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Safety First: Ensuring Student and Staff Safety in School Renovations

In the realm of education, ensuring the safety of students and staff is paramount. When it comes to school renovations, the importance of maintaining a secure environment cannot be overstated. Commercial construction projects, including school renovations, require meticulous planning and execution of safety protocols to minimize disruptions to the school community.

Safety Protocols in Commercial Construction

Collaborative Planning

Before the first brick is laid or the initial wall is demolished, it is crucial for all stakeholders—educators, administrators, construction teams, and local authorities—to come together and collaboratively plan the renovation process. This planning phase should include a comprehensive risk assessment, identifying potential hazards and formulating strategies to mitigate them.

Clear Communication

Effective communication is the cornerstone of a successful school renovation project. Regular updates and clear communication channels between the construction team and the school community help everyone stay informed about the progress and any safety-related developments. This transparency builds trust and minimizes uncertainty.

Secured Construction Zones

Establishing secure construction zones is imperative to keep students, staff, and visitors away from potential hazards. Fencing, signage, and designated entry points can help demarcate these areas, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to the construction site.

Timely Completion

Efficiency in construction is not only about meeting deadlines but also about minimizing the duration of disruptions to the school routine. A well-planned construction schedule, with realistic timelines, helps ensure that renovations are completed promptly, reducing the overall impact on the educational environment.

Best Practices for Minimizing Disruptions

Phased Construction

Dividing the renovation project into manageable phases can significantly minimize disruptions. By focusing on one area at a time, construction teams can concentrate their efforts, allowing other parts of the school to function as usual. This phased approach helps maintain a semblance of normalcy during the renovation process.

Off-Hours Work

To further reduce disruptions, construction activities that generate noise or require the closure of certain areas should be scheduled during off-hours or school breaks. This way, the impact on daily operations can be minimized, and the educational environment can continue with minimal interruption.

Temporary Facilities

Consider setting up temporary classrooms or facilities to accommodate students and staff temporarily displaced by the renovation. This proactive measure ensures that the learning process can continue seamlessly while the construction team works on enhancing the school’s infrastructure.

Proactive Problem Solving

Anticipate potential challenges and have contingency plans in place. Regular meetings between school administrators and the construction team can help identify and address issues promptly, ensuring a smoother renovation process.

Our Commitment to Safety

As general contractors specializing in commercial construction and school renovations, we understand the unique challenges posed by working within educational institutions. Our commitment to safety goes beyond regulatory compliance; it is ingrained in every aspect of our approach.

Locations We Serve

Our dedication to safety extends across various locations, including Fayetteville, Raeford, Clinton, Dunn, Sanford, Aberdeen, Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Lumberton, Cameron, Garner, Smithfield, Fuquay-Varina, Pittsboro, Holly Springs, Lillington, Carthage, Clayton, and beyond. We take pride in ensuring that our construction projects contribute positively to the communities we serve.

School renovations are more than just physical transformations; they are opportunities to create safer, more conducive learning environments for students and staff. By prioritizing safety protocols, implementing best practices, and maintaining open communication, we can ensure that the process is not only successful but also enriching for the entire school community.

In every Commercial Building, Inc renovation project, safety is not just a priority—it’s our promise.

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AN OVERVIEW: STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION IN COMMERCIAL BUILDING

Construction of any kind is a very detail-oriented process. If you are constructing a school, medical facility, or office building there are steps that must be taken to ensure the safety of construction workers, and users of the completed building. While permits, licenses and specifications vary with each project the general order of operations remains the same.

When working with an experienced construction firm like Commercial Build Inc. (CBI), you can be sure that your project will follow this general timeline, handle any scope of project and be completed in a timely manner. Here is a general overview of the stages of construction and what can be expected at each stage. 

CONCEPT AND DESIGN

The beginning of every construction project is concept and design.  Starting first with a concept, followed by a design and blueprints. This can be done with the help of an experienced architect to make sure everything is structurally sound and up-to-code. We take great care working with our clients to ensure that each building will suit their needs and continue to for years to come.

OBTAINING BUILDING PERMITS AND LICENSES

Once the blueprints and construction plans are finalized, the next step is to obtain the correct building and construction permits. This process is not always complete immediately and will be ongoing throughout the construction project. Some permits are needed to obtain different permits at different times. Working with an experienced construction company such as CBI helps this process. Our experience in obtaining the proper permits at the right time helps our process in a timely manner.

CLEARING THE LAND AND FOUNDATION

After you have the initial building permits, your construction project will begin by clearing and excavating the land you want to build. Clearing includes removing any trees, rocks, and/or other obstacles that are in the way of the building. This also includes any leveling or grading the ground that is necessary.

Once the land has been cleared and excavated, the foundation can be poured. Depending on the size of your building and the stability of the land, preparing the subsurface may need to be done prior to the foundation being poured.

FRAMING

Once the foundation has been poured and cured, framing begins on your building. This may include installing wood frames or steel beams. This process does take a while and it is important that everything is done correctly so that it is structurally sound. This stage sets the groundwork upon which all the other aspects of your building will follow.

ROUGH ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING

After a building has been framed out, a specialty contractor will come in to complete rough electrical and plumbing. This means that pipes and wires are installed where they need to go. This job is not completed at this point, however, it helps to get the rough work in place so that insulation, drywall, and ceilings can go in.

ROOF

Concurrently with the rough electrical and plumbing work, roofers come in to complete the roof on the building. This is important so that any further work inside of the building can take place, due to rain and outdoor elements damaging the work in the remaining steps.

