Building Desgin
While industrial buildings vary significantly in size, their design can improve integration into the region.  Clear separation of uses within the building and visible, distinctive entrances for customers, employees, and deliveries enhance their appearance and function.  Green building techniques for new projects reduces the environmental impact.  Refer to Critical Design Practices: Building Compatibility, Building Orientation, and Building Design & Materials for additional information.

Technology Infrastructures
Due to increasing demand, advanced telecommunication services (e.g., high-speed fiber optics, computer networks, wireless networks, data transmission) are becoming critical in developing new or enhancing existing industrial buildings and complexes.  In addition, the availability of advanced telecommunication services makes structures more adaptable as uses change over time.

Landscaping
Landscaping (e.g., porous paving materials, medians with natural ground cover, shrubs, earth berms used as screening devices, trees, seasonal plantings) can greatly enhance the appearance and reduce stormwater runoff of an industrial building or complex, increasing the site’s marketability. Attractive open spaces between buildings and along the perimeter of the site provide areas for recreational use by employees, as well as a buffer between the site and adjacent uses. Functional landscaping elements include: street edge, site entries, building entries, service areas, and stormwater management areas (e.g., detention ponds). Refer to Critical Design Practices: Landscaping and Stormwater Control & Detention for additional information.

Signage
In addition to identifying tenants and providing directions, signs can enhance the character of industrial buildings and complexes.  Good sign design reflects regional architectural styles and materials used on the site. Integration of landscaping, building, and graphic elements visually ties signs to their surroundings.  Elements to consider when designing signs include: materials, color palette, size, and location.  Refer to Critical Design Practices: Sign Design & Placement for additional information.

Access & Circulation
Designing streets to facilitate safe and efficient traffic flow while complementing the existing road network and a site’s natural topography greatly increases the value, desirability, and effectiveness of an industrial development.  The separation of semi-truck and car traffic through separate entrances and parking areas typically increases efficiency and safety.  Road access should be as clear and direct as possible.  Road design should accommodate current and anticipated traffic flow without over-building and be adaptable to the fluctuation of traffic loads resulting from changes in building uses.  The size of a loading area depends not only on the building’s use but on anticipated truck size and amount of traffic.  Effective loading areas are generally located along rear property lines or between industrial buildings, and they are screened from the view of adjacent properties.

As more and more industries today can be located close to or within residential and commercial areas, sidewalks and bike paths link buildings to their neighbors as well as other areas of the community.  Pedestrian-scaled lighting with landscaping and other pedestrian amenities foster pedestrian activity to and within the development, reducing traffic.  Increasing transportation options (e.g., bike paths, bus stops) is especially desirable for industries with higher employment densities.  Refer to Critical Design Practices: Site Access, Pedestrian & Bike Circulation, Roadways, and Streetscape for additional information.

Stormwater Control & Detention
Stormwater management is an important aspect of designing an industrial site due to typically substantial amounts of impervious surfaces (e.g., building areas, parking lots).  Combining a site’s existing natural drainage with constructed stormwater management can reduce development and maintenance costs.  Refer to Critical Design Practices: Stormwater Control & Detention for additional information.

Lighting
Exterior lighting on buildings and in parking areas should be designed and scaled to address safety concerns without disturbing adjacent properties or contributing to light pollution.  Lights on the sides or rear of buildings should be set on timers or have motion sensors.  Refer to Critical Design Practices: Site Lighting & Utilities for additional information.

Parking
The size of parking areas varies by industry size and type; placing parking areas at the rear or between buildings and/or creating multiple, smaller lots separated by landscaped buffers helps reduce their visual impact.  The design of parking areas should complement the overall appearance of the site and community.  Alternative paving and combined parking areas accommodate overflow parking requirements, as well as possible future increases in parking needs, with reduced environmental impact.  In locations where space is limited, parking structures may effectively meet parking requirements.  Refer to Critical Design Practices: Parking for additional information.