Feature

Steel Structure Commercial Construction

Steel Structure Industrial Construction

Primary Purpose

To house people and facilitate commerce. Focus on customer experience, retail, office work, and public gatherings.

To facilitate manufacturing, production, and logistics. Focus on process flow, machinery, and efficiency of industrial operations.

Design & Aesthetics

High priority. Architectural appeal is critical. Features include sleek facades, curtain walls, glass, and finishes to attract customers and tenants.

Low to minimal priority. Function over form. Exposed steel, metal siding, and utilitarian appearance are common. Aesthetics are often secondary.

Layout & Floor Plan

Flexible, divisible spaces (e.g., offices, storefronts). Focus on pedestrian flow, lighting, and creating pleasant environments. Often includes mezzanines for additional leasable area.

Large, open, and column-free spaces to accommodate production lines, large machinery, and storage racks. Layout is dictated by process flow.

Clear Span Requirements

Moderate. Typical spans for retail or atria (e.g., 20-40 feet). Some spaces like auto dealerships or warehouses may require larger spans.

Extremely High. Often requires massive, clear-span spaces (e.g., 100+ feet) for unimpeded movement of cranes, assembly lines, and storage systems.

Floor Load Capacity

Standard live loads (e.g., 50-150 psf for offices/retail). Designed for people, furniture, and light equipment.

Very High. Designed for heavy machinery, dense storage racks (e.g., pallet racks), and heavy vehicle traffic (e.g., forklifts). Loads can exceed 500 psf.

Building Systems (MEP)

Complex. Emphasis on human comfort: advanced HVAC, extensive electrical/lighting, plumbing for restrooms/kitchens, IT infrastructure, fire alarms, and sprinklers.

Heavy-Duty & Process-Focused. High-capacity electrical for machinery, process-specific plumbing (e.g., compressed air, water lines), industrial ventilation (fume hoods, dust collection), and specialized systems.

Crane & Hoist Systems

Rare. Limited to small service elevators or freight lifts.

Very Common. Often includes integrated overhead bridge cranes, gantry cranes, or jib cranes with high load capacities (e.g., 5 to 100+ tons).

Ceiling Height

Standard heights (e.g., 10-20 feet). Higher ceilings in atriums or flagship stores.

Very High Clear Height. Often 25-40 feet or more to accommodate vertical storage, large equipment, and crane systems.

Durability & Maintenance

Durable, but finishes and appearance are maintained. Focus on corrosion resistance for longevity of appearance.

Extreme Durability. Built to withstand abrasion, chemicals, impacts, and heavy use. Often has simpler, more repairable finishes.

Code & Regulatory Focus

Life Safety and Accessibility: Strict codes for egress, fire resistance, seismic design, and ADA compliance for public access.

Life Safety and Process Safety: Includes all building codes plus additional OSHA standards, hazardous material handling, and high-hazard occupancy requirements.

Examples

Shopping malls, big-box retail stores, office buildings, sports arenas, airports, car dealerships, entertainment complexes.

Manufacturing plants, warehouses & distribution centers, aircraft hangars, chemical processing facilities, power plants, recycling centers.