You just leased a new commercial space in Long Beach, California which comes with a tenant improvement budget—congratulations! Now comes the fun part of improving your space, which often includes not only aesthetic changes, but also structural improvements that make the space more suitable for your type of business.
Many business owners in this situation think their first call should be to a general contractor who can help them make their desired changes and updates, but most would be wise to contact an architect to get started. Here are three reasons why:
Tenant Improvement Architects Specialize in Space Planning
Architects are trained in space planning, and making the best use of your commercial space so you get the most out of your square footage is a must—especially with the high cost of leasing a commercial space in Long Beach! A good tenant improvement architect can help you better allocate the space you have—making sure you have adequate room for your employees and customers, as well as for things like specialty equipment and storage.
Tenant Improvement Architects Know the Building Code
Long Beach, Ca tenant improvement architects also tend to be familiar with commercial building codes and can design a space that will get through the city planning department with few to no changes. Some Long Beach tenant improvement architects will even work with the city on your behalf to see the plans through the entire approval process. The approval process can be lengthy no matter who designs your plans, but it can be especially lengthy if it takes multiple rounds of submissions before the plans finally get approved!
No architect will know every aspect of the building code, but architects tend to be very good at code research, since they do it all the time. They know where to look or who to ask to find the answers they need to code questions.
Architects Tend to Be Experienced in Interior Design
If you want to spruce up the space to better appeal to potential customers or help inspire your employees during their work day, a tenant improvement architect can likely help with this as well. Many Long Beach architects are either trained in interior design themselves or have someone on their staff who is. They know how to create a space that is more than just functional—but also one that is aesthetically pleasing.
Once you have tenant improvement plans that you are happy with, and that city officials have signed off on, then it’s time to hire a general contractor. With completed plans in hand, you will be better able to compare the quotes you get from general contractors, and hopefully be able to keep your project within your allotted budget.
