A Commercial Building Renovation Checklist

When planning commercial building renovation, it’s very helpful to have a checklist. But first off, what is reimaging and how does it apply to commercial renovation?

Reimaging can also be called rebranding in commercial construction contexts. It has to do with redoing commercial spaces for branding purposes. We may be familiar with signage getting rebranded (or reimaged), but an entire commercial space (such as an office area) can receive reimaging as well (not just the signs). This applies to everything from custom flooring to wall colors to fixtures to specialized industrial equipment.

This creates a lot of work for a knowledgeable construction company. It often requires gutting and getting a commercial space to what is called a “vanilla box” (where walls are stripped and painted white and floors and ceilings are back to bare minimum – industrial equipment and furnishings are removed).

Once a space is made ready for the reimaging and renovation, what is a checklist of necessary work for next steps?

• Identify budget and objectives for the renovation: For planning objectives, it can help to integrate the parties who will be effected by the project, such as tenants – including their employees. It’s helpful to identify and document the primary reasons for the renovation, list the improvements required and clarify a budget.
• Contractor selection: There are vital aspects to consider when choosing a builder for a commercial building reimaging and renovation project. You want to choose a contractor who is going to focus on quality more than low cost, as well as a contractor with whom it’s easy to communicate. A good method for accomplishing this is to obtain proposals from various builders and ask questions, such as identifying payment options and the builder’s references. Ask if the builder provides warranties for the work they do, and about potential alterations such as change orders. Of course you need to make sure the builder is licensed in the location of your renovation and can get building permits. And look at examples of the builder’s previous work.
• Identify responsibilities and roles in the process: There are various roles in a reimaging or renovation project, and you might not be using or engaging with all of them. There is the architect, the landlord, tenant, the construction project manager, inspectors and others. You want to ensure all parties are knowledgeable of what they’re doing when – including applying for permits, approving design, reviewing and approving changes, guarding against potential delays, etc.
• Clarify the contract: The construction contract should be clear regarding aforementioned roles, payment terms, future potential change orders, warranties, and schedule dates for the project.
• Know the location: There may be elements you aren’t aware of regarding the property, such as zoning issues, building code violations, structural problems and others that can effect the construction process. Your builder can help you identify these issues. Also be aware that older buildings may require more upgrades to meet accessibility codes. You also should make sure the property is insurable during the renovation process.

When planning a commercial building reimaging and renovation project for a space such as an office, it’s helpful to have a checklist. This can cover elements such as identifying the budget and objectives for the renovation, choosing a builder, identifying the location, nailing down roles and responsibilities in the process, and completing and understanding the contract.

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