Quick Answer
An office fit-out begins with the actual working needs of the occupier and the building's approved interface specifications. Before ordering finishes, check the space's permitted use, lease or sale documents, loading limits, HVAC capacity, power, data, fire systems, access and responsibility boundaries. Commissioning and a documented handover matter just as much as the visual finish.
What matters most
Agree the proposed desk count, meeting spaces, circulation and visitor journey before fixing partitions.
Review MEP capacity, fire and security interfaces with the building operator before contractor mobilization.
Use a signed scope of works and clear change-order procedure; a square-metre quote alone is incomplete.
Ask for tested systems, snag resolution, as-built drawings and operations information at handover.
The AI Tower project page owns project details; this guide addresses occupier fit-out decisions.
Stage 01
Start with how the office must operate
An impressive lobby cannot compensate for a workplace that is difficult to use. Start by mapping how many people will work on a normal day, when visitors arrive, where confidential calls take place and what support areas the business actually needs. A law firm, consultancy, technology company and medical administration team will not use the same plan. Test likely growth before deciding how much floor area belongs to open desks, private rooms, circulation, storage and meeting spaces.
Request the unit's base-build drawings and verify measured dimensions before any detailed proposal. Distinguish usable internal area from the area quoted in a commercial agreement. Make a simple space schedule and walk the access route from parking or public arrival to the office door: a layout that works on paper can fail when deliveries, lifts, queues and accessibility are ignored.
Questions to resolve
- Prepare a brief of occupier activities, visitor numbers, privacy and accessibility needs.
- Confirm the actual handover condition and approved drawings before tendering.
- Identify restrictions on drilling, floor loading, signage, opening hours and noise.
Stage 02
Coordinate the MEP and smart-building interfaces early
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) coordination should start before ceilings or partitions are fixed. Have the design team confirm the landlord's allocated electrical load, HVAC supply and controls, fresh air strategy, plumbing connection points and equipment access. If the office needs additional cooling, power-intensive IT equipment or special communications infrastructure, get written confirmation of feasibility and the party responsible for upgrades.
In a connected high-rise, the tenant's systems must also coexist with building-wide security, fire life safety, lifts, access control and management infrastructure. AIG publicly positions AI Tower as an intelligent mixed-use development in the New Capital CBD and identifies Honeywell for the building technology layer. That concept is useful context; it does not establish the capacity or permitted modification of a particular unit. Request current technical documentation for the exact premises instead of assuming every advertised capability is ready for tenant connection.
Questions to resolve
- Coordinate power, cooling, ventilation, lighting, data and fire interfaces in one reflected-ceiling plan.
- Approve equipment locations and future maintenance access before installation.
- Request written confirmation of all tenant/landlord connection responsibilities.
Stage 03
Compare tenders on scope, not headline price
A fit-out tender should contain a specification, measurable bill of quantities, design responsibility matrix, programme, exclusions, proposed materials and testing requirements. Compare alternatives on the same technical brief. Otherwise one quote may omit low-voltage systems, approvals, waste removal or testing while another includes them, creating a misleading price difference.
Ask bidders to identify lead-time items, how finishes will be sampled and approved, and how changes will affect both price and programme. Treat schedules and contractor qualifications as items to verify through documents, not a promise inferred from marketing. The owner should appoint independent review where the scope or criticality warrants it.
Questions to resolve
- Request itemized quantities and unambiguous inclusions and exclusions.
- Check insurance, relevant registrations and recent comparable work rather than generic portfolios.
- Record change requests in writing with cost and programme impacts before approval.
Stage 04
Commission and hand over a working office
Handover is not only a walk-through of paint, joinery and furniture. Record functional testing for the systems within the tenant scope and evidence of integration testing where interfaces with central building systems require it. A commissioning approach such as ASHRAE's focuses on documented performance against owner requirements, not merely switching equipment on. Applicable Egyptian requirements and the building's own rules must be confirmed with qualified parties for the specific unit.
Close the project with a consolidated snag list, approvals, equipment manuals, warranties, system training, final drawings, asset register and emergency contacts. These records help the team operate and maintain the workplace after the contractor leaves.
Questions to resolve
- Witness agreed functional tests and record outstanding exceptions.
- Keep signed snag closure records, as-builts, warranties and O&M information.
- Agree post-handover response arrangements before final payment.
Direct AIG Contact
Discuss office fit-out or AI Tower workplace requirements
Share your intended business use, space requirements and preferred timescale. Ask AIG for the current project information or the right technical contact before committing to a scope.
First-party Context
Relevant AIG project: AI Tower, New Capital CBD
AIG identifies AI Tower in the New Capital CBD as a mixed-use destination combining business, healthcare, retail and hospitality-led spaces, and identifies Honeywell as its building technology partner. The building is a project reference for researching connected-workplace requirements, not evidence that any particular fit-out or tenant-specific capacity is complete.
Practical checklist
Use these points to structure a meeting or tender enquiry. They are not a substitute for licensed local design, legal, health or engineering review.
Questions frequently raised by project teams
Is an office handover the same as being ready to occupy?
Not necessarily. Physical possession, approved use, fitted services, testing, operational access and the documents a tenant needs may be separate milestones. Verify them for the actual premises.
Can an AI-enabled tower remove the need for tenant MEP design?
No. Shared infrastructure and a tenant's internal load, layout, controls and safety interfaces still need a coordinated design and current written approvals.
Does AIG publish a standard office fit-out price?
No verified standard rate was supplied for this guide. Cost depends on specification, unit condition, systems, logistics and contract scope; request an itemized current proposal.
Sources & further reading
Company project statements are based on AIG's own published material. Technical standards may require purchase and do not replace locally applicable approvals.
