Designing multi-storey factories is becoming an inevitable trend as industrial land becomes increasingly scarce, especially in major urban areas and key export processing zones. By utilizing vertical space, multi-storey factory models allow businesses to expand production and flexibly allocate functions without the need for additional land. This approach not only addresses the issue of limited land but also opens up opportunities to optimize investment costs and improve operational efficiency.
In this article, BIC will provide a detailed analysis of the concept, pros and cons, and technical solutions for multi-storey factories that align with the development trends of modern industry.
Multi-storey factory design refers to the construction of industrial factories with two or more floors, where each floor is designated for specific functions such as production, warehousing, or office space. Unlike traditional factories that usually have only one sprawling floor, multi-storey factories leverage height to increase usable space on the same plot of land.
The most notable feature of multi-storey factories is their ability to optimize vertical space, helping businesses save on land and rental costs, which are rising rapidly in developed areas. Instead of expanding horizontally, these factories allocate production lines, storage areas, and administrative offices by floor, ensuring functional separation while maintaining operational connectivity.
As urbanization accelerates, many industrial zones near city centers are facing land shortages. Designing and building multi-storey factories has become a strategic solution, enabling companies to:
- Retain “golden” locations near logistics hubs without relocating.
- Easily comply with increasingly strict urban planning and construction regulations.
- Utilize existing infrastructure to save on investment costs.
Multi-storey factories are ideal for large cities, industrial zones near urban areas, or export processing zones where land is expensive and scarce. In such contexts, vertical construction helps businesses maintain production at strategic locations without needing to find new plots.
In regions such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Binh Duong, or Bac Ninh, industrial land rental prices increase annually. For manufacturers with high space demands, multi-storey designs reduce the cost per square meter of usable floor area, thereby optimizing investment and operational costs.
Certain industries—such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and food processing—require distinct zones for raw materials, processing, packaging, warehousing, and administration. Multi-storey factories allow for efficient zoning by floor, supporting smooth production flows, easy quality control, and industrial hygiene compliance.
Multi-storey factory design allows maximum exploitation of the floor area ratio (FAR), which is critical in zones with strict construction density limits. With the same land area, businesses can double or triple their usable space to meet growing production needs without relocating or acquiring additional land.
Functions can be clearly assigned to different floors—for example, ground floor for logistics, second floor for production, third floor for inspection or administration. This flexibility enhances material movement, improves operational efficiency, and allows easy adjustments in the future.
As production scales up, vertical expansion is often more cost-effective and less disruptive than acquiring new land. Moreover, multi-storey factory designs typically include pre-planned structural load capacity, making future expansion easier without halting current operations.
With functional separation by floor, production, storage, and administration areas are clearly defined, improving management and quality control. This creates a modern, professional working environment aligned with sustainable industrial development.
Multi-storey factories require robust structural systems capable of bearing heavy machinery and production loads. Unlike residential buildings, factories often bear higher loads, necessitating deep foundations, strong beams and columns, and durable structural materials like structural steel and reinforced concrete. Errors in structural calculations can lead to subsidence, cracks, or operational hazards.
Solution: Perform detailed structural calculations during the design phase using advanced software (ETABS, SAP2000, Revit Structure), and combine with geotechnical data to select the appropriate foundation type—strip footing, driven pile, or raft foundation.
Transporting raw materials, semi-finished, and finished goods across floors poses a logistical challenge. Without proper vertical transportation systems, workflow bottlenecks can occur, disrupting production schedules.
Solution: Integrate freight elevators, heavy-duty escalators, automated conveyors, and ramps for forklifts. These systems must be synchronized with the production lines to ensure seamless operations.
Multi-storey factories are at greater risk of fire, smoke asphyxiation, and flame spread between floors. Fire safety systems must strictly follow national standards such as TCVN 3890, TCVN 4514, and the latest Ministry of Public Security regulations.
