A commercial office fitout progresses from initial consultation and space planning to design development, regulatory approvals, and trade coordination. The process concludes with construction and the final handover of the keys to the team.
Design decisions made during the early planning stages ripple through the entire budget.
What happens during briefing and space planning?
The initial consultation establishes the business brief, budget, and required workstation counts. This flows into space planning to determine how natural light reaches workstations and how noise travels through the office.
How design development prevents costly changes
This stage involves selecting flooring, paint, and furniture. 3D renders are used for visualisations so stakeholders can sign off on the design before construction begins to avoid expensive variations.
Victorian building permits and compliance
Most Victorian fitouts require a building permit and may need fire engineering or accessibility reports. These approvals typically take 2 to 6 weeks and must be factored into the project timeline.
How the construction programme is managed
Project managers coordinate various trades including glaziers, electricians, and HVAC technicians. A detailed project programme maps every task to ensure a precise handover date.
How to start your project
Progressive Corporate’s project team can help you identify if a floor plate suits your intended layout before you sign a lease.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I change the layout during construction?
Changing walls or services after construction begins is expensive and slow compared to making changes on a floor plan.
How long do building approvals typically take?
Approvals in Victoria often take 2 to 6 weeks depending on the scope and building type.
What is the difference between a warm shell and a base build?
A base build is a concrete shell, while a warm shell has basic services like power and air conditioning already installed.
Questions to ask your fitout company before you sign
- How many projects like mine have you completed?
- Will you manage the full project or subcontract parts of it?
- What is included in your quote and what is not?