Commercial Building Construction

Spaces Where People and Businesses Thrive

Commercial construction is a multi-faceted industry and each project always has unique needs and purposes. As commercial builders in Vernon, we understand the nuances of each project, and how safety is the main concern in both the build and operation of the finished product. There are a number of different industries which require value engineering to ensure the best, most cost-effective, and safe results. Take a look at some of the unique needs we work with for various industries. 

Grocery and Retail

These commercial developments are often the types you see as stand-alone buildings or strip malls that line your neighbourhood. Grocery and retail spaces need to be built to withstand large traffic volumes and accommodate people and often an abundance of products. There is a great deal of forethought that goes into structural framing in terms of interior and exterior layout. It is important in the construction process, to plan for the access required by both consumers and transporters of goods.  

Restaurants

Restaurants may be everyone’s favourite commercial establishments. Who doesn’t love splurging on a good meal? But before the kitchen is ready for use, builders like us, need to determine how the building will best serve patrons and the business. This includes being mindful of local regulations and requirements for buildings with large kitchens and specific safety protocols. Take-out food establishments also fall under this category, with special consideration for drive-thrus and specialized kitchen equipment. 

Tim Hortons Commercial Construction project

Lodging 

From the cozy motel you always drive past to resort-style buildings, lodging buildings require a facility that is equipped to make people comfortable. The larger scale of the building, the more builders need to keep this in mind. Typically in this kind of commercial building construction, we need to take into account the functionality of services like

  • Fitness Centres
  • Swimming Pools
  • Retail Shopping
  • Dining Areas
  • Entertainment Venues

These projects can mimic building a city within a single building. 

lodging commercial development projects kitchen area
Commercial construction Vernon office

Office

This is where we work to ensure that your workspace is created to provide the most appropriate areas to host meetings, collaborate, and get down to business. The buildings can be standalone for one tenant or high-rise type structures that house multiple tenants. For the latter, it is especially important to build with safety in mind. High rises need to be built with fire escapes in case of emergencies. Other things we keep in mind are spaces to house servers that deliver high-speed internet connections and amenities like shared kitchens and parking. 

Industrial

Often some of the more complex projects are very industry-specific commercial developments. These are typically buildings that are focused on manufacturing and processing. These facilities may require services like high-voltage, steam, and water to run refineries or plants. These buildings may also need the capacity to house robust safety equipment and stations or it may be necessary to factor in loading stations and docks into the design. A well-thought-through plan and building will result in timely, efficient, and safe delivery and shipment operations.

Healthcare

As you can probably imagine, medical facilities have very specific needs which involve the collaboration of many contractors. Construction could include low to high-rise buildings with specialized areas for patient care, housing, food service, offices, and supply rooms. Medical experts typically work with builders throughout the process to ensure the design creates ease in routing and storing a variety of medical equipment.

Athletic

Leisure and fitness center construction is integral to many communities. These are places where families, friends, and athletes come together to learn new skills, challenge themselves, and have fun! For this, many public amenities are required, and careful thought goes into the commercial development design. Some of the things that come top of mind are

  • Washroom facilities
  • Foodservice
  • Arena seating
  • Security and medical hubs
  • Custodial storage
  • Special communication requirements

This is accomplished through the collaboration of a large team of architects, designers, contractors, and project managers.

Commercial Building Construction of a fitness gym

Get it done with the right help!

As you can tell, there are numerous types of facilities that have unique needs in order to serve the public, tenants, and customers effectively. There are many moving parts and considerations that need to be made in the design phases of each project. Commercial building construction is made easier by working with teams you can trust to ensure value is maximized at every step of the process.

If you’re embarking on a commercial construction project in Vernon, contact us today to learn about our process and start talking about your development.  We are builders you can rely on! 

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Commercial builders templating foundation
Building the foundation

What is a High-Performance home?

