Commercial Tenant Improvement Terminology

We work closely with tenants, landlords, investors and commercial real estate brokers on commercial tenant improvement projects.  

There are several different types of commercial improvements projects:

  • Interior Improvements
  • Landlord Improvements
  • Tenant Improvements

Since the terms can be confusing, we offer the following definitions of Interior Commercial Improvements.

Interior Improvements:

Modifications of a commercial space made by either the building owner or tenant. Interior improvements are the customized and/or standardized alterations a building owner and/or tenant makes to commercial space prior to a lease or as part of a lease agreement. These include changes to walls, floors, ceilings, and lighting.

Landlord Improvements:

Modifications of a commercial space made by the building owner prior to tenant improvements. Landlord improvements, also known as white box improvements, are the standardized alterations a building owner makes to commercial space prior to a lease agreement, in order to configure the space for quick turn over to a tenant for Tenant Improvements. These include changes to walls, floors, ceilings, and lighting.

Tenant Improvements:

Modifications of a commercial space made by either the building owner or tenant in order to configure the space to accommodate the specific requirements of the tenant. Leasehold improvements, also known as tenant improvements, are the customized alterations a building owner makes to commercial space as part of a lease agreement, in order to configure the space for the needs of that particular tenant. These include changes to walls, floors, ceilings, and lighting. The most used term is Tenant Improvement, abbreviated as TI.

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