Commercial office fit-out in Montréal: the steps, the timeline and what drives the budget
Commercial · October 13, 2026 · 2 min read
We delivered an 18,000 sq ft headquarters for Tempo Software in twelve weeks. Here is how an office fit-out comes together — and where time and money are usually won or lost.
An office fit-out turns an empty floor into a working space: walls, ceilings, lighting, mechanical, electrical, data, finishes and furniture. In downtown Montréal it usually happens against a fixed date — the end of a lease or a team that needs to move in.
The main steps
- Space plan and design — how many offices, meeting rooms and workstations, and how people move through the space.
- Pricing and value engineering — a detailed price by trade, then adjustments to hit the budget.
- Permits — the borough reviews the drawings before major work begins.
- Ordering long-lead items — glass partitions, mechanical units, lighting and specialty finishes are ordered as early as possible.
- Construction — demolition, framing, mechanical and electrical rough-in, ceilings, finishes.
- Inspections, deficiencies and handover.
What really sets the timeline
The construction itself is rarely the longest part. Approvals, design decisions and lead times on materials usually are. Decide early, approve drawings quickly, and order long-lead equipment as soon as the design allows.
For Tempo Software (with CBRE), we renovated 18,000 sq ft in twelve weeks — including six new skylights, eight HVAC systems and upgraded electrical and data networks. That was only possible because the schedule was planned around those long-lead pieces from day one.
What drives the budget
- Mechanical and electrical work — moving or adding HVAC and power is often the biggest cost.
- Glass and acoustics — glass partitions and soundproofing look simple but add up.
- Ceilings and lighting — open ceilings, skylights and feature lighting change the price significantly.
- Working in an occupied building — after-hours work and protection of common areas take time.
- Finishes — flooring, millwork and kitchen equipment are where budgets drift if choices are left late.
How to keep it on track
Get a detailed price by trade, insist on written change orders, and ask your contractor for a schedule that shows the long-lead items. Planning an office in Montréal? Book a free consultation and we will walk you through it.