High-performance homes are those that use less energy than those built to the minimum code. There are a number of performance labels that define the standards by which these homes are built. Some of these labels are LEED, ENERGY STAR, and NetZero and NetZero Ready Homes. The underlying theme with each of these labels is that energy-efficient homes are created to maximize resources and minimize environmental impact. Using energy modelling, builders like us, architects, and engineers work together to design energy-efficient, custom homes. You may understand the energy-efficiency benefits of a high-performance home, but we’ll elaborate on some of the further benefits we see as custom home builders in Vernon.

frame of a high-performance house

Comfort

A big part of building a high-performance home is ensuring an air-tight, envelope seal. Aside from creating energy efficiency in your home, proper insulation enhances your level of comfort. Industry-leading methods of insulating your home, like spray foam insulation, diminish issues such as thermal bridging. Thermal bridging is the movement of heat across an object that is more conductive than the materials around it. This leads to energy loss in homes and buildings. 

For your home, thermal bridging means inconsistent temperature control leading to colder winters, warmer summers, and irregular room temperatures. Enter high-performance homes, and those worries and discomfort are eliminated.

Quality

As we previously mentioned, high-performance homes are held to the standards of high-performance labels. What this means is third-party assurance that your home is greenlighted for quality and performance.

How does that happen? These performance labels will be involved from the conceptualization of your custom home, right down to the final inspections and walkthroughs. Each of the organizations behind the labels will send out a professional inspector to check particular elements like your HVAC systems, furnace, and insulated walls and windows. When they have done their final inspection, you can be sure your home is high-performance.

spraying foam insulation

Healthy

Certain elements of high-performance homes also ensure healthier living spaces. One example is the use of heat recovery ventilators, which ensure fresh air in each room. These custom homes also eliminate the risk of being exposed to toxic chemicals or moulds found outside of your home. 

Climate Resiliency

Another important factor to building a custom home that bears energy efficiency in mind is its impact -or rather lack of- on the environment. High-performance homes reduce your family’s energy consumption while in some cases also incorporating renewable energy technology. As a Vernon builder, we are seeing a growing appetite for technology and energy that is environmentally conscious. 

construction of a high-performance home

Efficiency

Energy-efficient homes are not only healthy for us and the environment, but also for our wallets. While there is sometimes a larger upfront cost associated with these homes, in the long run, you can expect lower utility costs. This is largely due to the airtight seal created in your home working in tangent with other technologies that improve your home’s efficiency.

Let’s build you a home of the future today!

High-performing homes in Vernon are making a huge entrance and with the benefits outlined above, we understand why. Soon these energy-efficient homes will be the norm, so why wait? Build your home of the future today with us!

As a custom home builder, we work with you and our partners to ensure quality and efficiency from planning all the way to the final walkthroughs. We want to hear your ideas so contact us today!

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high performance home construction

There’s no place like home!

With Canada Day having come and gone this July, we wanted to continue celebrating being a Canadian construction company that is fortunate to work with other Canadian partners. Together we provide truly quality custom homes and commercial products that our communities can be proud of. 

When you choose Canadian for your home project, you’ll be able to know that you have also chosen to invest in your community. It’s important to us that as a Canadian, Vernon-based builder, we also choose to work with Canadian partners on our projects. 

Why Build with Canadian Builders and Suppliers?

Trucks working on a commercial development

Building with Canadian suppliers, manufacturers, and builders have a number of benefits we are happy to share with you. We love partnering with Canadian suppliers because we know that we are investing back into the Canadian economy. The construction industry in Canada employs over 1.4 million people and generates about $141 billion for the economy annually. This is roughly 7.5% of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Some of the benefits we see from building Canadian are:

Generating Jobs. 70% of the industry is made up of small and medium-sized firms. Canada is home to a diverse pool of talented people who connect communities by building reliable and efficient infrastructure. 

Economic Growth. Investments in our Canadian construction industry lead to further growth of the sector. This means further growth in employment, research and development, and infrastructure.

Innovation. Canadian-owned firms are driven by interests in promoting and driving innovation to provide Canadians with safer, more efficient, and long-lasting construction. 

Benefits to clients. With our Canadian partners, we can ensure timelines by dodging some of the international supply chain hold-ups that can sometimes drag projects out longer than anticipated. 

We love partnering with firms that play a part in contributing to our community. This goes for custom homes or commercial projects.  Some of the amazing people we work with are featured below.

