Garage Mahal - 32x80x16

[grzellmer]

Been a member here since Dec 2015. Over 8.5 years and am finally in the process of building the "Garage Mahal" or at least that's what it is to me. The building is a stick built 32x80x16. Landscape and concrete are complete at this time and now moving into the construction of the building. Once the shell is up and dried in (structure, roof and siding) the balance of the build falls to me. Well versed in electrical, HVAC and insulation so this is not a problem. I do have one BIG question though. I built the garage as large as I could for cars, motorcycles and various other ICE polluting toys. The question is, with this as a blank canvas, what should the internal layout look like? (Yes I know there are layout tools out there but advice from someone whose learned - good and bad - would really help.) A couple pics added for detail. Note the height on the front view is not accurate. Menards only allows a height of 12' on their build plan. My garage is 16' clear. Thanks in advance.

 

[firebirdparts]

Wow! I don't really have suggestions but I hope you enjoy it.

 

[jack stand]

Use the space as is, you'll grow into it and it'll become obvious. You'll understand this ^^ as you use it and as long as you don't immediately build partitions, you're options are wide open.
I've tried to design the interior of 3 different shops and each time there's something I'd change. Then as you age, your uses can change, like all of my vehicles are new and go to the dealership for their computer analysis and I walk around my lift more than under it! Now I'm interested in woodworking. Or all of a sudden I have a boat or RV. Etc, etc.
I understand and agree that there's no better time to "wrap up" all of the construction better than now (before you move in), but that big empty space gets smaller quickly as you start hauling stuff in.

 

[Bucko]

You could ask 10 different people and get 10 different answers. I agree with Jack Stand and live in the space as a blank canvas for a while. If you rush to build it out you will likely want to change it later.
My shop is basically a 20x50 RV bay in the center with a 16'x16' door and a 25x30 two car size extensions on both sides with two single car garage doors on each. The RV center sticks out 10' on the front and back. The previous owner had already put a wall up dividing one of the side garages from the RV center and that worked great for me to use as my woodworking side.
I built a "office" and the back of the RV bay with a storage loft and a full staircase for access. I then put a wall dividing the other 2 car side in half and then split that down the middle making a room for all the garden stuff and a storage room in the other. I was not sure if I would of liked it so I used multiple file cabinets I had for storage and some shelving racks to divide the area for a while before I built it out.
Some people like a completely open space but having the separate areas work great for me because I can keep the main area much cleaner and it gives me alot more wall space.

 

[grzellmer]

The garage structure is now complete and am starting to fill it. Temp lighting is up (extension cords, lol) Started in on the primary wiring. I plan to leave it one big space for now until more certain of what goes where. I have plenty of things to work on though. (Wiring and insulation the most immediate.) Thanks for the comments on "living in it" for a while. Solid advice.

 

[Bill T]

#1-Congrats on a nice building. One lesson I should have learned from previous builds, but I didn't- we tend to accumulate things (tool cabinets, material storage) on or against the walls. Just makes sense to place stuff agaist the walls. After you have a game plan for your floor plan and you are running your electrical outlets, install your outlets around 6' (or what works for you) off of the pad/floor. I am constantly raising outlets or running power strips because the outlets are blocked.
I realize that this answer is a little off topic, but it's a lot cheaper to learn from someone else's mistakes.