Hooman Nissani: New Commercial Real Estate Construction Materials

The commercial construction industry is not typically known for its speed of innovation. For many decades, concrete, steel, and glass have seemed to serve the needs of builders and contractors just fine. However, times are changing and with these changing times come advancements in new building materials.

Thanks to organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certifications, more and more commercial real estate developers are choosing to incorporate sustainable materials into their buildings.

When a commercial builder chooses to focus on energy use, efficient lighting, sustainability of the environment, indoor air quality, and resource conservation, everyone benefits. Fortunately, today there are many more options for materials that lead to less cost for both the initial building and the long-term operation of new construction.

Some Materials Sound More Like Science Fiction Than Commercial Construction

The innovative materials used to achieve more earth-friendly designs that have become industry standard include bamboo and panelized timber. Bamboo has grown in popularity over the years because of the beautiful aesthetic it provides while also being a material easily grown without the need to devastate landscapes while harvesting. Panelized timber, or mass timber, is created by cutting sheets of wood that are then glued together to produce a much stronger material than wood typically used in construction.

The use of wood over steel can also have much less impact on the environment due to the intense carbon emissions resulting from the manufacturing of steel. According to a 2018 report by the EPA showing emissions from the production of metals, iron and steel accounted for over 75 million metric tons of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. Panelized timber has also proven to be an alternative for support beams that were previously only made from steel. They are even much more fire and water resistant than wood building materials of the past.

Lesser known materials that demonstrate the innovation in the industry are hard to believe, but thanks to advancements in science and technology, what would only be imagined in the movies is making its way into real life. For example, self-healing cement has become a reality. In the past, when concrete cracks, water would likely cause the crack to expand over time and a costly repair would be required in order to maintain the structural integrity of the building. Self-healing concrete, however, includes water permeable capsules that react to water by producing calcite. This calcite then fills the crack and hardens as it dries.

Other innovations in commercial real estate construction material are focused on the comfort and health of those who work and live inside the buildings. Air-cleaning bricks have been developed to filter heavy materials out of the air as it enters a building’s HVAC system and allows cleaner, more breathable air to pass through. This ingenuity greatly increases the indoor air quality of the structure.

Another interesting and inexpensive improvement to a building’s exterior is a technology called passive cooling ceramics. When this combination of clay composite and hydrogel are applied to the building, it acts much in the same way as human skin to keep the inside cooler. The material absorbs water; which then evaporates taking the heat and energy with it.

Safety is also a major motivation for recent innovation in building materials across different parts of the globe. A new material out of Japan, where earthquakes are a real threat, is now making its way to other areas. These new strand rods are a thermoplastic carbon fiber composite being used for seismic reinforcement. For places like Los Angeles and other parts of southern California where earthquakes are known to occur more frequently, these innovations can go a long way in keeping people safer during a natural disaster.

The Declining Cost of Technology Is Driving Innovation

More and more technologies are finding practical applications in the world of commercial real estate construction. The use of drones was previously reserved for only the most savvy and well-resourced developers. Thanks to much more accessible price points, drones are regularly being used by surveyors to rapidly map large areas and provide real time data for preconstruction planning.

Augmented reality is another new player making its way onto the scene of commercial real estate construction. This new tool is aiding with project staging, measuring buildings, and allowing simulations to be a regular part of the process. Building information modeling is another new 3D model-based technology that allows for more accurate prefabrication of materials. This in turn means less time and material wasted while attempting to make changes on site.

Some trends in commercial construction are absolutely mind-blowing while others sound almost antiquated, but they have become popular in order to create sustainable and cost-effective methods. Manufacturers are now able to produce a material that looks like glass, but is actually transparent aluminum. Transparent aluminum is lighter than glass, but over four times as strong. Sustainable construction materials being used more and more include recycled cardboard as an insulation product and recycled plastic bottles as carpet.

One lesser known material being used currently is straw-bale construction; which is an inexpensive trend that is exactly what it sounds like: bales of straw as a lightweight and inexpensive building material. The availability and low cost of straw bales are big draws for this material. The bales are naturally nontoxic with no off-gassing to be concerned with and are used for insulation within walls that are plastered on both sides.

Although the typical construction materials used to build commercial real estate have been tried and true for a long time, many new materials are gaining popularity and should be considered for your development. Of course, the materials you choose will need to satisfy regulatory standards and local ordinances as well.

When researching how commercial real estate construction materials drive cost savings, design, and innovation, it always helps to consult with an experienced developer like Hooman Nissani. Hooman is a serial entrepreneur who has been developing commercial real estate in the Southern California area for many years. Contact Hooman using this online contact form or connect with him on social media to learn more.