Commercial architecture is a subject that we have been dabbling in for years, constructing all sorts of remarkable and aesthetically pleasing buildings for clients. Being very open-minded, our team takes the inspiration that exists around them and uses it to produce something that is truly special to you. Regardless of your proposal’s scale and size, we will work our hardest to make it into a reality.

If there is one thing that the modern era’s commercial structures owe their existence to, it’s air conditioning. This invention allowed the great modernist constructs we see today to rise up and helped manufacture an original typology. Said typology is one that countless environmentally conscious designers and architects are attempting to advance, with the assistance of passive cooling strategies and designs that are more efficient.

Some of the earliest skyscraper blueprints drew inspiration from references that were more traditional in an effort to circulate, cool, and shade air. Classic towers in locales like New York and Chicago all take their form from the requirement to generate a workable surrounding prior to air conditioning’s formulation.

Similar to the vernacular structures that aided in the creation of the world’s early metropolises, the initial skyscrapers were developed with airflow and ventilation as the focuses. A multitude of the same practices utilised on more earth-bound constructs were merely altered and scaled up as these fresh edifices took form in Chicago and New York’s commercial communities.

Ample perimeter exposure, operable windows, and high ceilings all contributed towards encouraging others to consider airflow and ventilation. Chicago’s original towers were created with light wells and simplistic open courts. Others, like the Monadnock Building for example, were made with long, thin profiles in mind, whereas some towers suggested letters like an E or C when witnessed from above. These outlines guaranteed that cross-ventilation and daylight were obtainable everywhere.

At Coffey Architects, not only have we built a selection of structures during our time in operation, but also a respectable reputation for excellence. We can comfortably handle any piece of commercial architecture we’re presented with, and we can offer advice on elements that you might not have reflected on previously.

If you are interested in working with us, please contact our firm.