Missoula Commercial Building Trends
What “trends” in Missoula commercial building do you find most appealing in 2022?
“Smart” features?
Sustainable materials?
More “pod” experiences inside communal areas?
All of the above?
In today’s pandemic “era” (ugh–yes we said it), the way we humans interact in common spaces such as office buildings, retail spaces, and restaurants has completely changed. (To steal from a recent meme, who would have thought the QR code would have made such a comeback?)
At Confluence, we’re proud of our work in the commercial sector, where we’ve focused on creating brick + mortar environments to support the goals and growth of small businesses here in Missoula (see our Grizzly Hackle and Bridge Pizza projects). We like to view challenges through the lens of opportunity – and despite entering a time of more volatility for human interaction in common spaces, we firmly believe that the communal commercial space is not going away. It’s simply changing.
So if you’re a business owner who is looking to remodel an existing space or build a new one, here are some ideas and inspirations to consider:
Think outside the box. Although an unprecedented number of people are now working remotely, this doesn’t mean they want to stay stuck in the house all day. Recent surveys taken 18 months into the pandemic show that most people prefer a “hybrid” approach – working from home on some days, and heading into the office on other days. If you’re the owner of an office building, do some deep thinking about why and when employees do come into the office. Is it for team meetings and social hours? Consider expanding your conference room to fit more people (and more whiteboards). With Zoom calls on the rise for all of us, does your office space have enough sound-barriers for your employees to feel comfortable? What about perks in the common area – things like a built-in espresso bar to add a bit of a social feel? In today’s ever-shifting labor market, thoughtful touches to an office space can go a long way for employees.
Watch trends in retail. An interesting trend shows that many small retailers with a brick and mortar location still do the majority of their business online through e-commerce. So why would they maintain an in-person location? Consider your “why” if you are contemplating a remodel. Perhaps it’s to provide a community gathering place, which provides you with brand awareness and brand storytelling. Or perhaps it’s to provide a hybrid retail experience, in which a shopper can experience a product but instead of walking out the door with it, they’ve ordered it on the spot (there’s that damn QR code again). When it comes to commerce, brick and mortar is not going away – it’s simply changing. How should your design change as well?
People still want to go out. Of all the industries impacted by the pandemic in the United States, perhaps the restaurant and hospitality sector was changed most of all. From full-on shutdown to a massive disruption in its labor market, it’s been a roller coaster year for these fields. But demand for restaurant experiences remains strong in the public, even if the style of dining has changed. Pop-up heated pods served their purpose for a while. But with the pandemic not going away anytime soon, would an investment in a brick & mortar remodel that emphasizes more private nooks for parties of various sizes provide a way for you to differentiate your place from the one across the street?
We love to brainstorm creative concepts with Missoula’s creative small business owners. Email us to set up a time to chat through your ideas.