Westform Metal

Angled garages are a beautiful architectural feature of your home. Builds

Built Together to Stand the Test of Time. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Westform Metal has specialized in roll forming metal roofing and siding since the mid-1970s. They supply cladding products for agricultural, industrial, and residential structures throughout BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

Westform Metal works on some of our custom homes to deliver robust, steel roofing and siding. They are known for their quality and durable materials, saving our clients money in the long run. Additionally, with steel being the world’s most recycled material, working with Westform Metal means we can create homes for our clients they can feel proud of.

Westform Metal custom home

Acutruss

Acutruss insulated concrete forms

Founded in 1979, Acutruss is a supplier of NUDURA Insulated Concrete Forms which is proudly Canadian and founded in Kelowna, British Columbia. They are also a supplier of PINKWOOD joists which are manufactured in Calgary, Alberta. Along with their engineering services, Acutruss is an invaluable partner to us in building reliable truss structures.

Their products are energy-efficient and eco-friendly. Their concrete forms are used to make high-performing walls that create an air-tight seal and prevent energy loss. Their philosophy is to provide builders like us with innovative solutions that address concerns around energy efficiency and environmental friendliness.

Let’s Build Together!

Custom Homes & Commercial Developments

As another player in our Canadian construction industry, we work with the best of the best to provide our clients with exceptional homes and buildings they can be proud of. As Vernon builders, we care about you and your home or commercial development. Our partners and ourselves are on top of all the latest building trends and provide local, trusted expertise. 

Contact us today to talk about your project!

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Determining the best possible commercial construction company can feel like a daunting task, many companies offer their services in this industry but not all may be the right fit for you. We recommend you consider the following 5 questions to ask when hiring a commercial construction company.

What Background Does The Company Have?

Commercial development companies can differ in their areas of expertise, specializations, and capabilities. Understanding what a commercial builder can offer is crucial information when considering if they are right for your project.

Completed commercial building project

What Are Some Of Your Past Projects?

The project history of a commercial builder can provide invaluable insight into their strengths as a commercial developer as well as display their capabilities and the quality of their work. The right commercial builder for you should understand what you require and be capable of providing the results you need in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Often, not every commercial development company will be able to meet your needs. For instance, if a company specializes in building office space or renovating commercial tenants’ properties, they may not be the right choice to build your commercial warehouse.  

What Would Be The Estimated Timelines?

A timeline is essential to the success of any commercial project. It aids in decision-making processes and enables appropriate delegation of tasks to ensure that the project remains on schedule and within the budget. Commercial construction companies that have dedicated employees for project management and a hands-on team that utilize the best technology will have the greatest chance of success in the implantation of a timeline.

What Is Your Safety Record?

Asking for a construction company’s safety record and inquiring about their safety standards is incredibly important because it reflects that company’s values and how much care and quality they put into their work. Commercial construction companies need to be very safety conscious and keep their teams up-to-date on safety courses and practices. This ensures no matter who is on-site, accidents won’t happen.

What Is Your Process?

Each construction company has its own process to complete their projects. Ask them about their process, find out if it aligns with your strategies, and decide if that process will work best for you. A process should outline building planning, an inspection of property, organizing, and designing the project. As well as organize the construction process and final touch-ups. A proper process of a construction project allows for the most efficient and effective completion of a commercial project.

Tim Hortons building a completed commercial development

Asking The Right Questions Will Guide You To The Right Commercial Construction For you.

We at Brentwell Construction encourage our commercial development partners to ask the important and sometimes difficult questions. Our history of commercial development reflects our team of professionals that are innovative and inspired to provide results that meet and exceed any project requirements or specifications on time and on budget. We understand that to have prosperous relationships with our clients we must be able to provide answers to these questions and any thoughts or concerns that come during the project process. Our company has a strong background in commercial construction, handling a wide variety of commercial properties from restaurants to offices. View some of our previous projects on our website

If you have any questions or would like more information on any of the questions in this blog, feel free to contact us. If you would like to see more of our commercial projects and stay up to date with Brentwell Construction blogs visit our website

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Commercial Spaces for the Future

There’s no doubt that building designs have required commercial builders to stay innovative with changing policies, trends and technology. At Brentwell we are dedicated to researching and staying on top of the latest and greatest trends that contribute to a space where people and businesses can thriv

This article will cover some of the design trends that are essential for Okanagan commercial construction.

