Pre-design Architectural Services and Retail Location
Selecting your next retail location, made easier.
by Tom Davis, AIA, LEED AP
The key to selecting your next retail space is location, location, location. And pre-design services. Even the most ideal location may have hidden problems that drive up build-out costs, create store design liabilities, or even negatively impact daily operations and profitability. Engaging an architectural team in the pre-lease and pre-design phase can save money and time by confirming that the site meets design criteria, and that there are no hidden “deal-breakers“. These hidden issues may not be apparent in available floor plans or lease agreements, and pre-lease/pre-design services will bring them to the surface. Pre-design services can include lease work letter review, site investigation, and preliminary building code review.
- The Work Letter. The Work Letter is the part of a lease that defines what the landlord will provide to the Tenant in the space. Consulting with an architect on what the Work Letter proposes can help identify the required scope of work and help establish build-out budget expectations before nasty surprises sneak up on you.
- Preliminary Site Investigation. Can your busines plan be successfully executed on the chosen site? Even 1,200 location national chain concepts can benefit from conducting a Preliminary Site Investigation to answer this question. There is so much to consider when determining if a space supports the business plan. Some elements aren’t apparent in an initial walk-through. A thorough site investigation can help draw those out, and confirm that site conditions outlined in the lease are accurate. Quantity of cooling capacity, electrical service quantity, domestic water service, and zoning codes are all critical operational considerations which a preliminary site investigation will identify.
- Preliminary Building Code Review. It’s another money saver when identifying a lease space. If the leased space is not constructed to current building codes, unforeseen build cost can accumulate rapidly, sometimes doubling the original estimate. Involving a local architect that is familiar with local codes is prudent, and will help project owners avoid expensive building code problems after the lease has been signed.
Pre-design services are very low-cost steps which will ultimately generate savings that more than make up the up-front costs.
Davis Wince believes that engaging store design and on-site branding drive effective architectural solutions for the restaurant and retail industries. If you have any questions about pre-lease and pre-design services, please contact Jennifer Bobbitt at jbobbitt@daviswince.com
