Construction Site Evaluation for Commercial Properties
Construction Site Evaluation for Commercial Properties
Taking on a new construction project can be overwhelming for any commercial property owner, which is why it's so important to understand the ins and outs of what a construction site evaluation will entail.
As the cornerstone of the building permits process, this crucial step can never be overlooked, as it ensures that all facets of your project are properly assessed and meet all necessary regulatory requirements.
This blog post will provide an overview of what a construction site evaluation is, why it's needed, how it impacts permitting, who is responsible for conducting it, and more — giving you the necessary knowledge to ensure your site evaluation goes as smoothly as possible.
Why a Site Evaluation is Necessary
Constructing a commercial building is no small task. It requires careful planning and consideration of various factors, such as:
Location
Size
Design
Budget
A site evaluation is your due diligence at the beginning of a construction project. It helps property owners, lenders, and developers understand the potential risks of erecting a commercial building in that area.
Environmental Protection
A site evaluation can help identify any environmental hazards that could affect the construction process, or the safety of those working on it.
For example, if there are groundwater sources or hazardous materials present in the area, they must be identified and addressed before construction begins.
Zoning Restrictions
Additionally, a site evaluation can help determine whether land use restrictions could limit the type of building allowed in that area. This information can help property owners make informed decisions about their projects and avoid costly mistakes down the line.
Regulatory Compliance
Finally, having a site evaluation helps to ensure compliance with local building codes and regulations. These codes vary from state to state and even city to city, so property owners and developers need to know what’s required of their project before beginning construction.
A qualified consultant can provide an accurate assessment of your commercial real estate in order to remain compliant with local regulations and avoid costly fines and delays.
Just getting started on a future industrial building site? Read our Project Owner’s Quick and Easy Guide to Industrial Architecture.
Three Phases of a Site Evaluation for Commercial Construction
Now that we have discussed why a site evaluation is necessary, let's take a look at its three phases. This process typically involves examining the land, assessing potential risks associated with the area, and evaluating local building codes and regulations to ensure compliance.
Desktop Evaluation
The first phase of a site evaluation is the desktop evaluation. Here, a team of professionals will review existing documents related to the property. This includes zoning regulations, any existing environmental studies, and soil reports.
This information will help identify any potential risks or issues that may arise during the project and eliminate the need for certain aspects of a field evaluation.
Additionally, it is important to consider any local ordinances or regulations that may impact the venture.
A desktop evaluation includes:
Reviewing existing documents related to the property
Identifying local ordinances or regulations that may impact the project
Noting any potential risks or issues that may arise during the project based on existing documents and local ordinances/regulations
Preparing a report summarizing findings
Presenting the report to stakeholders for review and approval
A desktop evaluation allows you and your stakeholders to see whether a commercial property is worth investing in and building on.
Field Evaluation
The second phase of a site evaluation is the field evaluation. This involves conducting an on-site assessment of the property in order to gather additional data about its condition and suitability for construction purposes.
During this stage, a team of professionals will conduct a physical site investigation. This includes soil condition and water tests to determine if contaminants are present that could affect construction activities, or pose health risks to workers or nearby residents.
It is also crucial to assess whether there are any physical features, such as wetlands or steep slopes. These could impede construction activities or require special considerations when designing building plans for approval by local authorities.
As with a desktop evaluation, conducting a field evaluation also involves preparing a report summarizing these findings and presenting it to stakeholders for review.
Evaluation Reporting
The third phase of a site evaluation is to generate a comprehensive report based on the findings from both the desktop and field evaluations. Stakeholders will use this to obtain necessary permits before beginning construction activities at the site.
This site evaluation report should include detailed information about all aspects of site conditions, such as:
Soil composition
Water quality
Presence/absence of hazardous materials
Physical features
It should also feature recommendations regarding how to address any identified issues prior to beginning work.
Finally, it is important to include contact information for all relevant regulatory agencies so they can be reached if additional questions arise during future stages of project development.
What is Included in a Site Evaluation?
Now that we have discussed the three phases of a site evaluation for commercial construction, let's take a look at the content of an evaluation.
Size and Location of the Property
When it comes to a site evaluation for commercial builds, property size and location must be thoroughly examined.
Is the space big enough to comfortably accommodate your existing building plan, as well as the intended parking, loading docks, paths, landscape features, and any possible future development?
What is the quality of the destination where construction is to take place?
Are there any advantages associated with this area that could encourage stakeholders to support your project efforts?
Evaluating how favorable certain demographics in an area are in accordance with your goals can be a determining factor in accepting or rejecting a potential build site.
Environmental Considerations
As part of a site evaluation, there are also environmental considerations that must be considered. This includes looking at the natural features like soil, bedrock, or steep terrain that may be present on the land in question.
