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Residential vs. Commercial Architecture
January 1, 1970 • All, Projects
Residential vs. Commercial Architecture
If you go downtown in most cities, you may see buildings with commercial businesses or retail stores at street level, with apartments and condominiums above. How does this work? What happens when commercial and residential architecture meet in the same building? You end up with a mixed-use property. Both require similar planning and infrastructural integrity, yet there are key differences in these two types of architecture design.
Residential:
- Safety codes and requirements that must be considered (basements, stairs, attics, electrical lines, plumbing), as well as stable and safe infrastructure.
- Meet local building codes, including regulations for plumbing and electrical safety.
- Architect and interior designer work together to create the comfort desired in a home. Both the home’s structure and the look of the home meet the homeowner’s expectations.
- Size and envelope are relatively small when compared to commercial properties.
Commercial:
- Storerooms
- Offices
- Meeting rooms
Other examples of commercial buildings, each requiring unique electrical and plumbing planning:
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Police stations
- Government buildings
Unique additions for commercial vs. residential:
- Elevators
- Escalators
- Parking structures
- Cafeterias
- Gyms
- Restaurant kitchens
- Large bathrooms
- Conference rooms
Schemmer provides both commercial and residential architecture in the form of mixed-use projects. Our most recent project, currently under construction, is the Post Lofts. Located in downtown Lincoln, this project joins three early-1900s buildings with updated infrastructure, new floor and roof structure, modern utilities, façade restoration and historically accurate window replacement. On the street level, three new retail shops are added to the downtown core.
Sierra Suites is another mixed-use development in Lincoln. The ground level retail in this building is designed to enable a variety of uses including drive-up service.
SCHEMMER – DESIGN WITH PURPOSE. BUILD WITH CONFIDENCE.
Schemmer is a full-service architecture, engineering and construction field services consultant, providing responsible solutions for complex design and construction-related challenges.
Founded in 1959, we are grounded in our past but remain fully committed to the future. Located in four States and seven offices throughout the Midwest, Schemmer is providing services to clients from coast-to-coast and border-to-border across the United States.