Designing Commercial Interiors 3rd Edition

Book Preface

The commercial interior design profession has changed and, therefore, this edition hasbeen influenced by those changes. The importance of global and cultural influences on design impacts all types of facilities. Sustainable design is a critical issue in the design of commercial interiors, whether that means specifying low‐VOC paints or helping a client achieve a high level of LEED certification. Accessibility for an aging population is an ongoing concern that is an absolute necessity in planning any of the facilities covered in this book. Security and code issues continue to be of utmost importance.

Interior design is still problem solving. Practitioners and students are requested to plan and specify interiors that are aesthetically pleasing, yet these interiors must also be functional and help meet the business goals of the client. No designer can solve the client’s problems without appreciating the purpose and functions of the business. Understanding the business interests of the specific commercial facility is essential to help the interior designer make more informed design decisions. Doing research about a facility before beginning to design and plan a project may not be fun, but research is an indispensable part of successful interior design practice. Of course, an ongoing premise of this book is the importance of learning the “business of the business.”

The third edition remains a practical reference for many of the design issues related to planning a variety of commercial interior facilities. It retains its focus on the types of commercial design spaces most commonly assigned as studio projects and those typically encountered by the professional interior designer who has limited experience with commercial interior design. The book is organized similarly to the second edition so that the subject matter can be used by professors in whatever sequences are required for their specific classes. Professionals seeking information about specific types of facilities can easily reference the relevant chapters they need. There are, of course, some changes to the outline of topics. In this edition, the first four chapters provide an overview of important issues that have an impact on commercial interior design work. Chapter 1 remains an introduction and overview of the commercial interior design profession. It gives the student a glimpse of what it is like to work in the field and where the jobs are. Chapter 2 includes material concerning the critical issues of global and cultural impacts, a discussion on sustainable design, and a brief overview of the triple bottom line. The discussion of the design of accessible restrooms has been placed in this chapter for easier reference, because this type of ancillary space can be found in all the project types.

Two new chapters provide additional background information important to commercial design. Chapter 3 focuses on research and the project process. Research is an important element of the design process; by carefully studying a project, the commercial designer can develop evidence to back up any design decision —decisions that go beyond aesthetics. Discussions in this chapter include research methodologies, problem solving, and evidence‐based design. The design process and programming are also covered in this chapter. Chapter 4 concerns project management. This material has been returned to the text at the suggestion of reviewers. Many important topics in project management are included here to help the student realize that a project cannot be completed without someone managing all the parts and pieces involved. Topics included in this overview are working relationships, project delivery methods, and the project process. A section on adaptive use has been placed here, as this design assignment can be applied to any type of facility.

The chapters that focus on the types of commercial facilities were selected based on the comments by reviewers as to which types of facilities are most often assigned in classes. They are also the most common categories of commercial facilities that a professional may encounter. They are corporate and small offices, lodging, food and beverage, retail, healthcare, and senior living. A concluding chapter discusses planning the design of a variety of recreational facilities, including fitness centers and spas, golf clubhouses, and auditoriums.

These chapters are updated and reorganized to have similar content from type to type. Their basic outline is similar to that established in the second edition. New material appears in chapters to discuss topics of interest to the specific type of facility. For example, brief discussions on collaborative office spaces and the knowledge worker have been added to the office discussions. Information on the changing lodging guest has been added to the lodging facilities chapter. A discussion of the forces impacting healthcare and senior living design has been added to those chapters.

New images and graphics—many in color—have been added to enrich the text. It is exciting to exhibit these great project accomplishments in color in this edition. These new images enhance the discussions of design detail and design applications. The detailed “Design Applications” sections in Chapters 5 through 12 are provided to clarify important characteristics in designing these facilities. Existing design applications have been updated. New design applications discussions include small professional offices, quick‐service restaurants, a small gift store, specialized medical practice suites, and hospice care facilities. The discussion of the fitness center and day spa is essentially new material.