Outdoor Space Configuration

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses switched from indoor operations to outdoor in order to accommodate business. This was especially evident in the restaurant industry as well as in other commercial construction buildings.

Patio space from this Okanagan construction project

Business owners were able to creatively design commercial spaces with shared terraces and outdoor break areas.

This pivot in design focus, allows for businesses to maximize their services while staying within regulations. Besides commercial construction in Vernon has the opportunity to make the best of the beautiful weather conditions. It is no doubt that this will be a trend for commercial development in the area as COVID-19 continues to impact society.

Frameless Glass


If your business has already incorporated an outdoor space or is looking to do so, consider frameless glass as an option during the colder months. Frameless glass helps your space remain flexible and also enhances the square footage of your establishment. These frameless glass systems allow for the ambiance of an outdoor environment while being protected from the elements of Mother Nature.

Enhanced Air Filtration Systems

Over the last years it has become more important than ever to ensure your commercial development is coupled with good ventilation and filtration systems. Instead of systems that recirculate air, commercial builders are opting for systems which extract indoor air and filter in fresh outdoor air.

meeting

Eco-Friendly Options

There has been a push on commercial building construction to implement eco-friendly designs. At Brentwell we are passionate about adding high performing elements to our projects.. Some ideas to implement in your building are:

  • Energy efficient LED lighting.
  • Investing in water and energy efficient appliances
  • Solar panel energy
  • Energy efficient windows and doors
  • Spray foam insulation

As more and more consumers realize the impacts of their actions on the environment, they will use their money to support businesses who share the same values. On top of this, the owners of these buildings will save money on utilities and see return on investment from incorporating these technologies. Read more about high-efficiency building in this blog

Integrated Technologies

Office commercial construction

Commercial construction in Vernon offices and across the Okanagan will benefit immensely from incorporating integrated technology in their buildings. Having options such as teleconferencing screens, digital whiteboards, and app-accessible lighting systems have helped businesses stay nimble and save money on utilities. Working with clients and customers across the country means having channels that will optimize your communication. This is why commercial builders are starting to implement these into their design from the very start.

Conclusion

Living and working in an ever-changing world, it will be important to hire the right commercial builder who can design a building that will be future-proof. Incorporating trends that will improve your businesses performance while looking sleek and optimized for any environmental or regulatory condition is key to any commercial project. 

If you are planning for commercial development in Vernon or the Okanagan area, Brentwell is ready to help with your project. As experienced professionals in commercial construction, we are here to support your business’ needs.

Contact us today! https://brentwellconstruction.com/contact/

Read about our approach to commercial construction here: https://brentwellconstruction.com/commercial/

The new “normal” looks different this year – in fact, things have been looking different for quite a while now. However, now that businesses are shifting to meet the demands of guidelines, it’s safe to say that a new way of how businesses function is upon us. Even in the beginning, businesses had to adapt to projects being halted, budgets being readjusted and workforces sent to work from home. While pre-pandemic activities roll back to usual, it’s a great time to set those commercial construction projects in motion (again). 

If you are, however, looking for great reasons to motivate the unpausing of your previous commercial construction project or getting the encouragement to make that first step, then continue reading, because we have a lot to get into. 

Let’s get started! 

Take Advantage of The Season

Completed commercial construction Vernon

As you can imagine, spring and summer are excellent times for construction. Within the Okanagan region, we get a wide variety of different weather patterns, which ultimately can hinder construction efforts. Ideally, commercial construction, in particular, Okanagan commercial construction, works best within spring. That way availability in key materials remains accessible, and favourable weather conditions are consistent for a few months. 

At this point, you might be wondering why we are recommending planning your project now? 

Well, exactly as we said – it’s important to plan. The fall and winter are excellent months to begin planning and getting development plans started.

