Commercial Buildings: What is The Most Common Type?

The term commercial buildings typically refers to buildings that house profitable activities. In order to qualify as a commercial building, at least 50 percent of the space will be utilized for commercial activities.

A commercial building isn’t necessarily the same as a commercial property. The difference between the two is that commercial properties themselves earn money for the property owner, rather than the activities occurring within.

What is the most common type of commercial building? It probably won’t surprise you that office buildings dominate the commercial building landscape.

Office Buildings

When many people hear the words commercial building, they immediately think of a large office building. Big cities tend to feature dominant office buildings that fill the skylines, and the traditional office building continues to evolve. Particularly in urban settings, we are seeing more and more office concepts that incorporate smaller entities on the bottom floor such as coffee shops and banks. In this case, the owner of each concept leases from and pays the building owner.

When it comes to creating an office space that stands out, our team at Alpha Omega Contractors specializes in providing general contracting and construction management services for commercial buildings in Southern California.

The Three Classes

Not all office buildings are the same. There is a standard classification system for categorizing office buildings by age, amenities, aesthetics, and general infrastructure. Commercial realtors use these classes to create market data and justify the cost of rent in buildings. Here are the three classes of office buildings:

1. Class A: This is the highest quality of office space; it is usually newly constructed and comes with top-of-the-line fixtures, amenities, and HVAC and technological systems.
2. Class B: These types of buildings are described as being average to above-average. They usually don’t have the same high-quality fixtures, architectural details, and impressive lobbies as Class A spaces. However, these are generally nice structures with fully functional facilities.
3. Class C: Class C properties are typically more than 20 years old and require repairs or upgrades, and are therefore offered at lower rent prices. However, with the right renovations, a Class C building can be upgraded to Class B.

Different Types of Offices Spaces

Office spaces for lease come in all shapes, sizes, and building classes. No matter what you’re looking for in terms of accommodation, the perfect office floor plan exists for your company’s needs. Here are the different types of office spaces:

• Traditional office space
• Creative office space
• Contiguous office space
• Coworking space
• Shared office space
• Executive suites

Ready to find the perfect office space for your company? At AO Contractors, we specialize in building office spaces of all types and classes. Our team is here to help bring your vision to life and create your dream office. Get in touch with the Alpha Omega Contractors team today.

With years of experience in commercial construction, Alpha Omega Contractors is your go-to construction company in Southern California. Our team helps bring your renovation wish list to life while helping you safeguard and future-proof the profitability of your business. Our team of general contractors, designers, and design-build experts will collaborate with you from the initial stages of pre-construction through to putting the finishing touches on your dream remodel project on time and within budget.