INTERIOR

Once the exterior walls and roof are complete, the heating and cooling needs are addressed. Vents, ductwork and the heating and cooling unit are all installed. 

As soon as the heating and cooling is complete, the interior is completed. This includes finishing insulation, putting up drywall and adding ceilings. An electrician often comes out during this stage and finishes up adding outlets and lighting fixtures. 

Once the interior walls are up, the fixtures inside of a space can be finalized. This includes things like cabinets, windows, toilets, doors and elevators (if an office building).

FINAL STAGE

The final stage of construction involves putting the finishing touches on the building. This involves painting walls, installing countertops and flooring, and adding faucets.  Once this stage is done, you will have a final inspection and you will have a beautiful building to last many years.

At CBI, we are proud to be experienced contractors that can assist you with all aspects of construction. Our team can help you with every step of your building project. Contact us today to learn more about who we are, what services we offer and how we can help you. 

We offer services in Fayetteville, Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Lumberton, Sanford, Fuquay-Varina, Apex, and many other cities in North Carolina. For more information, give us a call at 910-818-6811 or you can email us at cbi@commercialbuildingnc.com.

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COMMERCIAL BUILDING, RENOVATION, & REMODELING – WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Before you hire a construction contractor in North Carolina for commercial building, it is important to know exactly what type of construction services you need. Not all builders and construction contractors are alike; some specialize in design builds while others might specialize in medical centers or doctors offices. There are a great number of differences and a reason to understand them.

You need to know exactly what you want when hiring a construction company in North Carolina. The following is a look at the most common types of projects and the differences between them:

COMMERCIAL BUILDING

Commercial building is just how it sounds – building a new building from scratch. While it sounds simple, commercial construction is the most complex due to the steps in the process – planning, hiring, and completing.

With commercial building there five phases that you will undertake:

  1. Hire the primary architect/designer
  2. Choose the commercial builder
  3. Write and execute contracts
  4. Construction process
  5. Completion and handover

In order to hire one company for all phases, you will need commercial construction contractors who advertise as design build contractors. This designation explains that they have both the architects to design a new construction and the team to see that design through completion.

RENOVATION

A commercial renovation project is one that aims to restore or repair an existing construction. This type of construction project makes old look new again. Renovations are generally undertaken to enhance the functionality of a space or to increase the resale value.

A church that is restored to what it originally looked like can offer immediate value for congregants. Renovating the space to include modern conveniences or space in a time of COVID-19, make it more appealing. 

REMODELING

A commercial remodel one that goes beyond changing the decor in an office building. Generally defined, a commercial remodel project is one that will permanently alter an existing structure’s interior, exterior, or both.

Some examples of remodel projects:

  •   Combining multiple rooms into one space by removing a wall or other type of barrier
  •   Adding to the interior or exterior of a building, such as adding an inside garden or creating multiple rooms from one large, existing space
  •   Fully transforming the structure or layout of a commercial space
  •   Creating space needed that is in compliance for COVID-19

FITTING YOUR NEEDS

While there is an inherent value in hiring a commercial contractor who has a speciality in one of the types of projects, it is best to look for one who has experience in all overall.  The more well-rounded a contractor is, the better they can assist you in determining what best suits your construction goals.

As you prepare to hire a commercial contractor, look no further than Commercial Building, Inc. CBI specializes in project management, pre-construction, and environmentally sustainable construction for medical facility renovations in North Carolina. Our team understands that it is important to be prepared, on schedule and within budget in order to have a successful renovation. We offer services in Fayetteville, Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Lumberton, Sanford, Fuquay-Varina, Apex, and many other cities in North Carolina. For more information, give us a call at 910-818-6811 or you can email us at cbi@commercialbuildingnc.com.

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SCHOOL RENOVATIONS IN 2021

In 2020, COVID-19 caused schools to change from in-person classes to online. Many schools have taken advantage of this time to make much-needed renovations and complete modernization projects on school buildings. These renovations have been made for space, environment, learning, health and safety reasons.

SCHOOLS RE-OPENING
Many public schools in North Carolina are preparing to teach students in-person again this spring. For schools to reopen and accept kids for in-person learning, schools must make some changes to their current facilities. It is important that school buildings take precautions for the COVID-19 pandemic, and it can also make schools safer spaces for the future. Renovating a school building is beneficial when it comes to increasing space inside for necessary social distancing. Contractors can also add wall partitions between seats and create outdoor teaching areas. 

FACILITIES MATTER
When it comes to students and learning, school facilities matter. When planning to build new education facilities and renovating current ones, you need an experienced school builder. CBI brings specialized school construction experience — whether you need a new school built, need new facilities constructed for an established school or need reconstruction. The general contractor team at CBI has experience, commitment, and the teamwork to create customized, student-centered learning spaces based on your need for STEM, vocational-technical, Private/Charter school, or other specialized curriculum.

COST EFFECTIVE
At CBI, we understand the important role budget and schedule play in the education industry. We use decades worth of successful construction experience to provide clients with accurate estimates and timelines, and partner with them at every step along the way to ensure all their goals are met.

Commercial Building, Inc. (CBI) understands the construction of buildings whose administrators educational plans are built around a calendar. From University buildings to K through 12 schools for small communities, they know the ropes for educational facilities. CBI believes in communication through progress meetings with administrators, scheduling updates and daily coordination. From elementary schools to post-secondary schools and field houses, CBI has completed significant work within the education sector. We offer services in Fayetteville, Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Lumberton, Sanford, Fuquay-Varina, Apex, and many other cities in North Carolina. For more information, give us a call at 910-818-6811 or you can email us at cbi@commercialbuildingnc.com.