A signed lease and a floor plan do not settle what it will take to open a working space. Layout changes affect furniture, technology, building systems, landlord approvals, and the move date.
These articles follow tenant improvements from planning through occupancy. They examine how tenants define the work, make decisions during design and construction, manage cost changes, and discover whether the finished space supports the people using it.
By Chris Cooks, contributing columnist It may not be a core business activity, but probably one of THE most emotive subjects in the new office
Issuing a revised drawing doesn’t mean the people performing the work are building from it. Originally published December 2011. Updated October 2026 to reflect current
Architects, contractors, brokers, technology teams, furniture vendors and movers may all have defined scopes. The owner still needs someone watching how those scopes come together.
Who manages the build-out determines more than who hires the contractor. It affects control, responsibility, risk, schedule and the decisions the tenant will have to
Architectural floor plans are just as important for the commercial tenant to review and approve as it is for the trades to build the space
Construction drawings and specifications establish what is supposed to be built. They don’t guarantee that everything installed in the field will be right. These photographs
The equipment may look mundane, but having the right tools at the right time can determine whether move day runs smoothly or becomes a problem.
Relationships can identify good candidates. They shouldn’t replace the owner’s process for determining whether those candidates are right for the project. Originally published September 2011.
How a build-out is documented can matter long after construction is complete. Originally published September 2011. Updated September 2026 to reflect current owner-side project practices.
ACTION CHECKLIST FOR FOR HANDLING MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES Recommended Timing Before Move ? Obtain new address and phone numbers, as soon as they are available 2
The mover may handle the boxes, but a successful office relocation depends on coordinating much more than the move itself. An office move can look
Existing furniture may look like an obvious asset during a relocation. Reusing it still has to work with the new space, schedule, technology and cost.
The move may be complete, but the transition from project delivery to operating the space has just begun. After months of planning and construction, the
High-density storage was the issue on this project. The lesson applies to anything that puts concentrated weight where the building may not have been designed
Building security and access requirements can control your move schedule in ways you may not discover until it’s too late. Office moves are usually planned
