Chapter 14 Commercial Interior Design Applications 481 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. ■ retail (39 percent) ■ institutional (education) (30 percent) Based on the above information, this chapter focuses on general functions and design issues related to these commercial design specialties. In addition, this chapter discusses details about the most commonly practiced specialty in the United States, corporate offi ce design, within the context of the design process. Note that many specialty areas of commercial design overlap, causing blurred boundaries. Interior designers may use similar design features in both hospitality design and heathcare design. For example, resort or spa-like ameni- ties often appear in hospital lobbies and suites. Another example is the link between hospitality design and offi ce design. According to the ASID 2014 Industry Report, there is a trend toward blending workplace and residential spaces. Hotels are responding to, and taking advantage of, the changing work habits of people in today’s workforce— those people who are deciding more and more where and how they are going to work. Hotels are making special efforts to engage travelers in their 20s and 30s— Millennials and a number of Generation Xers—who have a unique working style. Therefore, hotels are renting offi ces to traveling workers—or even local business people—who are looking for places to work. Like pop-up hotels and restaurants before them, pop-up offi ces are more commonplace in the hospitality industry. There are many issues a design practitioner must address in the practice of commercial design. While some are specifi c to the specialty area, such as hospi- tality design, there are common issues, too. Design Process Commercial interior designers use the same design process as residential designers. However, some of the actions within each phase, the pace with which the design process is completed, and the number of times the designer revisits each phase due to client redesigns may differ. The design process often begins with either a referral or a bid-process to acquire the client. Once the designer obtains the client and both parties agree on the scope of the project, comprehensive programming is critical. Phase 2— Programming requires understanding the detailed and often very specifi c needs of the occupant—defined by code books to be a person—and end user—the consumer who uses the fi nished space—requires a great deal of precision. During Phase 3—Schematic Design (SD), concept development is just as critical as it is with a residential project. Due to the size, scope, and scale of the project, if a concept is lacking it is often much more evident at the project’s completion. If the common design thread does not tie all parts of the project together, the interior lacks a cohesive design, Figure 14-2. ©Ron Pollard, Courtesy of RNL Figure 14-2 Concept development for commercial design is critical. Review RNL’s website to fi nd out more about how the design concept for the Research Support Facility of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NERL) complements the original structure.