{"id":3645,"date":"2026-11-09T19:08:43","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T11:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.canadacontabil.com\/blog\/?p=3645"},"modified":"2026-11-09T19:08:43","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T11:08:43","slug":"is-by-type-used-in-architectural-design-4b54-bc34eb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.canadacontabil.com\/blog\/2026\/11\/09\/is-by-type-used-in-architectural-design-4b54-bc34eb\/","title":{"rendered":"Is ‘By Type’ used in architectural design?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey everyone, let\u2019s cut to the chase: if you\u2019ve ever worked in architecture long enough, you\u2019ve definitely heard someone say \u201clet\u2019s go by type\u201d mid-project. As someone who\u2019s been supplying architectural materials categorized strictly by type for over a decade\u2014no fluff, just straight products grouped by how architects actually need them<\/em>\u2014I see this trick get slept on all the time. It\u2019s not just a buzzword; it\u2019s the quiet backbone that keeps design and construction from spiraling into chaos. By Type<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with what \u201cby type\u201d actually means here, because a lot of people mix it up with generic categorization. When an architect says they\u2019re using the by-type method, they\u2019re not just sorting random stuff into folders. They\u2019re grouping architectural elements by their core function, material makeup, or structural purpose\u2014think things like exterior cladding types, interior partition systems, or door hardware variants. For us suppliers, that means we don\u2019t toss every random panel into a pile; we stack aluminum composite panels under \u201ccurtain wall cladding,\u201d solid wood doors under \u201caccess doors for public spaces,\u201d and low-VOC paints under \u201cinterior finishes for educational buildings.\u201d It\u2019s a system built for the people who actually use these products, not just the accountants.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve watched this play out on jobsites more times than I can count, so let\u2019s get into the real, messy stuff you don\u2019t see in textbooks. Last year, I was on a mid-rise office build in Brooklyn where the lead architect, Mia, swore by by-type grouping. She didn\u2019t want to spend 3 hours digging through 12 different product SKUs for exterior wall material\u2014she needed \u201cweather-resistant cladding Type B\u201d (that\u2019s our grouping: aluminum with a PVDF coating, perfect for coastal wind) and \u201clightweight cladding Type A\u201d for the upper floors where load capacity is tight. If we\u2019d sent her a random mix of every cladding we sell, she would\u2019ve missed the deadline, no question. Architects aren\u2019t just designers staring at blueprints all day; they\u2019re juggling timelines, budgets, and contractor schedules that can shift faster than a NYC subway delay. By-type cuts through that noise.<\/p>\n

Wait, but let\u2019s address the pushback I hear all the time: why not just use \u201cby brand\u201d or \u201cby price\u201d? Here\u2019s the thing: brands change, prices fluctuate, but a cladding\u2019s \u201ctype\u201d (its material, durability rating, load capacity) stays consistent. When a contractor calls us for replacement parts halfway through a build, they don\u2019t ask for \u201cthe $10 cladding from X brand\u201d\u2014they ask for \u201cType A lightweight interior cladding.\u201d That\u2019s because by-type is universal. You can go to a jobsite in Austin, Tokyo, or Stockholm, and if someone says \u201cdoor hardware Type C,\u201d every supplier knows exactly what that means (in our case, it\u2019s commercial-grade deadbolts with a 10-year warranty, no frills). It\u2019s the only architectural language that doesn\u2019t get lost in translation.<\/p>\n

I know what some young architects might think: \u201cThat\u2019s too rigid, I want to mix and match.\u201d Trust me, I get it. I\u2019ve seen a senior architect on a museum project swap in a less common Type D cladding to get that specific matte finish they wanted. The difference? They didn\u2019t reinvent the wheel\u2014they used the by-type system as a foundation, not a cage. That\u2019s the key: by-type isn\u2019t about limiting creativity; it\u2019s about freeing up time for the creative stuff. If you don\u2019t have to waste 2 days sourcing, testing, and cross-checking every single material, you can actually focus on making a space that works for the people who\u2019ll use it. For example, a hospital design team I worked with last month used by-type to sort infection-control surfaces\u2014Type 1 is non-porous for operating rooms, Type 2 is easy-to-clean for patient rooms, Type 3 is decorative but still low-maintenance for lobbies. They didn\u2019t have to choose between function and style, because by-type let them have both.<\/p>\n

Now, as a by-type supplier, I can tell you this system isn\u2019t perfect. We\u2019ve had projects where an architect\u2019s \u201ctype\u201d doesn\u2019t line up with our categorization, and that\u2019s a problem\u2014communication is everything. But when it works? It\u2019s game-changing. Let\u2019s talk about the big stuff: sustainability. More and more architects are targeting LEED certification, and by-type grouping makes it way easier to track a product\u2019s environmental impact. Instead of digging through a brand\u2019s entire catalog to find low-carbon materials, we pre-sort our products into Type 4 (recycled content over 30%) and Type 5 (locally sourced, under 500 miles from the factory). That cuts down on the time spent on documentation for LEED, which is a huge win for teams already stretched thin.<\/p>\n

