commercial design Archives - North Peak Construction

Low Maintenance Commercial Landscaping ideas

When planning your commercial building project, don’t forget the landscaping! Without it, your building will still be beautiful and appropriately designed for your needs, but it won’t stand out.

Adding landscaping to your project will soften its edges, provide a peaceful place for clients and employees, provide shelter and food for a variety of wildlife, and keep water and maintenance costs low

Choose native plants. This is the first step in ensuring your landscaping will be sustainable and easy to care for. Group plants together for easier watering.

Consider perennial shrubs and flowers, like (for the Western Colorado area), Viburnums like Snowball bushes, Roses, Lavender, Tulips for early spring, Coral Bells, and Diablo Nine Bark.

Ornamental grasses and wildflowers are great options as well as evergreen bushes and shrubs.

Next, consider hardscaping. Adding stone pavers, decorative gravel, and mulch will give your landscaping interest without adding more plants and maintenance.

Automated irrigation will save money and time for you and your staff. Plants will get the water they need at a scheduled time each week (on multiple days, usually). This means healthy plants and no stress for your employees!

Considerations for your low maintenance commercial landscaping: sun exposure, weather, and traffic.

Know which plants will work best for various areas of your building. It may be best to choose shade-tolerant shrubs for some areas, while those that receive more sun are better for perennial flower beds or flowering shrubs.

Be aware of areas where snow will pile in winter (in parking lot medians or nearby sidewalk areas). You may want to consider just using decorative gravel in areas like this.

Similarly, consider foot and car traffic at your business. What will work for visibility, beauty, and ease for everyone using your space?

Planning accordingly can lead to a beautiful outdoor space for your business, its employees, and clients too.

Design Build vs. Traditional: Which is right for you?

When it comes to bringing your commercial construction project to life, you have two basic methods to choose from: a traditional (design-bid-build) method or a design build method. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, and deciding which is the best way to go will be up to you and your individual preferences.

Design Build

A “design build” method means that your contractor is in charge of everything: the design and the build. At North Peak we use this method and work with our architects, subcontractors, vendors and the owner as a team, from the very beginning of the project.

With a design build, you’re trusting your contractor to choose all of those other aspects: vendors, architects, etc. You’re allowing the contract to have most of the control, leaving you to just relax and wait for your finished project!

For some, this lack of control can be unpleasant. While it can save time and streamline processes, if you want to be more involved in various aspects of your project, a traditional method might be better for you.

Traditional Build

With a traditional build, also called a design-bid-build, you will choose your architect first. Once your architect has designed your project you can then have contractors bid on your project.

This also means you will become the go-between and main communicator between the architect and general contractor. You’ll be in charge of making more decisions in regards to your commercial project.

Three Commercial Building Trends for 2025

Trends in commercial buildings come and go, and this year is no different. While some trends, like sustainable building, have stuck around for several years now, others, like Smart Buildings and Adaptive Reuse are just emerging.

First, “Sustainable Building” has been growing since the 1960s. The 1990s brought actual guidelines for “green” building standards. Since then the availability of projects and methods for creating commercial office buildings, neighborhood strip malls, and homes, has grown substantially.

Bamboo, cork, reclaimed wood, concrete, and adobe are all examples of sustainable building materials.

A second trend in commercial office design these days includes “in office benefits” for workers. These can range from something as simple as green plants to more complex options like an employee fitness center.

Providing incentives for employees, and ways to help them stay motivated helps you as their boss, but also helps your employees. Natural light, breakout spaces, quiet rooms, and quality office furniture are all ways to provide benefits to your staff.

It’s no surprise that “smart buildings” and the concept of “IoT” (The internet of things) are taking off. Smart buildings use Internet integration technology to program security cameras and thermostats, to improve workflow, and even to analyze data and productivity.

Energy efficiency is one of the top ways companies can use Smart Technology. By implementing simple changes in your design, like programmable thermostats, smart lighting, and even smart windows, companies can save money and help the environment.

If you’re considering a new commercial building, repurposing a current commercial property, or building a space that includes commercial and residential aspects, we’d love to help! Contact us at (970) 812-7970.

Best Commercial Office Paint Colors

We’re having a blast with a few remodeling projects on the Western Slope! Not only are we remodeling the old Delta Library for the Sheriff’s Office to use, but we’re also remodeling the Pitkin County Senior Center to make the space there more usable for everyone. Read more about those projects here.

Remodeling an office space comes with the added benefit of a new interior design as well. The colors you choose to use in this newly remodeled space can have a huge impact on the productivity and mood of your staff. Read on to learn more about the best commercial office paint colors for your new space!

Blue – Blue is considered a stimulating color, in all its shades. Because of this, it’s thought that having blue walls in your office space can lead to higher productivity. This is especially true in situations where employees are performing repetative work.

Yellow – is a great color for creative industries. It can create a happy environment that “lifts spirits” and gets the imagination and creative juices flowing! Don’t go overboard, but pops of color like shown below are a great start.

Green – Green walls in an office offer calm and reassurance. This is why it is often a good choice for financial industries or other high-stress environments.

