A pre-lease review is not detailed design. It is an early decision tool: enough coordinated information to identify major constraints, ask better questions and decide whether the location deserves further investment.
Test the room program before the address wins you over.
A promising location is only useful if the intended clinic can operate within it. Begin with the number and type of consultation or treatment rooms, reception and waiting needs, staff areas, storage, washrooms and support spaces.
A preliminary test fit should also consider circulation, privacy and accessibility. Gross square footage alone cannot confirm that the program works.
Understand the existing building systems.
Medical uses can place different demands on heating, cooling, ventilation, plumbing, electrical service and life-safety systems than the previous tenant. Existing drawings, landlord information and an early site review help identify what is known and what still requires investigation.
- Available electrical capacity and panel location
- Heating, cooling and ventilation arrangement
- Plumbing access and drainage constraints
- Base-building fire alarm and sprinkler conditions
- Routes available for new services and equipment
Clarify what the landlord is actually providing.
The lease and work letter should distinguish base-building work from tenant work. Items such as demising walls, washrooms, mechanical capacity, electrical service, ceilings, fire protection and utility connections can materially affect the tenant improvement budget.
Questions are easier to negotiate before the lease becomes unconditional than after design has started.
Map the approval path and realistic sequence.
The project may require landlord review, consultant design, permit documentation, municipal review, construction, inspections and closeout. The exact path depends on the property, existing conditions and intended clinical services.
A useful early schedule identifies dependencies rather than promising an opening date before the work is understood.
Connect the design decision to cost early.
A preliminary budget should be based on the specific space and program, not only a generic cost-per-square-foot allowance. Equipment, millwork, mechanical and electrical upgrades, professional services, permits, landlord requirements and contingency all need to be considered.