Commercial Trends Delivered
Inspiration for your next commercial building project is just a click away. Our look book is filled with commercial exterior solutions to get your wheels turning.
Last year was a tough year for many businesses, as public health mandates saw customers sheltering-in-place instead of out shopping. But what may be a challenge can also present an opportunity — many businesses took the chance to rethink traffic flow through their buildings and even revamp the commercial design of their operations while physical stores were closed.
The updates to storefronts and commercial properties are varied, but high-quality building materials and durability are the base for all exterior improvements. The looks range, of course, from colorful to serene from sleek to cozy, but some distinct trends in commercial real estate emerged.
Architectural wall panels and other fiber cement products from Nichiha are the perfect fit for incorporating these trends into a variety of commercial projects. We've gathered some of the biggest commercial exterior trends business owners have developed for 2022.
People are highly adaptable, so when they hear the same message over and over for more than a year, it starts to become part of their inner workings going forward. This is definitely the case for social distancing.
Businesses are responding to the increased need for personal space by ramping up their outdoor presence. Decks and rooftop gardens are all the rage, particularly in restaurants. They also offer a benefit in the form of added amenity space for office buildings and more patio space at hotels. Contemporary patio furniture has upped the ante and looks like it could belong in any chic living room, so patrons can get comfy and enjoy the fresh air in style.
Call it what you will, but cabin fever from all that time indoors has made views of the outdoors more important than ever. Bright spaces with all kinds of natural light are very popular this year, and businesses are responding with the biggest windows possible.
Full glass walls are being seen in some buildings, while others are using glass for semi-permanent partitions between two areas. Frameless glass panels that pivot provide a great multifunctional tool for great views on cooler days or open-air spaces when the weather’s fair.
As people yearn for wide-open spaces, they’re choosing colors and textures that remind them of mother nature. That’s why rusty reds, natural beiges and moody greens are making their way into the exterior finishes on commercial buildings.
Wood and stone-look surfaces are big too, especially mixed and matched to make an interesting modern twist on a design classic.
Hospitals and other institutions are learning that how a patient feels can be critical to medical outcomes, so aesthetic appeal and interior design are overtaking that clinical look for hospitals in particular. Indoor spaces are seeing warmer colors, including copper and bronze hues, along with private waiting rooms and built-to-use spaces. Outside, welcoming architecture and warm exteriors that remind patients of home are very big for 2021 and into 2022.
Inspiration for your next commercial building project is just a click away. Our look book is filled with commercial exterior solutions to get your wheels turning. 
Commercial Trends Delivered
While business owners are aiming for earthy and homey aesthetics, commercial buildings still need quality craftsmanship to stand up to the elements without immense upkeep costs. Painted wood shake is all the rage right now, but wood can crack or warp when subjected to the elements or suffer infestation from pests such as termites, carpenter bees and woodpeckers.
More versatile and long-lasting coverings like fiber cement panels are making waves in the design world because they can give the wood look without high overhead costs. Fiber cement cladding also involves less mess than brick and less upkeep than wood.
One thing 2022 will hate is a cookie-cutter appearance. Hotels, schools and restaurants are looking to stand out from the pack with their own palettes and unique designs. Just about anything designers can dream up is possible when they can mix and match textures and hues.
Fiber cement panels come in custom colors and designs that result in truly one-of-a-kind buildings.
There’s a fine balance to strike between the classic and the modern, and today’s commercial exteriors are achieving it with a mix of sleek and rustic finishes. Stone look panels are offset with bold colors, and wood is balanced with glossy black to create a look that’s both warm and current.
The result is a modern look without appearing off-putting or edgy.
We’re at a pivotal point in architectural history where the impacts of a global pandemic have forever altered the way we live, work and play in the buildings we inhabit. These pivots are going to be visible in 2022 and long into the future. Luckily, though, all these fiber cement panels can be specified to adapt to almost any style, configuration, color or texture required. If you can dream it, Nichiha can help you achieve it.
Compare the prices of traditional materials with fiber cement using Nichiha’s cost estimator and materials calculator.