Commercial Tenant Improvement Architect — College Park Change of Use
A code-compliant commercial interior renovation and architectural change-of-use permit set, engineering the conversion of an unfinished warehouse storage space along Berwyn Road in College Park, MD, into an active sign fabrication facility.
Commercial Interior Renovation Architect in College Park, MD
As an experienced industrial tenant improvement architect in Maryland, Unified Studio Architect was retained to prepare a complete commercial change-of-use permit set for an existing light-industrial warehouse shell. The project converted an unfinished S-1 storage unit located on Berwyn Road in College Park into a fully operational F-1 sign production facility.
The specialized design requirements for this business build-out focused completely on code compliance, occupancy reclassification, structural life safety planning, and MEP coordination. All documentation was tailored for fast-track permit approval through Prince George’s County without altering the building footprint or roof structures.
Engineering compliant commercial occupancies in Prince George’s County.
Reclassified from original S-1 Moderate Hazard Storage to an active F-1 Moderate Hazard Factory Industrial code profile, incorporating accessory B office space and S-1 storage zones.
Calculated using 2018 IBC Table 1004.5 parameters across all work zones: 14 production floor occupants, 2 administrative office occupants, and 4 customer showroom occupants.
Total connected load of 27.09 kVA seamlessly balanced across the property's existing 100A, 120/208V, 3-Phase electrical panel infrastructure to prevent utility upgrade delays.
Functional Space Allocation for Maryland Production Facilities
The custom floor plan layout was mathematically optimized to maximize workflow efficiency within the industrial shell while lowering overall development costs.
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01
Vehicle Wrap Area
Strategically placed adjacent to the warehouse's overhead door to facilitate easy vehicle ingress and egress for large-format vehicle wrap applications.
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02
Design & Production Floor
The core manufacturing space optimized for wide-format industrial printers, laminators, heavy vinyl cutters, material racks, and computer workstations.
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03
Administrative Office Room
A private administrative office customized for business operations management and confidential client project reviews.
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04
Customer Showroom
A front-facing customer retail environment complete with an ADA-compliant sales counter, POS transaction system, and product display walls.
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05
Existing Restroom Infrastructure
Maintained in its current footprint with minor, targeted adjustments to meet modern ADA code accessibility thresholds.
MEP Engineering, Life Safety Plans, & IBC Compliance
Converting light-industrial building classifications triggers explicit technical reviews. Unified Studio Architect verified and detailed all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing layers to conform to code requirements.
Two Means of Egress
Structural egress layouts detail 2 separate code-compliant exits. The design fully conforms to emergency standards without adding expensive new openings to the building envelope.
- Code Requirements
- 2 Separate Exits
- Actual Travel Distance
- 64′-7″
- Allowable Travel Distance
- 75′-0″ Max
- Safety Signage
- Emergency Lighting + Exit Signs
Receptacles Added to Existing Infrastructure
The electrical permit engineering adds dedicated circuits for specialized machinery, additional showroom outlets, office receptacles, and integrated CAT6 data lines.
- Existing Panel
- 100A, 120/208V, 3-Phase
- Total Connected Load
- 27.09 kVA
- Capacity Utilization
- 74A of 100A Used
- Scope Additions
- Machinery Circuits & Data Hubs
HVAC & Mechanical Ventilation Verification
Avoided high replacement costs by calculating, verifying, and certifying the capacity of the original light-industrial mechanical rooftop equipment configuration.
- Existing Equipment
- RUUD 5-Ton Rooftop Unit
- Total Supply Air
- 2,000 CFM Verified
- Required Outdoor Air
- 227 CFM (IMC Compliant)
- Building Pressure
- Positive Pressure Verified
Material Review & Storage Boundaries
The workspace stores vinyl rolls, printed graphics, packaging components, and laminates. Structural hazardous control areas were completely bypassed through explicit scope restrictions.
- Governing Guideline
- IBC Table 307.1 Limits
- Scope Restriction 1
- No Spray Finishing Allowed
- Scope Restriction 2
- No Powder / Dip Coating
- Classification Profile
- Standard F-1 Factory
Prince George's County Permit Submission Package Drawings
Our comprehensive change-of-use drawing packages contain all architectural and code sheets required by Maryland municipal plans examiners to approve commercial space conversions.
Project Summary & Site Plan
Documents code definitions, regional zoning parameters, project scopes, accessibility parking provisions, and overall regional plot alignments.
Floor Plans & Life Safety
Provides partition framing metrics, room schedules, door opening configurations, accessible pathways, and calculated exit access routes.
Electrical & Mechanical Layouts
Details code-required power distributions, equipment links, ventilation airflow ratios, restroom exhaust rates, and system capacities.
Whether you are expanding an industrial business or converting a regional flex space, securing a properly detailed commercial permit drawing set is critical for local municipal approvals. Unified Studio Architect coordinates every compliance detail so you can open your commercial build-out on schedule.
Answers to Commercial Change of Use Questions in Maryland
Need a Commercial Change-of-Use Permit Set?
If you need an architectural change-of-use permit or commercial tenant improvement drawing sets in College Park, Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Riverdale Park, Beltsville, Laurel, Bowie, Upper Marlboro, Rockville, or Silver Spring, Unified Studio Architect provides engineered code evaluations and coordinated MEP drawing sets to secure municipal approvals rapidly.
Schedule a Commercial Permit Consultation Today