Commercial Design

Complex projects not a problem.

Restaurants, retail, offices, hotels, and mixed-use developments. We handle these drafting issues for commercial projects — spaces that meet code, support your operations, and get built on time.

We understand the difficulties that come with working on an as-built project that includes Tenant Improvement (TI) project, often called a leasehold improvement with multiple tenants, security issues, unusual working hours, and unoccupied or abandoned buildings.

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FAQ

Q46: How do you ensure commercial drawings pass Atlanta and Georgia plan review?

A: Georgia enforces IBC 2021 amendments that differ from base code, and drawings that miss them get rejected. We apply all current GA amendments before drafting and include fire separation schedules, travel distances, and opening protection designations on all applicable sheets.

Q47: How do you prevent MEP conflicts from delaying a tenant improvement project?

A: As-builts with conflicting duct, pipe, and conduit paths halt TI projects when subcontractors hit conflicts during rough-in. We run full 3D clash detection in Navisworks before delivery and provide a clash report with resolution log for MEP engineer coordination prior to construction.

Q48: Why might storefront glass not fit the dimensions shown on TI drawings?

A: Storefront systems are manufactured to exact mullion modules that must be field-verified before layout is finalized. We measure all mullion centers and jamb depths directly in the field and include full mullion schedules and jamb details in the drawing set.

Q49: How do you ensure ceiling height documentation is accurate for tenant improvements?

A: Net ceiling heights are reduced by slab depth, beams, and existing MEP that old records rarely account for correctly. We laser measure slab-to-slab at every column grid intersection, trace existing MEP to calculate plenum depth, and produce net ceiling height schedules for the full tenant space.

Q50: How is the kitchen exhaust path documented for a commercial tenant?

A: An undocumented exhaust path causes permitting delays and health department violations. We trace the full route from hood plenum through all shaft transitions to the rooftop discharge point, recording duct sizes, shaft clearances, and makeup air requirements with the TI drawing set.

Q51: How do you document demising wall fire ratings for commercial TI projects?

A: Misidentified fire assemblies on TI drawings cause failed inspections and costly rework. We identify each demising wall assembly in the field, cross-reference UL-tested listings, and specify the correct rated assembly with head-of-wall details and floor-to-deck conditions in section.

Q52: How do you document loading dock turning radius requirements?

A: An inadequate site plan can result in vehicles unable to maneuver and a failed certificate of occupancy. We verify turning radii using swept path templates for 53-foot trailer combinations and show all swept paths on the site plan at a scale appropriate for zoning and fire marshal review.

Q53: How do you document ADA restroom clearances in commercial TI drawings?

A: ADA compliance failures in commercial restrooms are among the most common plan review rejections. We verify all fixture clearances, maneuvering spaces, and turning radii against ICC A117.1 current edition and include dimensioned clearance diagrams at each accessible fixture in the construction document set.

Q54: How do you document HVAC capacity requirements for a new tenant layout?

A: A new tenant layout that changes occupancy or equipment load without updated HVAC documentation creates comfort and code compliance problems. We document existing VAV locations, diffuser sizes, and return air paths within the space and note CFM requirements for the new layout to support the mechanical engineer's re-balancing calculations.

Q60: Why might elevator lobby dimensions be documented incorrectly?

A: Elevator lobby conditions involve multiple interacting components — shaft walls, cab clearances, door frames, smoke pockets — that must be field-verified, not taken from original drawings. We laser-measure shaft-to-shaft and cab-to-wall dimensions at each lobby level and document smoke pocket depth and sill heights for renovation permitting and elevator modernization.