I also see a lot of small firms skipping by-type because they think it\u2019s only for big corporate jobs, but that\u2019s not true. Last year, a tiny interior design studio did a caf\u00e9 renovation in Brooklyn, and they used our by-type materials to stay under budget. They needed partition systems that were both soundproof and budget-friendly, so they grabbed Type 2 partitions (our mid-range, sound-dampening line) instead of splurging on the premium Type 1. No wasted time, no overspending, and they opened on schedule. That\u2019s the beauty of by-type: it works for every size project, from a tiny caf\u00e9 to a 50-story skyscraper.<\/p>\n

Wait, let\u2019s get real about the other side: contractors. They\u2019re the ones on the ground, dealing with shortages, damaged materials, and last-minute changes. When a contractor shows up to a jobsite with \u201cType B cladding,\u201d they know exactly how to install it\u2014no extra training, no guesswork. I\u2019ve had contractors tell me that using by-type materials cuts their installation time by 20% because they don\u2019t have to troubleshoot incompatible products. That\u2019s not a small number when you\u2019re paying labor by the hour.<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s not act like it\u2019s all smooth sailing. I\u2019ve had projects where an architect will switch their type halfway through, and that throws the whole supply chain off. But again, that\u2019s where good communication comes in. If you\u2019re using the by-type method, you need a supplier who\u2019s on the same page\u2014someone who can adjust quickly, not make you jump through hoops to get the product you need. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve built my business around it: no confusing SKUs, no hidden fees, just clear, consistent by-type categories that architects and contractors can trust.<\/p>\n

So who\u2019s actually using this? Let\u2019s break it down by project type. High-rise residential: they use by-type for fire-rated door sets and exterior insulation. Healthcare: as I said, infection-control surface types. Education: durable flooring types that can handle 1000+ students walking through hallways. Retail: modular fixture types that can be rearranged as stores change layouts. It\u2019s everywhere, even if you don\u2019t notice it. Walk into any new mall, and the storefronts are probably grouped by type\u2014same material, same installation method\u2014because it\u2019s fast, consistent, and affordable.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s address the elephant in the room: is by-type getting lost in the shift toward mass customization? A lot of people talk about custom everything these days, but here\u2019s the thing: even custom products are often built from standard types. An architect might want a custom door, but it\u2019s still going to use a standard hinge type, a standard frame type, grouped under the same by-type categories. Customization is just building on a by-type foundation. You\u2019re not starting from scratch; you\u2019re tweaking something that\u2019s already proven to work. That\u2019s why by-type is still relevant, even in an era where everyone wants something \u201cone of a kind.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been in this game long enough to see fads come and go. 3D printing is cool, modular construction is the future, but none of that replaces the need for a system that\u2019s easy to use, easy to communicate, and easy to rely on. By-type is that system. It\u2019s not flashy, it\u2019s not a new tech toy, but it\u2019s the stuff that holds construction together when everything else goes wrong.<\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re an architect, designer, or contractor who\u2019s been on the fence about trying by-type, give it a shot. Stop sorting products by brand or price, start grouping them by what they actually do. And if you\u2019re a supplier who\u2019s still not fully invested in by-type? You\u2019re missing out on a huge part of the market. Architects don\u2019t want to guess what\u2019s in your catalog\u2014they want to know exactly what they\u2019re getting, every time.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve helped hundreds of teams work through by-type projects, from start to finish. If you\u2019re gearing up for a new build, a renovation, or just need to sort out your material sourcing, hit me up to chat. No pressure, no sales pitch\u2014just a conversation about how by-type can make your project easier, faster, and cheaper. Don\u2019t let the chaos of construction derail your vision; use the system that\u2019s been working for decades to keep things on track.<\/p>\n

By Emotion<\/a> References
\n1.Architectural Record. (2022). "Categorization Strategies for Modern Building Materials." BNP Media.
\n2. Construction Management Association of America. (2021). "Supply Chain Efficiency in Commercial Construction." CMAA.
\n3. U.S. Green Building Council. (2023). "LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance Guide." USGBC.
\n4. Smith, J. (2020). "Modular Construction for Small-Scale Projects." Journal of Architectural Technology.
\n5. Architectural Products Magazine. (2022). "The Role of Standardized Material Types in Building Design." Scranton Gillette Communications.<\/p>\n

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Shenyang Magic Life Co., Ltd.<\/a>
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WebSite: https:\/\/www.ziyuaquas.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hey everyone, let\u2019s cut to the chase: if you\u2019ve ever worked in architecture long enough, you\u2019ve … Is ‘By Type’ used in architectural design?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":265,"featured_media":3645,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3608],"class_list":["post-3645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-by-type-4b68-bc7045"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.canadacontabil.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.canadacontabil.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.canadacontabil.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.canadacontabil.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/265"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.canadacontabil.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3645"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.canadacontabil.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3645\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.canadacontabil.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.canadacontabil.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.canadacontabil.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.canadacontabil.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}