Predicted Building Trends for 2012

In almost every industry, the turn of the new year has brought with it a discussion about the trends that will dominate 2012. The construction industry is no exception. There have already been a number of reports from Sydney developers as well as companies like McGraw-Hill predicting where, what, and how to build this year. Here are some of the findings.

Multi-purpose commercial buildings

While the residential sector of the construction industry has been quite unstable in the past few years, commercial buildings are on the rise. In particular, multi-purpose buildings will be key. These buildings need to house various companies and functions at the same time. For instance, industrial units, high-rise office blocks, and loft-style offices are all buildings that can cater to large number of working people comfortably. As well as the style of the building, location will also be a major consideration. The value of a commercial building increases when it is centrally and conveniently located near public transport and shops. Though the land may be expensive to purchase at first, the return on investment will be worth it.

Functionality

In 2012, functionality and practicality will reign over extravagance. After years of unique, superfluous designs that were sometimes a little too artistic, minimalism is back. The building industry will see a return to simplicity, to clean lines and classic design. Admittedly, this trend has been driven by the instability of the economy and funding, but it is a positive change. Building in a functional and practical way reduces unnecessary expenditure and use of space. This trend also links closely to the increase of multi-purpose buildings, as the aim is to create buildings that allow more people to live and work in them effectively and comfortably.

Green Building

Many eco organisations are optimistic that 2012 will be the year where green building becomes a standard for Sydney commercial builders. The ultimate aim is for green buildings to become the norm rather than an afterthought, but this is a gradual process. ‘Green’ buildings are more affordable now than ever, and will only become more popular as people discover how space, time, money, and energy saving they are. As well as these benefits, building ‘green’ is also about using space in the most smart, practical way. Some ‘green’ features that are predicted to really take off in 2012 are green roofs, water saving fixtures, efficient lighting, and solar power. Also, excess free space (such as large foyers) will be replaced with more practical uses.

Of course, the year has barely begun, so these are just predictions. They are based on extensive research, so it will be interesting to see if they turn out to be accurate. Regardless of how they play out, Patterson Building Group will continue to focus on commercial buildings and keep up our green initiatives.

The benefits of variety building

Variety is the spice of life, and we believe that there’s no reason why this philosophy shouldn’t apply when it comes to building. While it’s understandable why some Sydney developers choose to specialise in a niche area of building, there are also plenty of benefits for variety building.

Showcase ability

If nothing else, variety building will allow you to showcase the extent of your abilities. By being involved in the design and construction of a range of projects, you will be able to showcase an impressive collection of work to clients. By building up a varied creative portfolio, you will prove your flexibility, which is an excellent trait to have in this industry. It will also showcase your diversity and willingness to take on different projects. This, in turn, will increase the likelihood of attracting new clients as well as repeat work from existing clients.

Increase business prospects

When you restrict your Sydney construction company to a certain type of building, you automatically limit yourself to a smaller number of clients and prospectives. By allocating time, training, and resources to variety building, you will be opening yourself up to more opportunities. From a business point of view, variety building will allow you expand the client base in the future. Remember that every client is different, and every client has unique needs. It’s only natural that if you have an array of projects to promote, you will attract a larger number of clients. However, there is a fine line between limiting and overstretching your company. You still need to be excellent at the work you accept, so ensure that you have staff with the know-how on each type of building project.

Think about the future

Having an impressive, diverse creative portfolio will give you the option to expand the business later on down the track. If you have been variety building, then you will have the knowledge, skills, and staff to handle a range of projects. If and when the opportunity presents itself to expand the company, it’s very likely that you will be able to embrace it.

Challenge

Everyone loves, or at least needs, a challenge once in a while. For builders and managers alike, taking on the same kind of projects all the time can get repetitive, boring, and very uninspiring. Site managers should have the chance to be creative. They need to be challenged to test their boundaries, to learn something new, and to nurture the talent of their staff. Similarly, builders need to be able to mix up their work. They will be more inspired if in the space of months, they get to work on completely different things: a retirement village, a railway station, and a school. If you want to stimulate your staff, keep things interesting and challenging.

At Patterson Building Group, we believe that being different sets us apart. In a world where expertise is a type of currency, why be an expert at just one thing?

The challenge of being environmentally conscious

In this day and age, where we have an acute awareness of the effect of our actions on the environment, being ‘green’ has slowly infiltrated industry. Some Sydney commercial builders jumped on the environmentally conscious bandwagon and embraced the trend, but this decision is not without its challenges. Typically, building is about doing the job quickly and efficiently, but being mindful of the environment requires a little more effort on the builders’ behalf. With a bit of creativity and commitment, Sydney developers can overcome challenges and build with a conscience.

Challenge: The client wants to use aesthetically pleasing materials, and believes that the higher the cost, the higher the quality.

Solution: Enlighten them to the range of recycled materials available.

There are many wonderfully creative people in this world, and some of them work on recycling materials to make something new and fresh. The result is often a unique creation that doesn’t harm the environment. Sydney builders such as Patterson Building Group can recycle materials like glass, wood, light fittings, and bricks and by doing so, make an edgy and ethical building. By incorporating just a few green touches in your building, you will avoid harming the environment in some small way.

Challenge: Time restrictions.

Solution: Consider the environment at the same time as you are planning the building project.

There are several steps that come before laying the foundation. One of the first, and key, aspects of planning for all Sydney builders is the building development proposal and strategy. Most companies work through a checklist, consulting the client at regular intervals. The checklist is created with a time frame in mind, and everything must be ticked off before the project commences. In order to complete the checklist, excellent time management is a necessity. Simply add the environment to the checklist as something that needs to be done, and considering it will become a natural part of the process. This way, environmentally conscious building will not feel like a burden, or require too much extra time.

Challenge: Attracting enough interest in order to turn a profit comparable to non-green building projects.

Solution: Alert other organisations of your activity and dedicate some budget to advertising your green services.

It can’t be ignored that making money is at the core of all business ventures. The question is, how can you balance profit and green building? Due to the increased interest in the environment, the answer is simpler than you might think! The first thing to do is alert both government and nongovernmental organisations of your green building initiatives. They will then be able to promote your business to the ‘greenie’ population, and hopefully attract prospective clients. Secondly, approach ‘green’-leaning media. In the past few years, eco magazines and websites have proliferated rapidly. Their focus is to guide people to live a more environmentally friendly life, and green building obviously fits into that niche. You may have to pay for such exposure, but with the green sector growing at the rate it is, it is really worth advertising to this market.