 Then come springtime, you are fully prepared and organized to start developing your commercial project.

It’s a safe bet to assume most projects have a window of 1-2 years for development and since construction is a multi-step process, it requires action now to finish development months down the line. As well, If plans stay consistent and all goes well, then your commercial builder can have development could end before the off-season next year – so be sure to plan to be prepared for the change in seasons!

Adapt to Change

As we mentioned before, the change in the past years has been substantial. One large aspect of this change comes with the mindset of business owners. Commercial development companies are seeing the demand in office spaces adapting in construction, and these changes can be broken down into four main groups.

Demand for private office spaces

For years the development of office spaces was designed for cost-effective, small grouped spaces. However, with the change of times, and the demand for space, layouts have really shifted. Traditional floor plans are becoming a new norm with closed, private rooms to prevent extended contact with people (HBR, 2021). Even with adapting guidelines, the demand for space still continues to rise! 

Reduction in size of communal spaces

Patio space from this Okanagan construction project

As mentioned about private office spaces, the reduction in communal spaces is all the more common. Commercial builders are seeing the functionality of open spaces in commercial buildings shifting to more closed-off areas, with smaller “touch” spaces. This is often seen with boardrooms, kitchens, and other meeting spaces for employees being reduced or adjusted based on the number of staff within an office (Make It, 2021). 

Clean air circulation improvements

Due to the events of the virus over the past few years, there have been shifts in building design, in particular with dental offices, retail, restaurants, and medical practices. These building design changes focus on improved HVAC systems to enhance indoor air quality. Even more beneficial, with many businesses located within the Okanagan – commercial builders are utilizing better HVAC systems to filter out smoke from local forest fires. 

Increase in outdoor environments 

The rise of outdoor environments has shifted over the past few years. Businesses are now investing more into outdoor spaces for staff and customers to use. We can see this being described as “outdoor” workspaces, which are ever-growing in demand. Not only is this beneficial for providing employees with space but this also can boost morale with a team – now that’s an improvement! 

Conclusion

It’s safe to say, be ready for the unexpected. This is why projects nowadays could take longer, and resources from commercial development companies might be harder to obtain. But that’s why we strongly encourage you to prepare as much as possible and get your commercial construction project started now. 

Commercial builders for Tim Hortons

If we encouraged you enough throughout this blog to get started, but you need more help finding the “how”, then check out our previous blog on a seamless commercial construction project here.

With times now adjusting, plan accordingly, and join a team that understands the difficulties in shifting demands. At Brentwell Construction, we are ready to help get your commercial project started. As commercial builders, we have the foresight to understand the process of development and help business owners grow or upgrade their commercial construction projects. 

Contact us today to see how we can help!

References: 

https://hbr.org/2014/10/workspaces-that-move-people

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/29/3-ways-the-office-will-change-after-the-pandemic.html

Every business is unique in its own way. As an exercise for the reader, think about how many businesses and companies you interact with weekly. The number may astound you.

We live, work and play in the beautiful Okanagan Valley. We also have the pleasure of interacting with many stellar businesses offering a seemingly unlimited amount of services. Whether we’re talking about Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton, or beyond, no matter what we need, we can usually find it! The lesson of the above thought experiment is that no two businesses are the same, even if they’re in the same industry and geographic location. 

Simply put, we choose the businesses that best meet our own unique needs. 

The same principle applies to businesses selecting the most appropriate commercial construction team for their short and long-term projects. This post is dedicated to the process of finding the right one for your business, whether your needs involve mere renovations or full-scale construction. Our goal is to steer you in the right direction so you can get the most out of your final choice. 

Here we go!

commercial development office

Know Who You’re Looking For

The first step in finding the right commercial construction team for your business is to begin a process of reflection. Knowing who you’re looking for requires a concise understanding of your needs. 

You might start by reflecting on the size of your company and what plans of expansion you do or do not have. If your client load is multiplying and you foresee yourself needing a whole new building soon, mark that down! Conversely, you may be experiencing more modest, steady growth to the point where a simple addition or expansion to the current building will suffice. 

