Trends in U.S. commercial building size in three charts

A new study by the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that there were 5.6 million commercial buildings in the U.S. in 2012, totaling 87 billion sf of floor space. This is a 14% increase in floor space since 2003.

By BD+C Staff | May 8, 2015

A new study released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration reveals that the average size of new commercial buildings continue to grow. Size increases continued to outpace increases in the number of buildings over the past decade.

The data, documented in the administration’s Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS), estimates that there were 5.6 million commercial buildings in the United States in 2012, totaling 87 billion sf of floor space. This is a 14% increase in floor space since 2003, the last time CBECS results were recorded.

Newer buildings tend to be larger than older buildings. In particular, healthcare buildings, hospitality buildings, retail, and religious worship buildings today are larger.

When broken up by region, the South experienced a lot of growth in building size, and the region’s share of buildings far exceeds its share of the U.S. population.

More information can be found on the Energy Information Administration’s website.

When it’s time to build or expand, the first step is finding a builder that fits your needs. Once you have found a builder, checked their references, visited with their previous clients and are ready to move forward, the next step is answering an initial set of questions that will direct your project.

| Feb 19, 2014

Obama Administration moves to boost fuel efficiency standards on heavy-duty vehicles

The Obama Administration wants to boost fuel efficiency of medium- and heavy-duty trucks for models made in 2019 and later.

| Feb 19, 2014

Slight rebound for Architecture Billings Index

After consecutive months of contracting demand for design services, AIA's Architecture Billings Index inched up nearly two points to 50.4 in January, indicating favorable business conditions.

| Feb 19, 2014

Harvard's 'termite robots' can build any thing, any way [video]

The robots build by observing thier environment and then obeying a set of traffic rules programmed by researchers.

The Illinois Holocaust Museum, in Skokie, is one of Illinois' recent LEED Gold p

| Feb 18, 2014

Illinois leads Top 10 states for LEED in annual USGBC ranking

The U.S. Green Building Council has released its ranking of the Top 10 States for LEED, the world’s most widely used and recognized green building rating system.

Ann&RobertH.LurieChildren'sHospital, Chicago

| Feb 18, 2014

Study: 90% of healthcare providers say Affordable Care Act is 'step forward,' but major revisions needed

Providers are excited about opportunities to address long-term health issues in the U.S., but worries about the transition persist, according to a new study by Mortenson Construction.

17 John was designed by Winka Dubbeldam.

| Feb 17, 2014

Developer plans to 'crowdfund' extended stay hotel in Manhattan

Want to own a piece of Manhattan hotel real estate? Developer Rodrigo Nino is inviting individual investors to put up $100,000 each for his latest project, 17 John.