The Podium event space in Elk River, Minn., has plenty of features that can catch a visitor’s eye. High ceilings, expanses of glass, and dozens of hunting trophies help to create a rustic yet modern ambience. Nearly every visitor, however, comments on one unique feature: the custom panoramic propane fireplace.
“Everybody says the same thing: ‘Man, that fireplace is killer,’” says co-owner Chris Carlson. “It’s the highlight of the room.”
Evolving from the modern, linear fireplace trend that was predominant over the past decade, today’s commercial fireplaces are getting bigger and bolder to match architects’ ambitious visions. And while hospitality projects are still a primary fireplace market, manufacturers are seeing their units enter new building categories.
“A lot of companies are trying to bring their employees back into the office setting and not have everybody be remote,” says Missy Ramberg, marketing director for Acucraft. “By adding these kinds of different fireplaces or amenities, it’s an enticement for people to come back to work.” Similarly, as diners increasingly eat out, Acucraft CEO Chris Maxson says he’s seeing restaurants remodeling with fireplaces to make their spaces feel cozy, relaxing, and safe.
Fireplaces with large viewing areas
Other commercial fireplace trends are design-driven. The most common trend is fireplaces with glass on multiple sides or even with open viewing areas and no glass at all.
“Anything that can provide an unobstructed view for people has grown in popularity, whether it’s a circular or big, four-sided glass fireplace,” Ramberg says. “[Designers] want to add something as a focal point but not take away and make it seem like the space is smaller.”
At custom fireplace manufacturer Montigo, marketing manager Roxane Leigh is seeing plenty of tall, multisided glass fireplaces, with many designers specifying see-through, indoor–outdoor units. “Visitors can enjoy the fireplace in the living room or the lounge space, and on the patio or their outdoor living space,” she says.
Custom creations
Many architects see fireplaces as an opportunity to create wild designs to make their spaces truly unique, Leigh says. For the Beacon Health & Fitness building in Elkhart, Ind., Montigo’s retiring founder designed a 176-inch-tall version of its Tornado, a spinning cylindrical fire feature, in a triangle shape that sits in the corner of a glass atrium so it can be viewed from any angle.
With many of Acucraft’s clients moving out of the city to find more space in the countryside, Maxson is seeing an increasing number of projects fueled by propane—about 20% of the company’s installations. Visit propane.com to learn more about how designers are setting their projects apart with commercial fireplaces.
