Fitout

Fitout refers to the interior construction and finishing work required to make a building's internal space suitable for occupation and use. It covers both the structural interior features and the non-structural elements installed within the shell of a building, including partitions, ceilings, flooring, lighting, mechanical and electrical services, and the selection of furnishings and interior fittings. The scope typically excludes the building’s external envelope and structural framework unless those elements are within the interior fit-out package.

In commercial property practice, fitout work is often described in stages or categories. Shell-and-core describes a building delivered with the basic structure and common areas; Category A fit-out comprises standard interior finishes such as suspended ceilings, lighting, floor coverings, and partitions installed by the landlord to enable a space to be used; Category B fit-out (or tenant improvements) covers the remainder of the interior works tailored to a tenant’s specific needs and branding.

Fitout projects follow a project lifecycle similar to new construction, commonly including brief and design phases, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover. Contracts may be Design and Build (single responsibility) or Design-Bid-Build (separate design and construction). Costs, schedules, and risk are driven by performance criteria, building codes, accessibility standards, and the level of customization.

Typical scope items include interior partitions, ceilings, flooring, decorative finishes, mechanical and electrical installations, data and communications infrastructure, lighting, security systems, and furniture. Sustainability considerations such as energy efficiency, fresh air requirements, and materials sourcing are increasingly integrated into fit-out planning.

Fitouts are common in office, retail, hospitality, and institutional sectors, and the terminology varies by market. In some regions the term tenant improvements (TI) is used to describe the same process.