How You Can Consider Public Interests in Your Next Building Design

1.  Improve Accessibility

The highest accessibility is the best way to make your buildings more user-friendly for the public. Everyone should be able to enjoy a full experience visiting the building, regardless of physical limitations. Here are some features you should include in your building design:

• Accessible doors for people with disabilities
• Ramps and curbs
• Elevators and escalators
• Non-slip flooring materials
• Indoor and outdoor navigation
• Special signs for blind and deaf visitors

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all commercial buildings must have at least one accessible space for every 25 regular spaces. You can also provide off-site parking and transportation services if your outdoor area is limited.

2.  Create a Good First Impression

The outdoor space around your building is the first thing the public sees, so you need to create a good first impression. When this area is calm and cozy, people are more likely to want to enter. Start by installing various lights. Well-lit sidewalks make people feel more confident and highlight the building's design.

Try integrating these lights into your building’s design:

• Ceiling Lights: classic fixtures provide bright lighting for entrances and intersections around the building.
• Street Lights: street lights provide clear illumination of walkways, helping people with visual impairments navigate safely.
• Suspended Lights: powerful lights are ideal for commercial spaces with large parking lots, courtyards and other expansive outdoor areas.

People should feel comfortable around your building. Instead of installing cheap benches and tables, it's better to use outdoor seating with low heat absorption that stays cool under the sun. You should also ensure sufficient shade from trees, pavilions and umbrellas. These small details can significantly improve how the public perceives your building.

3.  Reflect Local Culture

A great way to win public sympathy is by reflecting local culture. Commercial spaces were once vibrant community centers with constant social interactions. Today, many buildings use a standard approach and don’t try to incorporate cultural characteristics of the city. Here are several ways your design can reflect community culture:

• • Display works by local artists.
  • Show relevant symbols that promote community values.
  • Dedicate spaces to local athletes, pop culture icons and other important figures in the region.
  • Include design elements historically popular in the community, such as colors, shapes and textures.

While boring and uninspiring architectural styles have a significant negative impact on public well-being, creative and culturally rich architecture enhances community cohesion. Your building’s design should be synonymous with the unique identity of your community.

4.  Add More Greenery

As the public becomes more environmentally conscious, architects will face increased social responsibility in creating sustainable projects. Greenery is the simplest and most effective eco-friendly design element. It acts as a natural air purifier, maintaining good indoor air quality. Plants also have proven to enhance our mental health by bringing us closer to our natural habitat—the outside world.

You can incorporate greenery into your building design in various ways. Start by placing popular indoor plants around the structure. Allow vines and ivy to grow on the building's exterior wall. Ensure people can see the growth process as they pass by. As plants grow bigger and more beautiful, your building’s appearance will improve.

You should also encourage community members to add their own plants. They can bring diversity in local flora and make your building more connected with the surrounding nature.

5.  Create an Atmosphere

Atmosphere is an important design quality many architects ignore. Sound is just as important as sight. Creating immersive atmosphere inside and outside your building will make it stand out from others. Moreover, this reduces stress levels for people and enhances the visitor experience. Here are several effective ways to include sound effects in your building:

• Suspend bird feeders outside to attract singing birds.
• Create a fountain or koi pond in the lobby so people can listen to the soothing sound of flowing water.
• Install speakers and play various soundscape effects reflecting the weather outside.

People living in big cities are constantly surrounded by irritating sounds—traffic, construction, sirens, arguments and more. Your building can give them a break from external noise and offer a more relaxed environment.

Put the Public First

By putting the public first when designing commercial buildings, you benefit everyone. The local community is satisfied with a comfortable, welcoming and culturally aware building, leading to increased foot traffic. Higher visitor flow makes clients happy. When your client is satisfied, you're also pleased. When you choose an inclusive approach, everyone wins.