Are you curious as to all the different types and classifications of buildings?
You’re not the only one. Well over 1,000 people search for this information every month (which surprised me). Since it was such a popular topic, we thought we’d jump in and do something different than the other articles on the similar topic – and that is include plenty of photo examples.
Here’s our version.
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Different Types of Buildings
Below you will find the following:
- Different buildings
- Different types of structures
- Names of buildings
- Building examples
Office Buildings
When it comes to buildings dedicated to office space, there really aren’t all that many different types of office buildings. Your main options are as follows.
Office towers
I love office buildings, especially towers. I work in one in downtown Vancouver. 2.5 years ago when I set out to find a small office space downtown, I was very lucky to find space in the famous Marine Building.
While once the tallest building in the world coming in at 18 storeys, it’s now short for an office building. 60 storey office towers are not uncommon in many cities throughout the world.
Walk-up
Many smaller towns build smaller office buildings because there isn’t demand for hundreds of office spaces in a 40 storey tower. Instead, they build 2, 3 or 4-floor buildings. While I call them walk-up, they do have elevators.
Residential Buildings
While the detached single family home is likely the first type of residential building that comes to mind, there are many different types of residential buildings.
We put together an extensive list of all the different types of houses here and residential architectural styles here.
The most common include:
- Detached single-family
- Townhouse
- Apartment
- Condominium
Retail Buildings
Retail buildings can be single shop or multi-shop structures. Here are the different types of retail buildings you find in most towns and cities.
Shops/Boutiques/Services
By shops, boutiques and services, I’m referring to single business buildings that house a retail outlet or service-based business. Consider a vacuum store, realtor office, dentist, etc.
Big Box
We all know the big box retailers that have pretty much taken over brick and mortar retail over the last 20 years. These are the huge retail stores that cover all kinds of stuff within a particular sector. Think Home Depot, Walmart, Costco, Staples, etc.
Malls
Malls come in the strip mall and indoor mall variety. There are also outdoor malls in warmer climates. A mall is a building that houses multiple businesses and services in one place.
The concept is to create a place that attracts more people on account of having a large group and variety of stores, retailers and services.
Hospitality Buildings
By hospitality buildings, I’m referring to structures built to house and/or feed people. These are often stand-alone buildings except for hotels often include restaurants. Here are the different types of hospitality buildings.
- Hotels
- Motels
- Resorts
- Bed and Breakfasts
- Hostels
- Restaurants
Multi-Purpose Buildings
A fairly new type of building is what I call a multi-purpose building. This is a building that incorporates several functions.
Multi-purpose skyscraper
The most common multi-purpose is the skyscraper that includes retail, office, hospitality and residential spaces.
Mall/Office Space
Another multi-purpose building is a mall/office building. The mall includes a section with offices. The mall in the town where I grew up had a large section of offices on the second floor.
Institutional Civic Buildings
Most towns and cities have one or many civic buildings that are built to serve the community in some capacity. Most are owned by the government, but not all. For examples, not all hospitals are owned by the government.
Here’s a brief list of the various types of civic buildings.
- Hospitals and clinics
- Libraries
- Community centers
- Museum
- Courthouses
- Police/Fire
- Prisons
- Post office
Gathering Buildings
Not every town has a stadium, arena and/or theater. Most cities do though.
Vancouver, where I live, we enjoy a full-size covered stadium, two arenas, many theaters and auditoriums … and Vancouver isn’t a huge city. These are venues that host sporting events, concerts, various shows (i.e. home shows, auto shows, boat shows), etc.
Here are the different types of gathering or assembly style buildings.
- Stadiums
- Arenas
- Theaters
- Auditoriums
- Conference centers
Religious Buildings
At first, I planned to put religious buildings under “gathering buildings” but then it occurred to me religious buildings have their own sub-categories and serve a different purpose than mere gathering or assmbly type buildings.
Examples of different types of religious buildings include:
- Church
- Temple
- Mosque
- Cathedral
- Monastery
- Synagogue
Educational Buildings
Educational buildings are schools. Most towns have one or more. There are many types of schools. The main ones are:
- Pre-school
- Elementary
- Middle
- High School
- College
- University
- Technical
Industrial Buildings
Many towns have sections zoned for industrial buildings which include manufacturing facilities such as a factory and warehousing facilities. Some are small while others are huge.
Arguably, infrastructure buildings fall in this category as well – various types of plants such as power plants, nuclear plants, water treatment plants, etc.
Here’s a brief list of the different types of industrial buildings.
- Manufacturing plant
- Factory
- Warehouse
- Distribution center
- Storage facilities
- Power Plant
- Water treatment plant
- Nuclear plant
Agricultural Buildings
And yet another building concept are those used in agriculture. These structures usually house animals, but can also store produce and/or food for animals. Here is a brief list of various types of agricultural buildings.
- Barns
- Greenhouses
- Silos
- Chicken Coop
Terminals (Transportation Buildings)
Many different types of structures are designed and built to facilitate travel. Broadly speaking, they’re terminals that serve all kinds of transportation methods. Here are the main types of terminals:
- Ferry
- Airport
- Train
- Bus
Recreational Buildings
If you’re lucky, your town offers recreational buildings where you can engage in various activities and/or be entertained. I’m a big user of recreational buildings including our local public swimming pool, indoor trampoline park, indoor climbing gym and a nearby fitness center.
Here’s an overview listing some of the different types of recreational buildings.
- Fitness centers
- Bowling alleys
- Indoor climbing gyms
- Ice Rinks
- Public swimming pools
- Indoor trampoline parks
FAQs
Can you film in public buildings?
Many countries, including the United States, allow you to legally film in public buildings. Always be sure to look up the laws for where you plan to film before taking out a camera and don’t try to force your way into the restricted areas of public buildings.
What size of building requires a permit?
The maximum size of a building that doesn’t require a permit will vary depending on where you live. Most US states leave the limits up to the local government, as seen in this Washington law. In general, more densely populated areas will have stricter requirements.
How long do steel buildings last?
50 years is a reasonable expectation for a steel building’s life span and companies like General Steel Corporation issue 50-year warranties on their buildings. A steel building can potentially last for more than a hundred years with proper installation and maintenance.
Why do buildings get abandoned?
A building may be abandoned for a number of reasons. If a building needs repairs, it is sometimes more cost effective for a family or business to move somewhere else.
Some buildings simply can’t find new occupants that can afford the owner’s asking price, so they sit empty for years. China’s infamous ‘ghost cities’ are a notable example of this phenomenon.
Still, the widespread nature of the problem and national solutions like offering teachers half-priced housing in those areas are different from the typical abandoned office building or mansion in other countries.
How much do buildings weigh?
Small buildings like tiny homes can weigh less than 10,000 pounds, while the largest building in the world weighs more than 1.5 billion pounds.
Can you paint metal buildings?
The metal used in building construction can be painted, but getting a good color on it requires paints, tools, and methods specific to the task. Any store with a paint department should have someone there that’s more than happy to show you where the proper equipment is.
What buildings are on a farm?
A family farm will have the main house, a large shed or garage for equipment and vehicle storage, and a silo or other storage space for harvested crops. If there are livestock or other animals, expect to see a barn. Some farms also include a greenhouse for growing year-round.
In large-scale farms, the setup is mostly the same, but you might also see giant steel buildings. Chicken farms regularly feature several of these massive structures in the middle of the rural landscape, like this mega-farm in West Virginia.
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