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Rooftop terrace at The William looking over downtown Birmingham

Commercial Journal

Straight answers on building commercial space

Finished bar with a timber ceiling at The William in downtown Birmingham

Hiring a builder · October 20, 2026

How to choose a commercial general contractor in Birmingham

Eight questions that separate a contractor who can run your project from one who can only price it.

Aerial view of building pads and steel framing on a commercial site in Chelsea, Alabama

Preconstruction · September 15, 2026

What preconstruction is, and what an owner should get from it

Preconstruction puts a reliable price and date on a project while changes are still cheap. Here is what you should receive.

Cold-formed steel framing for a flex building under construction in Chelsea, Alabama, seen from the air

Light industrial · August 11, 2026

Flex buildings and cold-formed steel framing

What a flex building is, why cold-formed steel suits it, and what to decide for tenants you do not have yet.

Teaching kitchen with a central island, stainless appliances and blue tile at Samford University

Higher education · July 14, 2026

Building a teaching kitchen: what is different from a commercial kitchen

A teaching kitchen is built for watching and taking part. That changes the layout, the equipment and the code conversation.

Assembly and packaging area with work tables and wire shelving at Synovis

Technical space · June 9, 2026

Office, training and light manufacturing in one fit-out

When offices and production share a suite, plan the production side first. Its power, air and material flow are hardest to change.

High bay with a yellow overhead bridge crane on steel columns at Kratos

Light industrial · May 12, 2026

Planning a high bay with a bridge crane

Crane capacity, span and hook height shape the steel and the foundations. Settle them before the structure is designed.

Lounge with leather sofas, exposed brick and a timber ceiling at The William

Adaptive reuse · April 14, 2026

Adaptive reuse: what to check before you buy an old building

A change of use brings code upgrades. The structure, the envelope and the utilities decide whether an old building is worth it.

Bar with plaster arches, herringbone brick niches and woven pendant lights at De Nada

Restaurants · March 10, 2026

What goes into a restaurant build-out

The kitchen and its mechanical systems drive the schedule and much of the cost. Design them before you pick finishes.

Boardroom with a U-shaped table and ring pendant lights

Delivery methods · February 10, 2026

What is a guaranteed maximum price contract?

A GMP caps what an owner pays for a defined scope and returns savings. Here is what is inside one and what can move it.

Open office with glass-front rooms along a polished concrete corridor at Kratos

Delivery methods · January 13, 2026

Design-build vs. design-bid-build: which fits your project?

One contract or two, a price early or a price late. A plain comparison of the main ways a commercial building is delivered.