Uncommon Architects recently completed a tenant improvement project for Instant Orthopedic Care in Draper, Utah. This project highlights how thoughtful design can transform an existing commercial space into a clean, efficient, and welcoming healthcare environment.

There are a lot of architecture firms out there. Some are known for a specific style. Some are known for a certain type of project. Some are known for the size of their team or the scale of their work. But for us, being “uncommon” has never been about trying to be different for the sake of being different.

A well-designed commercial space should do more than look good…it should support the way your business actually works. From customer flow and employee experience to brand perception and future growth, thoughtful design can turn your space into a stronger business asset.

Planning a commercial remodel or new build is exciting. It usually means growth, change, or a new opportunity for your business. Maybe you’re opening a new office, expanding a medical or dental practice, remodeling a restaurant, or building out a retail space that better fits your brand.

But before the design gets too far down the road, there’s one question that needs to be addressed early and honestly: What is the real budget?

When planning a commercial project, remodel, tenant improvement, or custom build, it can be tempting to assume that bigger automatically means better. A large, out-of-area architecture firm may have an impressive portfolio, a broad team, and plenty of name recognition. But when it comes to designing a project that actually works for your site, your community, your budget, and your long-term goals, there are real advantages to working with a local architect.

Architecture is more than the design of buildings. It is the shaping of places, communities, and the physical stories we leave behind. Some buildings are new chapters. Others are living records of where we have been. That is what makes historic preservation so important.

We’re a Utah-based team of architects and designers who believe thoughtful design has the power to improve the way people live, work, and connect. Whether we’re designing a custom home, a commercial space, or something entirely unique, our goal is always the same: create spaces that are functional, inspiring, and built around the people who will actually use them.

(Hint: It’s earlier than you may think.) If you’re planning a commercial project, it’s natural to assume the architect comes in once you’ve found the property, settled on a general plan, and are ready to start “designing the building.” But in many cases, that’s already too late.

Over the years, we’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and where even well-intentioned projects can run into trouble. The good news? Most of the biggest challenges are avoidable with the right approach from the start. We believe informed clients make better decisions. Here are a few of the most common mistakes we see in commercial projects and how to avoid them.

When most people think about a commercial buildout, they picture floor plans, finishes, and construction timelines. But the success of a project is rarely determined by drawings alone. It’s determined much earlier through the relationship between client and architect.

In the commercial world, architecture has a job to do. It needs to attract customers, support employees, reflect your brand, and ultimately drive business success. Whether it’s a medical office designed for efficiency, a restaurant built for experience, or a retail space that converts foot traffic into sales, thoughtful design is the difference between a space that simply exists and one that truly works.

Based in Utah, we know the outdoors isn’t a backdrop, it’s part of how people live. Early trail runs, lunch breaks with a view, weekends in the mountains. It’s a rhythm that shapes expectations, and increasingly, it’s influencing how people want to work. That creates a clear opportunity (and a challenge) for architecture.

From hot, dry summers to freezing winter nights, and dramatic temperature swings in between, four-season climates demand more from the spaces that occupy them than many other regions. These shifts don’t just influence comfort—they directly impact how buildings perform, age, and endure over time. Good architecture doesn’t fight these conditions. It plans for them.

A little piece of Midvale history is getting a second look. With very limited information about the original design, our goal is to carefully peel back the layers and restore as much of the building’s original character as possible while giving it new life for today’s Main Street.

Utah is growing—and not quietly. From the Wasatch Front to expanding suburban communities, the state is experiencing a population and development surge that’s reshaping how we live, work, and connect. For many, that growth brings opportunity. For others, it raises real concerns around affordability, infrastructure, and preserving the character of the places we call home.

Living along the Wasatch Front comes with incredible benefits—proximity to the mountains, vibrant communities, and a landscape that’s hard to beat. It also comes with responsibility.

There’s something timeless about a home set against a mountain backdrop. The air feels cleaner. The pace slows. The horizon stretches a little farther. But designing a modern mountain home isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about engineering, durability, and thoughtful placement. In alpine environments, beauty and performance have to work together.

Great architecture doesn’t just shape buildings, it shapes how people feel inside them. In recent years, biophilic design has moved from trend to foundational principle in thoughtful interior architecture.

Standing proudly next to the beloved Koko Kitchen, you’ll find the Koko Apartments. This modern infill project brings five new residential units to the neighborhood.

If you’ve spent any winter in the Salt Lake Valley, you know the pattern well: crisp blue skies one day, followed by a thick inversion the next. Pair that with dramatic temperature swings—sunny afternoons that feel mild, then overnight lows that plunge—and you get one of the more challenging climates to design for.