A NYC commercial office fit-out typically takes anywhere from 8 weeks to 9+ months of construction, depending heavily on size, scope, and complexity. As a rough guide: a simple cosmetic refresh might run 6-10 weeks, a standard mid-size office fit-out (10,000-30,000 sq ft) often runs 12-20 weeks, and a large or high-end buildout with custom millwork, complex MEP, or multiple floors can run 6-9 months or more.
But construction is only part of the timeline. The full project clock also includes design (which can take 1-4 months), the DOB filing and permit process (2-6 weeks or more), long-lead procurement (some items take 12-16+ weeks to arrive), and landlord approvals. A “16-week construction” project can easily be a 9-month project end to end once design, permitting, and procurement are included.
For commercial tenants, the most common scheduling mistake is planning around the construction duration alone and underestimating everything that has to happen first. Darby builds a full master schedule during preconstruction – permits, procurement, and construction – so tenants can plan move-in realistically.