You also want to think about the particulars of building aesthetics and what client-facing features you require in any sort of construction process. Is your branding modern, or is it more laid-back and traditional? 

There are no right or wrong answers here. The only thing that matters is assessing your needs to bring you one step closer to who would be best to meet those needs

Keep it simple here. Strip it all back. Assess those needs thoroughly and then move onto our next step in the process. You’re one step closer to finding the right commercial builder for your business!

Research, Research, Research

A famous inventor named Charles Kettering once said, “research means that you don’t know, but are willing to find out.” 

So far, you’ve assessed your business and arrived at your specific needs. You probably don’t know the names of every commercial construction contractor, but you know the qualities you’re looking for. You may also understand what types of contractors you’re not looking for, which is valuable insight, too.

The next step is to research all your local options and match your needs to their capabilities.  

Laying out the plans for a commercial construction build

Start by searching for businesses on Google. For example, for a company seeking commercial contractors in Vernon, type in “commercial contractor Vernon” or “commercial construction Vernon bc.” Feel free to mix up the combinations to see what options populate! Then, follow the links to each builder’s website and take a look around. Many businesses will tell you what services they offer and who they’re the best fit to serve. Check out their current and past projects to get a feel for their construction quality and style. Testimonials are great to see if any other similar businesses have experience working with that company.

Keep a list, make notes and start to widdle down your options to the few you want to interview. Then move onto the next step. 

Only Great Questions Lead To Meaningful Answers

So far, you’ve detailed your needs and come up with a list of commercial contractors that may be an excellent fit for your business. Before picking up the phone to schedule meetings with them, turn your full attention to coming up with the right questions. 

Since you know your needs best, you should be leading the meeting’s agenda. Prepare a list of questions for each builder you interview to help guide your way through each interaction. Such questions can include:

What types of businesses do you most frequently serve, and why are you best equipped to help them over your competitors?

Are there any construction styles you aren’t comfortable pursuing? What is your track record of completing projects similar to those I’ll be needing?

Commercial development project

How many of your daily tasks are self-performed vs outsourced? What internal staff do you have on-hand to keep projects running efficiently?

How do you handle project budgeting? Do you have policies in place that prevent unreasonable budget increases? 

What is your ongoing construction capacity? 

The goal of asking the right questions is to prevent construction companies from selling you on their services before they have an opportunity to hear out your position. 

During every call, make it clear that you have some questions you’d like addressed. Give them a rundown of your business, what it offers and where you see it heading in the future. Formulating your questions ahead of time will give you ample confidence in the discussion process. Then, be proactive in case additional questions arise organically. The mantra is “firm, yet flexible”. If all goes well, you’ll be able to choose the commercial construction company ready, excited and equipped to serve you well!

Conclusion

Like any successful commercial project, the key to choosing the right commercial builder is planning and execution. By detailing your needs and researching suitable contractors to meet them ahead of time, you’re prepared to execute your builder interviews. 

Trust the process, and don’t leave any critical questions unanswered before making your final choice!

McDonalds, a commercial construction development

At Brentwell Construction, we love connecting with Okanagan business owners to discuss their short and long-term goals, particularly how they pertain to construction! We help many businesses and non-profit organizations realize their goals by taking on

commercial construction for Tim Hortons build

The Okanagan is a fantastic place to live and do business. We’re fortunate to have enough variety in lifestyle, with the various cities offering different commercial opportunities. In Vernon, where we conduct most of our business, there’s a growing need for commercial space due to consumer demand. 

At the time of this writing, the Vernon real estate market is exploding with demand and supply is struggling to keep up. It’s an unprecedented imbalance. It applies to residential homes but also to commercial properties, which is our focus in this blog. 

At Brentwell Construction, planning a seamless commercial project is something we do proficiently. Though, it does take some strategic planning! In the following paragraphs, we’ll detail the key points of focus in forging a commercial project and the benefits of a well-designed space. 

It’s time to get Okanagan residents and business-people excited! 


Location, Location, Location

When considering a location, you need to step back and consider the type of commercial client you’re designing the property for in the first place. 

This task is more straightforward when it’s you intending to occupy the property. You know what business you’re in and who you want to serve, so you can safely move to the next step! 

