Rebranding a commercial building means renovating it to change out old signage, brand representations and color scheme for a new look and feel to keep current with the times and customer tastes. Rebranding could involve a visual upgrade to a store or business, or a change of business inhabitants in the commercial building. It can produce more traffic to a business, grow employee energy, make for a safer or more environmentally friendly work environment – any one of a number of goals and results. Either way, important elements are involved in construction. Rebranding is typically a marketing activity for modernization and customer focus. Although it involves much more than building construction, the construction piece of it is very important.
In the store rebranding process, business owners may start by planning with architects, engineers, contractors and brand or signage designers. Brand identity designers may come up with a new or updated logo and overall identity and color scheme, but environmental designers dictate how the image should be adapted to actual building signage and environmental 3D brand elements in the store.
Although these may seem like deep details important for later, the sooner the brand and environmental designers are brought into upfront collaboration with other stakeholders, the better. After all, the architect and building contractor need to know what is to be incorporated into their building – and adhere to brand signage guidelines and color schemes. Code and licensing are necessary items in the construction process – but many local code authorities require master signage documentation in planning submission stages. For example, different locations have different requirements on size and height of building signage. If variances on signage are requested, the more upfront time allotted will make the approval process easier.
From a construction planning perspective, there can be additional, very important codes to pay attention to. For example identifying a building’s certificate of occupancy (CO) upfront or other guidelines from the code councils. Many cities have an online database for downloading copies of property COs. And if a building is older or changing hands, there may be pre-existing violations of code to fix – for example an elevator may be faulty or not up to current code. The earlier in the construction process these are identified and fixed the better. Building engineers can help in identifying these code concerns.
Similarly, the building property structural issues should be identified upfront – along with any mechanical, electrical or plumbing (MEPs) issues. Expanding a building or its occupancy can put extra strains on these elements. Accessibility and health codes have a lot of restrictions on, for example, toilet facilities. There should be restrooms for employees in each building and in some cases on each floor. The size of a business has a lot to do with these determinations.
There are many elements required in the commercial building rebranding renovation process. The sooner these can be itemized in the process, and necessary parties brought together for collaboration (such as building contractors, engineers and brand signage designers), the better.
Want more? Read about Buildrite’s brand roll out services.