Commercial fit-outs in Sydney: what to sort before you start

A commercial fit-out turns an empty or tired tenancy into a space you can open the doors on. In Sydney that tenancy is nearly always inside a building that's already running, so a lot of the work happens before anyone picks up a tool. Here's how we go about it on offices, venues, shops and gyms.

Read the building's rules first

Every tower and shopping centre has a fit-out guide, a building manager and rules about hours, lifts, loading docks and noise. We read them before we price, because they shape the program. On high-security sites that includes escorts and permits for every trip in and out.

Sort the services early

Most of the cost and most of the surprises sit in the ceiling and under the floor. We coordinate the mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and fire services under our contract, so you deal with one builder. We also check what the base building can actually give the tenancy before the design is locked in.

Know what needs approval

Some fit-outs need a complying development certificate or a DA. Others only need the landlord's sign-off. It depends on the use, the building and whether the work touches structure, fire safety or services. We'll help you confirm the pathway before you commit to an opening date.

Put the noisy work where it hurts least

Demolition, core holes and anything dusty go early, late or on weekends, whenever the building allows. On one recent office job we ran demolition from 5 to 7am so the building wasn't disturbed.

Every kind of tenancy is different

• Offices. Receptions, workspaces, kitchens and meeting rooms. We fitted out Farrar Gesini Dunn on Bligh Street and an office overlooking Hyde Park.
• Restaurants and bars. The kitchen, exhaust and drainage drive the job. Cucinetta in Woolwich and Blackwattle Bar + Brewery in Alexandria are two recent ones. More in restaurant and cafe fit-outs.
• Gyms. Floors, sound and change rooms matter most. Monday Club in Balmain is a commercial gym we fitted out inside a heritage building. More in commercial gym fit-outs.
• Shops and food courts. Centre management, trading hours and the tenants next door set the rules. We've done food court work at the MLC Centre.

Fit-out or refurbishment

If the space is already in use and you're improving it, that's a refurbishment, and it gets planned differently. We explain the difference in office fit-out or refurbishment.

One person running it

One person from Laidre runs your site, takes your calls and keeps you up to date. You won't be chasing separate trades for an answer. If you'd rather hand us the design too, that's D&C.

If you've signed a lease, or you're about to, talk to Dylan, Matt or Neil before the design is locked in. There's more on our commercial and hospitality work.