Ordering the Right Commercial Building

31 March 2022

How Do I Know if I am Ordering The Right Building?


IN BRIEF



  • It’s critical to order the right commercial building. Ask yourself what you’ll use the building for, your storage requirements, how big it should be, what extras you’ll need, and what you plans might be for future business expansion.

  • Long-term thinking is crucial – your building will last for decades so it needs to be adaptable as your business grows and changes.

  • The Steelcorp team can assist throughout the entire process from planning though to construction, ensuring you get the right structure for your needs.


A Building Project is a Big Commitment

To make sure you get the right result, there are a few key questions you can ask yourself in the early stages.


The most important thing is to think long-term: your building will last for decades, so it needs to be of excellent quality and be able to adapt to changes in your business, operations or lifestyle.


Here are our top 4 questions to ask yourself to ensure you get the best result when building a commercial structure.

1. What Will You Use Your Building For?

The function of your building is one of the most critical things to get right.


Steelcorp’s Head of Sales, Aaron Barker, explains that we always encourage our customers to spend as much time as they need thinking about this and considering different scenarios before they even get to the design stages.


“A structure that is purposely designed to suit you and your business needs is going to be an excellent investment, allowing you to efficiently operate your business,” says Aaron.


“Consider office fit out requirements, how and where you might install things like pallet racking, the best location for a mezzanine, and whether any flammable materials will be used on site as these may need special storage requirements.”


Designing your building with your day-to-day business operations in mind will ensure that you get a great result.

2. How Big Should Your Structure Be?

The size of your structure is important too: how big is your biggest piece of equipment? Do you need the roller doors to be a certain height to allow trucks to reverse into your warehouse? Will you be installing a gantry crane and need additional roof height? Planning for a range of different situations is a wise move.


Additionally, thinking about extensions ahead of time means that the structure can be designed in such a way that it’s easy to extend at a later date. It can be much more difficult to extend a structure that isn’t designed for this purpose, and it can be near impossible to raise its roof height. Before you start designing, talk to the team at Steelcorp and let us know what kind of equipment your building will be accommodating, and we can help you get the dimensions right.

3. Will Things Change in The Future?

Everyone hopes that their business will grow and prosper in the future. Aaron encourages clients to think about the logistics of running a business from their warehouse, industrial building or factory if this growth happens: what might need to change?


“If your business plan calls for extra space in the future, but you don’t have the capital available today, you can factor this into your initial planning,” says Aaron.


“Building a structure that is designed for expansion – for example, adding 3 more bays in 5 years’ time – means that when the time comes to extend you can do so with confidence. Our design team will ensure your structure is engineered to accommodate the increased size and loads without requiring major structural changes in the future.”



4. Does it Include All The Extras You Need?


Getting the right structure means considering everything you’ll need to make your business run more smoothly and efficiently.

This can include features such as large cantilevered awnings so you can still unload trucks in the rain, as well as fully kitted-out external offices that add a more professional feel to your structure. You might also need space for a showroom or conference room, various canopies for outdoor storage, and architectural facades that fit with your corporate look.

There’s comfort and safety to consider too, with inclusions such as insulationfire walls and more. It can be a good idea to engage an architect, builder or engineer to help you design a structure that is safe, energy-efficient, practical and will be an asset to your business for years to come.

The Steelcorp team is here to help you through the entire process from planning through to construction. If you have any questions about how to get the right structure, give our friendly team a call today.



Get Personalised Advice from Steelcorp

At the beginning of this article, we stated that the cost per m2 to build a warehouse is around $3,000 – $3,500 for a full turnkey build. This of course is a ballpark figure and can vary considerably depending on how much pavement area needs to be laid, the structure of the building, cladding choices, features like awnings, and a range of other factors.


We also offered an estimate of a structural kit of $500 – $700 per m2 (installed). Steelcorp’s kits are custom designed for every project, so this figure is a guide only.


If you’re on a tight budget, we have written a guide on reducing the price of your shed, but ultimately we aim to help you get the best value structure that is fit for purpose and returns positive ROI for your business.

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