RETAIL ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES
CONCEPTS-ENTERPRISE provides Architectural Retail Design services to encourage customer engagement and reduce construction as well as operating costs. We work in the NY, Westchester, NJ and CT areas on new construction and renovations of various retail types and our Supermarket Architectural Services are particularly useful for the retail food industry. For retail prototypes our focus on costs even more critical. Our Retail Design services include store planning, interior design and construction management services.
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ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
The Architectural design of the building has to provide the user requirements. Organize and document information regarding functions, space allocation, circulation of people, materials and vehicles.
Develop the layout and Architectural design to work with the Program requirements and the site where applicable. Evaluate aspects such as natural lighting, code compliance, structural systems and practical methods of construction. The Owner and Architect work together though the Design, Development and Documentation process from conceptual ideas to construction drawings.
Some projects involve complexity of various factors that impact the feasibility of its execution. For these projects, alternative studies can be made to determine if and how the project may proceed.
Research and document for all building projects regardless of size, use and location must comply with regulatory requirements such as building codes, zoning ordinances, health department codes and energy conservation codes.
For many projects construction cost is a major consideration. Cost projections can be developed based upon information available at different stages the Design, Development and Documentation Process.
Many retail businesses have more than one location. By designing these to repeat their architectural design as prototypes they enhance recognition of their product or business in the marketplace. Prototype design requires a more in depth design development.
Building Standards, including layout preferences, typical details, specifications, and product choices for chain store operators to provide to landlords and contractors can save much time a money in new store activities. We can help develop these standards.
STORE PLANNING & INTERIOR DESIGN
Use Store planning for a new building design or a tenant space. We develop the merchandising and layout of the store to optimize circulation of customers, personnel, and merchandise. Careful planning of support area like storage and preparation areas, point of sale and receiving will minimize labor costs.
We select, detail, and document for purchasing and installation the fixtures and equipment. This follows the store layout, which can be as designed by CONCEPTS-ENTERPRISE or others, including the owner.
The store interior design, including lighting, materials, color schemes, and signage is developed working with a store layout and retail prototypes where applicable.
Sometimes standard display fixtures will not fit into a particular space or do the best job to display the merchandise. We design and document for fabrication of custom display fixtures to be incorporated into the fixture plan.
We have experience with all aspects of supermarket store operation design needs as well as specific supermarket technologies such as refrigeration systems, front end, and HVAC requirements.
CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES
We assist the Owner to manage the bidding process to select the right contractor for the construction of the project. This initially involves developing a list of qualified contractors and distributing construction documents to them to prepare bids. Then, we review bids and select contractors with the Owner. Further, we assist with the development of the Owner-Contractor Agreement for construction.
Construction Phase Services varies substantially depending on the needs of the project and the Owner. A complete set includes:
- review of each Contractor's application for payment
- periodic visits to the site as the Owner's representative
- review of Contractor submittals required during construction ("shop drawings", product data, etc.)
- verifying Contractor compliance with the contract
- managing changes of the work
- addressing issues with building departments, and
- determining the date of Substantial Completion as required by the Owner-Contractor Agreement.
A small project can omit parts or all of these and only be provided on an as-needed basis.
Construction projects require a lot of organizing, purchasing, scheduling, payments and communications. These tasks of project management are done by the owner and contractor. CONCEPTS-ENTERPRISE can replace or supplement the Owner's project management tasks and expedite the completion of the project.
The standard method of construction is by a general contractor who is hired and paid by the owner. The general contractor hires and pays sub-contractors as he is paid by the owner as the work progresses. The sub-contractors have no contractual or financial relationship to the owner. Construction Management Services is an alternative to the standard general contractor method. By hiring, paying and managing the sub-contractors directly the Owner can achieve lower cost and faster project delivery time. This challenges the cash flow of the owner to pay sub-contractors directly. It also requires the owner to perform the general contractor's task of managing the sub-contractors. CONCEPTS-ENTERPRISE can assist the owner with the additional tasks of Construction Management.
SITE PLANNING
Research and analyse the opportunities and constraints of the:
- topography
- zoning
- vehicular and pedestrian circulation
- parking
- utilities, and
- local ecology of the site and surrounding land in relation to the intended use to be developed.
Develop plan for the integration of the building design with these requirements and document the details for construction and municipal approvals.
For projects with multiple buildings and development phases provide research, Design, Development and Documentation as required for the various uses and factors to be incorporated.