Safeguarding Property Value: The Role of Fit-Out Review in Facilities Management

Services: Constructability Review  
Dept: Construction Solutions 
Market: Corporate 

GOALS 

Our client, the owner of a multi-tenant office building, needed a comprehensive review of their tenant’s plans for an office fit-out in the client’s new building.  The office space was slated to occupy two full floors of a 5-story Class A+ office mid-rise.   

The primary goal was to identify any materials, systems, or equipment proposed in the tenant drawings that could adversely affect the new building, either as a direct result of the new work, or if they were left behind if or when the tenant vacated the space.

SERVICES/SCOPE 

STRUCTR personnel undertook a detailed review of the proposed drawings and specifications. The scope of the review included: 

• Potential impacts: Identifying impact items, their source (location in the plans or specifications), and perceived impacts on the facility. 

• Pollution impacts: Highlighting elements that could add significant sound or air pollution, such as a new basement emergency generator. 

• Traffic flow: Addressing issues related to pedestrian/auto traffic interference, particularly the tenant’s plan for document destruction box truck service three times per week. 

• Potential high-cost items: Noting potential future tenant issues from proposed materials that would be expensive to remove or difficult to reuse, including CMU demising wall types, security doors/frames/hardware, and extensive low voltage and communication/security networks. 

• Key activities included: 

• • Review of drawings and specifications: STRUCTR’s team meticulously analyzed the tenant’s proposed plans, identifying specific items that could impact the building’s overall functionality and value. 

• • Impact analysis: A comprehensive list of items was created, detailing their sources and the potential negative impacts on the facility. 

APPROACH AND CHALLENGES 

The primary challenge was to conduct a thorough and precise review of complex architectural and engineering plans within a limited timeframe. STRUCTR’s team leveraged their extensive expertise in facilities management and constructability reviews to ensure no detail was overlooked. 

IMPACT 

The comprehensive report, produced by STRUCTR, enabled the client to proactively address potential issues and safeguard the building’s value. The report was used to negotiate modifications to the tenant’s lease agreement, requiring the tenant to be responsible for the physical and economic mitigation of the items identified. The report also led to the upgrade of several types of materials in the tenant common spaces, ensuring the high quality of the space was maintained after the tenant’s departure.