Additionally, one must consider any wildlife that the project would impact. Are any endangered or protected species present?
It is also essential to find out if there are wetlands, ponds, swamps, or other nearby water supply sources and what your local flood zoning is.
Lastly, it's important to assess any existing contaminants on the land and evaluate if remediation of any kind may be necessary. Furthermore, it is prudent to research any historical significance tied to the property.
Utilities
Whether you’re building a multifamily complex, an apartment building, or a high-rise office building, utilities will be impossible to ignore.
Do the necessary water, sewer, power, gas, and high-speed internet connections exist? Or will upgrades be needed for these services before the construction project can start?
Identifying potential drawbacks early during an assessment can prove critical to later success.
Traffic and Site Access
If your commercial construction site is about to expand, it is essential to understand the impacts this may have on nearby roads, train tracks, and other infrastructure.
A thorough evaluation will consider the access required to transport personnel, vehicles, and materials in and out of the proposed location.
Projects of this nature may require accommodation infrastructure such as traffic lights, speed bumps, intersections, roundabouts, and service roads in order to ensure safe transport in compliance with local regulations.
A professional team of engineers will be able to ascertain what transportation mechanisms are best suited for the commercial site’s specific geography in terms of road type (e.g., state highway, county road, etc.), steering clear of potential traffic or access issues from conflicting routes.
Zoning and Regulations
Are there boundaries to consider before a project can commence? Is the proposed construction within city limits or out in the open ranges of property? At what point will zoning and regulations be examined during an assessment of a site evaluation for commercial construction?
It's paramount that these aspects are understood early to assess if the location requires special building codes or relevant restrictions.
Common Hurdles During a Site Evaluation
As with any major endeavor, there will be unexpected challenges. Here are some common roadblocks to look out for.
Environmental Concerns
For many construction site evaluations, environmental concerns present one of the common hurdles that can be encountered. These could include the discovery of hazardous materials on the proposed site, or the presence of protected wildlife.
Should these issues be present, they can make for delays and additional costs to investigate and mitigate them.
Zoning and Regulatory Issues
Another major problem you may encounter is related to zoning and other regulations. Getting the right permits and ensuring all requirements are met can cause major delays and significant additional expenses.
It’s important to factor this in when creating a timeline for your project — there could be speed bumps along the way!
Being aware of regulatory hurdles can prepare you for them in advance.
Doing your research and working closely with experienced professionals will ensure that any unexpected delays or costs don’t come as a complete shock. Trouble obtaining permits or complying with zoning regulations can slow the project timeline and add significant costs.
Infrastructure Limitations
Infrastructure limitations, such as utility availability or capacity, can also hinder project progress and site evaluation.
This could become a major roadblock that requires additional significant financial investment to be solved.
As these hurdles often come as a surprise, careful attention must be paid throughout the entirety of the site evaluation process to ensure an accurate assessment of availability and capacity.
Distribution of Responsibilities During Site Evaluation
Having the right team of experienced personnel with the appropriate skill set to assess a potential build site can prove invaluable. Here’s a quick breakdown of two of the most significant roles: the project owner and design-build general contractor.
Your Role as a Project Owner
As a project owner, you are crucial in ensuring the project's success. Your primary responsibility is to oversee and manage progress from a broader point of view.
This could be anything from collaborating with the construction team to identify and evaluate potential sites to assessing location constraints and opportunities.
As the key point of contact with stakeholders like investors, contractors, architects, and local government officials, it is vital to ensure that their needs and concerns are considered throughout the site evaluation process.
With your expertise and knowledge, you can help make sure that the site chosen for the project is the best possible option for the project's success.
The Role of Your Design-Build General Contractor
When it comes to site evaluation for construction projects, the design-build general contractor is crucial in the proper delegation of responsibilities like:
Site research
Data collection
Physical assessments
They also work closely with engineers, architects, and other experts to ensure all factors are considered.
Once the data has been collected, the general contractor prepares detailed site plans that consider constraints, requirements, and local building codes and regulations.
He or she also ensures that the project meets all legal requirements before construction begins. With such an essential role in the site evaluation process, your design-build general contractor should be professional, experienced, and highly skilled.
Conclusion
Site evaluation for commercial construction projects is a complex process requiring the expertise of all stakeholders involved. It is important to analyze multiple facets of the project, including traffic and site access, zoning and regulations, environmental concerns, infrastructure limitations, and distribution of responsibilities.
With careful consideration of all factors, as well as working with experienced professionals throughout the process, you can avoid costly roadblocks and guarantee project success.
Contact ZP Architects & Engineers today for all your project planning needs!