Using a combination of colors, like seen above, gives you the opportunity to guide your employees to shine in several areas!

Finally, if you need to amp up the energy, try a pop of orange!

If you’re considering remodeling your commercial office space, contact us! We’d love to help.

Benefits of Planned Outdoor Space in your Commercial Construction Project

When designing your new commercial building project, it’s important to consider every aspect of design from energy efficiency to employee satisfaction and comfort. One area of commercial construction designs that has become increasingly important since the COVID pandemic is designing welcoming outdoor spaces for employees.

Why outdoor space?

While working from home during the height of the pandemic many employees had more access to sunshine and outdoor spaces than they do in a typical office setting. In order to meet emerging employee needs, adding this type of space in your office building is crucial. Let’s not forget the added benefits of vitamin D, stress relief and endorphin boosts that can come with spending time in nature!

Types of Planned Outdoor Space to Consider

Rooftop gardens or workspaces are a great way to find outdoor space in the middle of a city. Shade structures, covered areas in case of rain, and plentiful seating and greenery can make your employees feel at ease.

Sunrooms or solariums are a great way to stay enclosed but provide that feeling of warmth, and a “conservatory” like feeling. Filled with live plants and discreet, beautiful privacy screens, employees will feel comfortable taking a private call or brainstorming their next creative project here.

Courtyards are an excellent way to use space that is already available between buildings or off of alleyways.

Additions to consider

Be sure your outdoor space is WI-FI enabled and that the technology works well in the outdoor space.

If appropriate, set quiet hours for your outdoor spaces so that large meetings or casual gatherings don’t interrupt others’ workdays.

Water features will provide a peaceful backdrop and may bring birds to your outdoor space.

Live plants and foliage can also contribute not only to the beauty of your space but also to the natural world by providing pollen for bees and insects too.

If you’re ready to talk more about a commercial remodel and how to incorporate planned outdoor space in your commercial construction project, contact us.

Remodeling Commercial Office Space

Remodeling your office space is a project worth the time and investment. Many business owners do this because they want their office space to feel sophistocated and more appealing to customers. If you need some guidance on how to create a fresh look for your office space, you have come to the right place! These are some reasons why remolding commercial office space is a good idea.

Attract Customers

First impressions are everything. New clients can tell when businesses try to make their offices look beautiful and professional. Walking into an office with good style gives the customer the belief that they are at a company that cares about its reputation.

Help With Competition

If there are businesses around like yours, making those changes sets you apart. Not every enterprise prioritizes revamping their office’s look. So, what better time than now to begin the remodeling journey that distinguishes you from the competition?

Create An Enjoyable Work Environment

You will be spending a lot of time in your office. Why not make it the office of your dreams, where you and your employees enjoy coming to a creative/calm/focused/productive atmosphere. A wonderful ambiance to work in enhances productivity and satisfaction for you and your employees.

Structural Changes:

To go beyond a fresh coat of paint and new décor, there is the option of doing structural changes. These adjustments can enhance efficiency and functionality in the office environment.

A Coxy Kitchenette: A staff kitchenette does not have to be fancy. However, having a designated place for staff to enjoy their breaks is a thoughtful gesture. Providing these amenities communicates that you value your team’s well-being.
Adding an Extra Bathroom: It is convenient and provides more flexibility for office expansion. If you plan on hiring more employees, they will be happy to know that there is more than one bathroom, even in a small office space.
Converting One Room into Two: If you are unsure what the best strategy to utilize an empty large room is, why not turn it into two? This way, you can have a closed conference room for meetings and the other space used for a breakroom or private office.
Soundproof Strategy: This can be done by purchasing autistic panels. These panels have sound-absorbing technology, perfect for eliminating distractions.
Renewable Energy: A popular option to implement would be adding solar panels to generate sun and power your office. Solar can also heat the building.

Bonus: Tips for Remodeling

First, there are a few steps to add to the list of changes that can make the space stand out.

Hire a Designer

Having a professional eye assisting in such an important project is always a good idea. Since you are investing in your business, it is worth paying someone who can help make those critical design decisions. They can also help create a budget to ensure what updates must be included in the remodeling process.

A Splash of New Paint

Instead of the same old white walls, try a fun new color! It can be bold or straightforward; just go with your style preference. If you are hesitant to try color, pick a neutral color and one daring option as an accent wall. Having a fresh coat of paint can lighten the mood of your office and cultivate an inviting area for clients to enjoy.

Update Light Fixtures

Replacing those old lights with modern ones can bring in more light that goes with your theme. These small changes make massive differences in the overall appearance. If you choose LED light bulbs, the cost to keep them off will be less.

Buy Comfortable and Trendy Furniture

Before settling on any purchases, contemplate the style that appeals to your vision and fits into the office’s overarching theme. You can choose a simple neutral shade for a couch and add colorful pillows for some flair. Consider what size and how many necessary furniture pieces will fit into the office space. We want the freedom to have a nice flow and not be boxy.

If you’re ready to consider a remodel of your office and need the help of a general contractor, contact us!

commercial design