If you intend to build and lease the building, it’s essential to know what kind of clientele you seek.

commercial build

Are you targeting industrial clients needing an abundance of floor space and parking? Or, are you seeking retail clients needing comparatively smaller square footage and perhaps some meeting rooms? Whatever the case, you must know your audience well. 

Knowing who you intend to serve will determine your next steps, which concern zoning. Simply put, zoning bylaws are municipal regulations that determine how land, buildings and other structures are used. Researching zoning bylaws and their requirements will require a visit to your local regional district or city hall. Property can be rezoned from it’s original designation, but in such cases, it typically needs to align with the Official Community Plan. This can be a time-consuming step. It is most efficient to find property already zoned correctly.

Once you’ve got a clear idea of the areas of town with the zoning you require, you can move on to the next step.


Budget

There are some key considerations when determining your budget. It’s not easy, and the more flexibility you have in both budget and preference, the better. But these areas are a great place to start:

completed commercial construction project
  • What is the nature of the industry? 
  • How important are aesthetics and curb appeal to the eventual customers?
  • How many employees will be needed to run a suitable business in your space?
  • Do you have any hard construction deadlines that require consideration?
  • Do you have any back-up financing options in case you go over budget? 

First impressions matter, and to garner the respect you seek, you must cater to the intended customers. You can delve back into location considerations. For example, if 80% or more of your customers will be from Vernon, avoid looking too closely at Kelowna projects for inspiration. Those aren’t your people.

The more you’re able to connect with your customers before they reach for the front door, the more likely you’ll plan a reasonable budget.


Hire The Right Commercial Contractor 

Most well-established construction companies will have the resources and skills to carry out your project, no matter how unique. Some companies even advertise this way. They prefer to market to the broadest possible audience and catch at least a piece of each. But from your standpoint, is this really to your benefit?

Brentwell Construction work in progress

We don’t believe so. At Brentwell Construction, we know what we’re great at and who we’re the best fit to serve. Our team and its collective goals revolve around these directives. We base our organizational structure upon knowing what our customers need and want, and positioning ourselves to respond accordingly.

During this process, confirm the contractor has internal systems and standard procedures in place. With so many moving parts on large construction projects, communication and accountability are essential. We also recommend confirming the company adheres to strict safety protocols, minimizing your risk during construction. 

You’ve gone this far in the planning process; now it’s time to be sure you’ve hired the right team for the job. We recommend the following steps in determining who you hire for your next commercial construction project:

  • Ask the right questions, and more importantly, dare to ask the hard questions.
  • Conduct due diligence and research company qualifications and project history. Do they have the portfolio demonstrating the expertise they claim?
  • Do your homework. Ask around to any contacts you have, and perhaps reach out to former clients of the company you’re considering. 

The construction company right for you should never be afraid to answer the hard questions. They owe you this courtesy.


Conclusion: The Benefits of Choosing The Right Company For The Job

Yogi Berra once said, “if you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up someplace else.” 

There is an immense benefit to the above planning process when building a commercial space, including:

commercial building for offices
  • Happy employees – Whether it’s your team occupying the space or someone else’s, you designed the space to foster their hard work. 
  • Increased productivity – You took the extra time to design the build mindfully, increasing the chances of a more productive workplace for future tenants. 
  • Budget adherence – With some extra foresight, you undoubtedly saved yourself many financial headaches that result from a lack thereof.
  • Proud investment –  In designing the space you intended to, you now have an investment to be proud of!

To know exactly where you’re going is to make the result that much more gratifying.


We hope you’ve enjoyed this blog, and hope you’ll consider Brentwell Construction for your next commercial construction project in the Okanagan. 

At Brentwell, we work with a multitude of businesses at all stages of the commercial building process. Some get us involved before the first step above even begins! No matter your end goal, you can rest assured that we have the right team in place to get the job done right. We place a high priority on detailed planning and safety at every stage to ensure foresight and accountability. From renovations and expansions to complete new builds, we’re a commercial construction team you can trust. 

Give us a call today to find out how we can help.


Thanks for reading!

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