Commercial tenant improvement projects can be pretty expensive so it’s important to have an understanding of the costs before you begin your project. To answer this question lets break the project into a few categories below.

Soft Costs include design, engineering, consultants, + permitting. Every project is different + will require different professionals. Most tenant improvement projects we work on include an architect (obviously), a mechanical / electrical engineer, + an energy consultant (who produces the “Title-24 Report”).

In California the submittal package for a permit can be pretty intensive so we have set a minimum fee of $20k for our architectural design package. We do offer commercial schematic design services for projects which don’t require a permit at a significantly discounted cost. Permitting is also a type of soft cost.

Permitting will vary greatly in price depending on the municipality + the type of permit. A Coastal Development Permit or Site Development Permit will be considerably more expensive than a more simple permit.

Hard Costs are directly related to construction including materials and labor. Since the beginning of the global pandemic construction prices have increased.

Currently in Southern California minimum construction costs are around $200-300 per square foot depending on the features + finishes of the project.

When it comes to commercial tenant improvement projects, time is of the essence! You should start by requesting record drawings from the building owner or property management as they will be critical to modifying the previously tenant’s space.

Next we would schedule a time to measuring / documenting the existing conditions then we would researching relevant codes, + meeting with municipal staff to get clarification on development options.

Once we’re able to begin design we will go though a predetermined amount of meetings, progressing the design forward in each. The goal through this process is to move from more vague ideas to more detailed specifications.

Smaller projects can take as little as 1 month to design while larger projects will take longer.

When the design is completed we are ready to produce our architectural construction drawings + begin any engineering needed. This phase can take a month or so depending on the complexity of the project.

Now we’re ready for permitting! Permitting timelines are highly variable, ranging from as little as 3 months for more straightforward tenant improvement projects. Construction is also highly variable + will depend mostly on your general contractor. Even smaller construction projects will take at least 6 months. Larger projects can take a year or more to complete.

The good news is you don’t need to know much about permitting your home. We can help you get your project submitted, then guide you though the entire process!  

It is important to understand the type of permit your project requires. At the most basic level, your permit will either be ministerial or discretionary.

Ministerial permits are much more straight forward + easier to achieve. Discretionary permits typically require more time, money, + more decision makers are involved in the approval + issuance.

Yes! We offer virtual consultations at an hourly rate.  

After you book a consultation + we discuss your project, if you’d like more specific information, please let us know so we can schedule a follow up virtual consultation. Book a consultation by filling out the form at the bottom of this page.

You’re already in the right place! We should start your project with a conversation about your scope of work, budget, + timeframe. Book a consultation by filling out the form right below.