Solution: Install automatic fire alarms, sprinkler systems, emergency exits, smoke exhaust fans for each floor, and fire-resistant compartments. Additionally, mechanical ventilation should be carefully calculated to ensure a healthy working environment.
Designing a multi-storey factory requires balancing functional needs with technical safety—vibration control, noise reduction, seismic resistance, fire protection, and emergency evacuation.
Solution: Implement a multidisciplinary design approach from the outset—architecture, structure, MEP, and safety—using BIM models to detect conflicts and ensure smooth construction and operation.
The first step involves on-site surveys to assess terrain, geology, utility connectivity (electricity, water, transportation), and the business’s real usage needs. This informs floor count, functional zoning, and structural choices suited to production characteristics.
Note: For narrow plots or locations near residential areas, additional attention should be paid to noise, emissions, and safety distance regulations.
Based on the survey, the design team will develop:
- Architecture: Floor layouts, emergency exits, vertical transportation (elevators, freight lifts, stairs), natural ventilation, and lighting.
- Structure: Select appropriate load-bearing materials (pre-engineered steel, reinforced concrete...), and design foundations, beams, and columns per floor load.
- MEP: Design electrical, lighting, plumbing, fire protection, ventilation, and HVAC systems for each functional area.
All disciplines must collaborate closely to ensure coherence, cost-efficiency, and long-term maintainability.
Beyond drawings, multi-storey factory design includes material and construction method consultation. Lightweight, soundproof, and insulated materials help reduce structural load, save energy, and extend building lifespan.
Examples: Insulated panels, metal deck flooring, composite steel, anti-abrasion epoxy paint, seismic bracing systems…
During construction, the design unit coordinates with supervisors to ensure:
- Construction follows approved drawings and technical standards.
- Progress and quality of each phase are controlled.
- Safety regulations, fire protection, and phased inspections are complied with.
The result is a multi-storey factory that meets both functional and aesthetic standards while ensuring long-term safety and stability.
There is no fixed price for factory design. Costs depend on several factors, including:
- Number of floors and total usable area: More floors require more complex structural and technical design.
- Technical requirements: Industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, and electronics demand high standards for fire safety, isolation, and climate control, which increase design costs.
- Location and geotechnical conditions: Sites with weak soil or high survey costs require more complex foundation solutions.
- MEP system requirements: The more mechanical systems involved (freight elevators, dust collection, central HVAC…), the higher the design cost.
Designing multi-storey factories requires deep understanding of structural, MEP, functional, and industrial safety standards. A professional design firm will:
- Be familiar with TCVN, QCVN, and international standards (NFPA, ISO…).
- Apply industry-specific technical requirements (e.g., food, mechanical, pharmaceuticals…).
- Ensure buildings are durable and operationally stable for years to come.
Unlike single-floor factories, multi-storey designs require complex load-bearing calculations, efficient material flows, and optimal MEP layouts. An experienced firm can:
- Avoid design flaws that compromise efficiency or buildability.
- Predict and mitigate operational risks.
- Optimize investment costs while achieving high capacity utilization.
Multi-storey factories are large-scale industrial projects and must undergo various legal procedures:
- Construction permits.
- Fire safety approval.
- Environmental impact assessment (EIA).
- Completion documentation and final inspection.
A professional design firm will guide investors through this entire process, minimizing delays, avoiding errors, and ensuring regulatory compliance at reduced costs.
In the context of shrinking industrial land and soaring land prices, multi-storey factory design is no longer an alternative but a strategic and sustainable solution for modern enterprises. This model maximizes land use, allows flexible functional layouts, and meets strict technical standards for production.
More than just optimizing space, multi-storey factories reflect long-term investment thinking, sustainable development vision, and adaptability to the market’s evolving demands. Especially in key industrial urban areas, this is the inevitable development trend in the coming years.
If you're looking for a factory design solution that is efficient, space-saving, yet modern and safe, contact BIC for detailed consultation and the most optimized plan tailored to your business needs.
