Tenant improvements

Electrical work for tenant improvements in Edmonton: new layouts, added circuits, lighting and data rough-in, with permits and landlord coordination handled.

When a space changes, the wiring has to follow

A tenant improvement, often called a TI or fit-out, is the work done to make a leased space suit a new occupant. Walls move, rooms change purpose, and desks, kitchens or equipment show up where nobody planned for them. The electrical system needs to catch up.

We take a space from its current state, whether bare shell or a previous tenant's layout, to one wired for how you will actually work. That means enough receptacles where people sit, dedicated circuits for equipment, good lighting, and a panel that is labelled and has room to grow.

What we look at first

Before we draw anything, we check what the space already has. The most common surprises in TI work are:

• A tenant panel that is full or close to its capacity.
• Old circuits from a previous tenant that are abandoned but still live.
• Shared circuits that cross into a neighbouring unit.
• Lighting that does not meet current energy or control expectations.
• No clear route for new cable through finished ceilings or concrete.

Sorting these out early avoids change orders halfway through. If your space needs more capacity, we may recommend a new or larger panel. See panels and service upgrades for how that works.

Permits, landlords and inspections

TI electrical work needs a permit. Inside Edmonton that comes from the City; elsewhere in Alberta it may be the province or another accredited authority. Some larger fit-outs need stamped drawings, which depends on the scope, so we confirm it with the authority up front.

Most leases also require landlord approval. We can provide a scope letter and drawings for the property manager and work within building rules on hours, access and shutdowns.

What drives the cost

No two fit-outs are alike, so we price each from the scope. The biggest cost drivers are:

• Floor area and the number of devices and fixtures.
• Whether panel capacity needs to be added.
• Ceiling type and how hard it is to route cable.
• Specialty loads like kitchens, labs or server rooms.
• After-hours work required by the building.
• Lighting controls and energy code requirements.

We explain each of these in your quote so you can make trade-offs with the full picture in front of you.

Tips for tenants and property managers

A few things make a fit-out go smoother on the electrical side:

1. Bring us in before the layout is final. Moving a wall on paper is free; moving a panel is not.
2. Tell us about equipment early, including printers, kitchen appliances, server racks and anything with an unusual plug.
3. Ask the landlord for any base-building drawings and the rules for shutdowns and after-hours access.
4. Decide on furniture positions before rough-in, so floor and wall receptacles end up where desks actually go.
5. Plan for growth. A few spare breaker spaces and a spare conduit to the ceiling cost little now and save a lot later.

When the work is done, we update the panel directory so every breaker is labelled for the new layout. That record matters the next time someone needs to shut off a circuit, and it is one of the first things an inspector or future tenant will look at.

Questions we hear