Compass Commons
Lowcountry style, retail span.
2024
Compass Commons
The Project
Compass Commons is an active retail development aimed at serving the expanding New Riverside community. The project consists of two distinct retail buildings constructed primarily of wood framing. To handle the required open floor areas, steel beams are integrated at the center of the structure to achieve longer spans. The exterior design is heavily influenced by the “Lowcountry” aesthetic, utilizing prominent wood brackets to break up the massing and add architectural character.
The Client
The developers of this growing community needed retail space that felt welcoming and consistent with the local vernacular, rather than generic “big box” structures. They required a design team that could deliver efficient commercial space while paying close attention to the exterior details that define the neighborhood’s identity.
The Challenge
The main challenge was balancing the structural simplicity of a retail shell with the aesthetic demand for intricate exterior detailing. On buildings of this size, large, unbroken walls can appear imposing and sterile. The challenge was to design and engineer the large wood brackets not just as decoration, but as integrated elements that successfully broke up the building’s scale without complicating the construction process or budget.
The Solution
To solve this, the engineering team engaged in deep collaboration with architect Alejandro Silva specifically on the bracket design. The structural solution involved a hybrid approach: standard wood framing for the walls, reinforced with central steel beams for the necessary clear spans. The gravity loads were calculated using ENERCALC, while the lateral design was verified with the firm’s in-house LatCalc spreadsheet. The entire design was coordinated using the 29E6 Key Sheet method to ensure the structural and architectural elements aligned perfectly.
The Improvements
The close collaboration on the brackets resulted in a significant aesthetic improvement. These elements successfully “break up” the exterior, giving the buildings the desired Lowcountry feel that connects them to the community. By utilizing the Key Sheet method and Revit (drafted by Desai Jigna), the team streamlined the coordination of these details, ensuring that the transition from steel spans to wood detailing was seamless in the field.
The Results
Currently under construction by Fraser Construction, Compass Commons is shaping up to be a vibrant addition to New Riverside. The project demonstrates how thoughtful detailing and collaboration can elevate simple retail construction into a community asset. The buildings successfully combine the efficiency of steel and wood framing with the charm of local design.
