it is not unusual for a commercial contractor to focus their attention on only a few building types.
Commercial projects are typically designed by architects. The building systems can be complex, and various specialty engineers are engaged to support the architect with the electrical, mechanical, and structural design. Additional consultants may also be brought in for unique requirements of the project. For example, a sound and acoustics engineer is a likely participant on a concert hall project but would not be called in for a retail facility. And given the interest in sustainability, a LEED consultant would be a “must-have” member on the construction team. (LEED is discussed in more detail later in the chapter; see the “Sustainability” section.)
Means and Methods
Commercial construction tends to be far more technically complex than residential construction. Special construction processes are utilized in the building of commercial buildings, and specially trained technicians are required. The use of concrete casting beds, cofferdams, and slip forms are common techniques in commercial construction but would seldom ever be utilized in residential construction. Although plumbers, electricians, and painters are some of the trades required in both the commercial and residential sectors, ironworkers, pipefitters, and glaziers are more likely to be exclusive to the commercial (and industrial) sectors. The equipment needs in commercial construction are much more extensive as well. Cranes are a common sight on most commercial projects, as well as pile drivers, welding machines, and concrete pumps.
cofferdams
Temporary watertight enclosures erected to prevent water from seeping into an area, allowing construction to take place in the water-free space.
slip forms
Concrete forms that rise up the wall as construction progresses.
As a construction manager involved in commercial building, you will be required to work with numerous specialty contractors and union workers employed in various trades. The labor management aspect of commercial construction can be complex and requires special knowledge of labor laws and collective bargaining.
Primary Materials
Just take a look at any downtown city area, and you will see a variety of combinations of the three basic building materials associated with commercial building: steel, concrete, and glass. These three materials compose the primary materials utilized in commercial construction. Commercial buildings consist of some type of building frame or structure and an exterior cladding to cover the frame. The cladding material is usually applied as a curtain wall of brick, stone, concrete, aluminum, steel, or glass or as an exterior insulation panel. In some cases, reinforced concrete masonry (RCM) is the material of choice for commercial buildings of limited height.
curtain wall
An exterior cladding system that is supported entirely by the frame of the building, rather than being self-supporting or load-bearing.
The frame of a commercial building is designed to withstand certain loads and conditions. Architects and engineers will determine whether a steel frame or reinforced concrete frame is best suited for the building. Glass is a common cladding material for commercial buildings, although other materials are available for this purpose. In some cases, the entire building frame and cladding are concrete. There is very little wood used in commercial buildings because of the higher fire-resistive design standards required by building codes.
Interior partitions are most often constructed of light-gauge steel studs covered with drywall. Interior finishes include paint, wall coverings, carpet, tile, marble, granite, and acoustic ceilings.
Most commercial buildings have flat roofs covered with a bituminous membrane with gravel ballast or some type of a vinyl or rubber covering. Commercial buildings with sloped roofs are often covered with prefinished metal roofing.
Characteristics
Unlike the residential sector, commercial buildings are typically funded by corporations, agencies, or the government. Personal dollars are not involved, and the owners are typically not as concerned with the day-to-day operations of construction. However, they are concerned with meeting the schedule and getting their operations up and running as quickly as possible. This need for speed to market has prompted many changes in project delivery that will be discussed later in this book.
project delivery
A comprehensive process by which a building, facility, or structure is designed and constructed.
The primary focus in commercial building is actually the construction itself. If you are fascinated with tall buildings, towering cranes, and complex construction details, then commercial construction may be your niche. Depending on the size of the company, opportunities exist at the local, regional, national, or international levels.
Whereas residential construction requires an across-the-board understanding of the home building business, commercial construction requires a deep understanding of construction processes and techniques. Commercial contractors are rarely involved in the sales or marketing or land acquisition components of the project.
Heavy Civil Construction
This sector of the industry impacts all of society in a very big way. Often referred to as horizontal construction, the heavy civil sector includes roadways, bridges, tunnels, dams, airports, and railways. Basically, any work that is associated with infrastructure, transportation, and how we move about involves the heavy civil construction market. Similar to the industrial sector, heavy civil projects are complex, usually high-dollar endeavors that take special engineering know-how. This market is huge and growing larger every day. The need for building and rebuilding of our nation's roadways, airports, sewage plants, and bridges is great.
These projects are typically designed by civil engineers, and often the construction management team has a strong background in civil engineering as well. Heavy civil construction firms are generally very large operations that can offer opportunities nationally and internationally. However, the heavy civil sector of the industry is difficult to enter because of the huge capital outlay required for entry, not to mention the specialized knowledge required to be successful.
Means and Methods
Only a few trades are engaged in heavy civil construction compared to the other three sectors. There is no need for carpet layers or drywall finishers in this sector of the market. On the other hand, equipment and equipment operators play a huge role in the work of a heavy civil project. Heavy civil contractors make huge investments in equipment. Keeping the earth movers, excavators, scrappers, and trucks rolling is the name of the game for this sector of the industry.
Primary Materials
Asphalt, gravel, concrete, steel, and dirt make up the primary materials used in heavy civil construction. Most of us have witnessed highway road crews as they lay down new asphalt on our highways and streets. We watch as they bring in loads of gravel and rock dust before they place the hot asphalt and roll out the roadway.
Other heavy civil projects such as bridges and dams make use of large amounts of concrete and steel. For
