Commercial Building Buildings
Commercial Post Frame Buildings at Scale
Warehouses, retail centers, manufacturing floors, and indoor arenas — engineered for business, priced for reality.
Popular Commercial Building Sizes
About Post Frame Commercial
When your business needs space — real space, not a leased unit with low ceilings and columns every 20 feet — post frame commercial construction delivers more usable square footage per dollar than any other building method. Clear spans up to 100 feet, eave heights up to 24 feet, and lengths limited only by your lot make post frame the first choice for warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, retail showrooms, agricultural retail, equipment dealerships, and indoor arenas.
The economics are straightforward. Post frame commercial buildings cost $10-$25 per square foot for the structural shell, compared to $25-$50+ for conventional steel frame or pre-engineered metal buildings. The savings come from the column-and-truss system: fewer foundation points, faster erection, and less steel than a rigid-frame building. Your building goes up in weeks, not months.
But cost savings mean nothing if the building does not perform. Our commercial packages are engineered to IBC (International Building Code) standards, stamped by a licensed engineer for your specific location, and detailed for commercial loads including overhead cranes, mezzanines, heavy-duty sprinkler systems, and multi-story office buildouts. We design for your county's wind speed, snow load, seismic category, and occupancy classification.
Material quality matches the engineering standard. Commercial-grade 26-gauge steel panels with Kynar 500 paint finishes resist fading, chalking, and corrosion for 40+ years. Engineered steel connectors, hurricane ties, and continuous load paths ensure the structure performs under extreme loads. Columns are pressure-treated to UC4A standards for ground contact.
Our commercial building packages include everything above the foundation: engineered trusses, columns, steel roof and wall panels, trim, overhead doors, walk doors, fasteners, and a complete stamped plan set. We do not include foundations, concrete, plumbing, electrical, or interior finishes — those are handled by your local trades.
The PoleBarnes advantage for commercial builds: we generate machine-ready manufacturing files for the truss manufacturer's specific equipment. No translation errors, no manual re-entry, no delays. Your trusses go from our design engine to their saw in minutes.
Common Questions About Commercial
How much does a commercial post frame building cost?
Commercial post frame shells range from $10-$25 per square foot depending on size, height, loads, and features. Our Titan 80×150 (12,000 sq ft) starts at $124,500, or about $10.38 per square foot. Finished costs with concrete, utilities, and interior buildout add $15-$40 per square foot.
Is post frame construction approved for commercial use?
Yes. Post frame construction is fully recognized in the International Building Code (IBC) and accepted by building departments nationwide. The National Frame Building Association (NFBA) publishes design standards, and our packages are engineered by licensed professionals to meet all applicable code requirements.
Can a post frame building support an overhead crane?
Yes, with proper engineering. Overhead cranes require reinforced columns, continuous headers, and additional bracing to carry the crane loads. We design crane-ready buildings with specified crane weights and spans. Crane rail and equipment are typically supplied separately by a crane vendor.
How does post frame compare to pre-engineered metal buildings (PEMB)?
Post frame is typically 20-40% less expensive than PEMB for buildings under 100 feet wide. Post frame uses wood columns and trusses instead of steel rigid frames, resulting in lower material costs and faster erection. For very wide spans (100+ feet) or heavy crane loads, PEMB may be more appropriate.
Can I add offices or a mezzanine to a commercial building?
Absolutely. Post frame commercial buildings commonly include mezzanine levels for offices, breakrooms, and storage. The clear-span interior makes it easy to place a mezzanine wherever you need it without worrying about column interference. We can design the truss system to carry mezzanine loads from the start.
Ready to Build Your Commercial Building?
Start with a pre-designed configuration or work with a designer to create something custom.