Commercial Fitouts

Commercial construction has a term – “fit out” – which describes the work of building an interior commercial space to meet the requirements of an occupant. This is representative of office construction but also commercial construction in general. The landlord’s construction contractor will develop a “white box” or “shell” to make the office or commercial space ready for the occupant’s fit out – to be executed typically by the occupant’s contractor (although it occasionally could be the same contractor for the landlord’s shell).

Since fit outs are tailored for tenant requirements, for finishing the white box, they can be referred to as tenant improvements, or TIs. The elements and costs may be perceived to be covered by the tenant, but are often negotiated by the tenant with the landlord so that the landlord may cover some of the fit out costs. Commercial fit outs can include supplementary details such as:

• Raised floors
• Additional mechanical, IT and electrical elements
• Meeting and office rooms finished
• Signage installed
• Internal finishes (such as wood)
• Blinds and window furnishing
• Reception areas
• Furniture installed
• A/V equipment
• Kitchen areas completed
• Suspended ceilings
• Special lighting fixtures