Safety. Function. Beauty.

Does Your Commercial Space Actually Meet Code — Or Are You Guessing?

Randi Lynn Johnson: This sort of surprises me that you say safety is a higher priority to aesthetics, because I've seen your designs, and they all look so beautiful. I'm not looking at it thinking, wow, that is so safe — that's really functional. So I am intrigued to learn that you put that much thought into it. Are there more examples of that?

Robin Pasley: Life safety falls into general code compliance. There are even codes around when a window is next to a door — is that window tempered, and where does the door swing? And then there's ADA compliance: the approach of a wheelchair to a door, which hinge side it's on — there's just a myriad of calculations and numbers we have to carry in our heads when we're designing a commercial space.

Robin Pasley: We want our spaces to be accessible to everyone. We never want anyone — and frankly, nowadays, you can't even get a space approved through permitting if it's not compliant. That's the good part: we're making sure your project doesn't get held up. The biggest risk is having someone working on your project who doesn't understand this — your project gets shot back from the jurisdictional authority and you lose time. Time is money.

Robin Pasley: I was part of a recent project where I didn't specify the cabinetry — that was handled by a colleague — and it did not comply. It was one inch off. They had to stop the opening of that location, rip out all the countertops, remove the cabinets, and cut them down by an inch. One inch. It was a breakdown in communication, and it cost a lot of money on the cabinet side.

What Does It Mean for a Commercial Space to Actually Function?

Randi Lynn Johnson: Can you explain what functionality means in design? We've covered safety — what does it mean for a space to be functional?

Robin Pasley: One of the first things I think about when I walk into a space is: do I know where to go as a user? That question is lost sometimes — especially because interior designers focus on the interior. Where do we come in, and where do we go from there?

Robin Pasley: I was working on a public space building that had been designed by a great architect friend of mine. But because architects think about spaces differently, when you walked in the door, the first thing in front of you was a hallway. As a user, you'd think, do I go there? When actually there were multiple meeting rooms you could be heading to, and there was no way to know. So we created a wall that meets you — that tells you where you are and what this space is for. This company had a mission statement, and why you were there was central to who they are. We wanted you to know immediately that you're part of this idea. And then a directory: go left for this, right for that, around the wall for the other thing. Without that wall, you would have walked in and turned in circles until someone rescued you.

How Wayfinding Shapes the Commercial Interior Design Experience

Robin Pasley: Wayfinding is what we call it — the ability to find your way through a building. We do it in multiple ways. Sometimes we use materials: a different color flooring in certain areas tells you what happens in that space. Sometimes we connect the flooring to a directional cue. Signage is a huge part of this — and there are codes around that too. How high does it have to be? How large do the letters need to be? Because again, we're designing spaces that are inviting and accessible to all users.

Randi Lynn Johnson: That's so thoughtful. I love that holistic approach to design.

Robin Pasley: As a designer and a business owner, I'm always thinking about how to squeeze functional square inches out of every space — never leaving pockets that are empty or unusable. Have you been in a building with weird insets or odd room shapes where you can't get furniture into a corner? That's unused space. We frame up interiors so they're highly functional for everything — whether it's a conference room, a huddle room, or a small table for a quick conversation.

Robin Pasley: We also think about things like where the thermostat is going to go. We always work with our engineers, but I find they often place thermostats in the worst spots — because we're thinking about where branding and artwork land. Function and beauty intersect, and you have to understand that now — not after construction, when moving it becomes a change order. Ask me how I know. We've made those mistakes learning on the job too.

Beauty in Commercial Design Is Really About Brand Storytelling

Randi Lynn Johnson: So to wrap it up — when you go into a design discovery with a client, you first consider safety, then functionality, and then beauty — and you don't compromise the first two to get there. You have your priorities in order, and you hit all three really well.

Robin Pasley: Thanks. In the end, we always want to come to that third piece and try not to let it suffer because of the first two. That's part of the puzzle I talked about — the problem solving. How do we bring the beauty of this space given that we had to leave the door where we didn't want it? We still incorporate it, solve that problem, and make it look great.

Robin Pasley: And to be clear — when I say "beauty," I'm using it as a general term for what is appealing to the user. For me, that goes back to the brand, the narrative, and the story of the business itself. We never want that narrative to be compromised. We just make sure it comes in the proper order — after we've addressed safety, code compliance, and function. It's not just about being pretty. It's about telling the story so that every dollar that business owner spends is invested in their brand and making them known for what they do in their community.

Randi Lynn Johnson: In an increasingly competitive market, the merits of using interior design as a strategic growth tool can make all the difference in not just surviving — but thriving. Pasley Commercial Interiors. Design to help your business grow.

*Recorded in our studio at 616 N. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80903