Over the past couple years, construction of large distribution centers and warehouses has steadily increased throughout North America. This trend was bolstered during 2020 by increased consumer online purchasing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as online retailers scrambled to meet consumer expectations. Forecasted to continue through 2021, this trend is likely to have a permanent impact on the commercial building segment.
Large retailers face constant change in demand for their inventory, based on seasonal changes and the needs of individual consumers. While there’s nothing particularly “sexy” about designing a large, open-layout building, this constant fluctuation in space utilization is changing the dialogue of the building team. Engineers are playing a more significant role, as owners and architects place greater focus on versatility of the building and potential use changes in addition to building performance attributes such as energy efficiency and life-cycle costs.