buildings the Best?
In total, there are more than a dozen options for commercial construction, and more on the way, like 3D printing. Traditional construction methods can be a good choice when a long development timeline is necessary to meet complex customer specifications or regulatory guidelines. Healthcare projects and airport expansions are some examples.
Off-site engineering offers countless benefits for small-to-medium development. The factory environment promotes superior quality, consistency, speed, and precision, not to mention significant cost savings. Interest in commercial steel building construction is growing around the country, both for temporary and permanent structures.
What Types of Commercial Building Construction Should You Choose?
The differences between each type of building construction aren’t black and white. Building methods can overlap, and some developers choose a hybrid approach.
At Roxbox, we’re experts in modular and steel frame engineering. We deliver precise, high-quality, and cost-effective project solutions that meet or exceed local codes. Request a quote for modular construction services today.