Anyone out there with pole construction experience?

Have a client who wants to build a strip mall. Has an existing laundromat on the site (1-story, flat roof, brick/cmu walls w/bar joist roof), and wants to add 3 more spaces to it. He provided some photos of a similar project being built (no connection to it, just drives by it occasionally and took some pictures) which he says is being built with pole construction. Around $50/s.f., with a brick/vinyl exterior.

My knowledge of the construction type is limited mostly to pole barn and storage facilities, and not much beyond. Our outfit does conceptual design work (no stamps or construction documents) which is subsidized by the city for work in particular areas (which this site falls within). But since we’re the first step, I want it to be in the right direction. I know pole construction is cost efficient, but $50/s.f. seems low to me. Plus, the spaces are 70′ deep and 40′-50′ wide, and we try to keep miscellaneous commercial spaces column-free. Does anyone have experience with this type of construction? Do these #’s sound realistic? Are there any special limitations? Have done similar projects in the past, but usually with metal buildings. Just want to make sure there isn’t something hiding down the road that might derail this.