Drawing on 42 years of project experience, we answer the questions we hear most often from corporate administrators.
| Timing | Main Activities | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| 12–10 months prior | Relocation planning begins | Project kickoff, budget & requirements definition |
| 11–9 months prior | Property selection & viewings | Layout verification & comparison |
| 10–8 months prior | New location decided | Terms negotiation & internal approval |
| 9–7 months prior | Design firm selection | RFP distribution, design competition & bidding |
| 6 months prior | Notice of termination to current office | Comply with contractual notice period |
| New office lease signed | Building application process begins | |
| Quote requests to building-designated contractors (handled by design firm) | B-work quotation period: approx. 1 month required | |
| Detailed design (by B-work contractor and design firm) | Architecture, MEP, furniture, AV & IT planning | |
| 5–4 months prior | Furniture & IT ordering | Network & telephone preparation |
| 3 months prior | Construction begins | Interior & MEP construction |
| 1 month prior | Move preparation | Employee briefing, packing & address changes |
| Moving day | Move | Systems check |
| 1 month after | Restoration completed & premises returned | Security deposit settlement |
| Timing | Main Activities | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| 8 months prior | Relocation planning begins | Project kickoff, budget & requirements definition |
| Property selection & viewings | Layout verification & comparison | |
| 7 months prior | New location decided | Terms negotiation & internal approval |
| 6 months prior | Notice of termination to current office | Comply with contractual notice period |
| 5 months prior | Design firm selection | RFP distribution, design competition & bidding |
| New office lease signed | Building application process begins | |
| Quote requests to building-designated contractors (handled by design firm) | B-work quotation period: approx. 1 month required | |
| Detailed design (by B-work contractor and design firm) | Architecture, MEP, furniture, AV & IT planning | |
| 4–3 months prior | Furniture & IT ordering | Network & telephone preparation |
| 2 months prior | Construction begins | Interior & MEP construction |
| 1 month prior | Move preparation | Employee briefing, packing & address changes |
| Moving day | Move | Systems check |
| 1 month after | Restoration completed & premises returned | Security deposit settlement |
| Timing | Main Activities | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| 12–10 months prior | Relocation planning begins | Project kickoff, budget & requirements definition |
| 11–9 months prior | Property selection & viewings | Layout verification & comparison |
| 10–8 months prior | New location decided | Terms negotiation & internal approval |
| 9–7 months prior | Design firm selection | RFP distribution, design competition & bidding |
| 6 months prior | Notice of termination to current office | Comply with contractual notice period |
| New office lease signed | Building application process begins | |
| Quote requests to building-designated contractors (handled by design firm) | B-work quotation period: approx. 1 month required | |
| Detailed design (by B-work contractor and design firm) | Architecture, MEP, furniture, AV & IT planning | |
| 5–4 months prior | Furniture & IT ordering | Network & telephone preparation |
| 3 months prior | Construction begins | Interior & MEP construction |
| 1 month prior | Move preparation | Employee briefing, packing & address changes |
| Moving day | Move | Systems check |
| 1 month after | Restoration completed & premises returned | Security deposit settlement |
| Timing | Main Activities | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| 8 months prior | Relocation planning begins | Project kickoff, budget & requirements definition |
| Property selection & viewings | Layout verification & comparison | |
| 7 months prior | New location decided | Terms negotiation & internal approval |
| 6 months prior | Notice of termination to current office | Comply with contractual notice period |
| 5 months prior | Design firm selection | RFP distribution, design competition & bidding |
| New office lease signed | Building application process begins | |
| Quote requests to building-designated contractors (handled by design firm) | B-work quotation period: approx. 1 month required | |
| Detailed design (by B-work contractor and design firm) | Architecture, MEP, furniture, AV & IT planning | |
| 4–3 months prior | Furniture & IT ordering | Network & telephone preparation |
| 2 months prior | Construction begins | Interior & MEP construction |
| 1 month prior | Move preparation | Employee briefing, packing & address changes |
| Moving day | Move | Systems check |
| 1 month after | Restoration completed & premises returned | Security deposit settlement |
| Share of Tenant Area Occupied by Closed Rooms | Economy Grade | Standard Grade | High Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50% | ¥500K / tsubo | ¥600K / tsubo | ¥700K / tsubo |
| 40% | ¥450K / tsubo | ¥550K / tsubo | ¥650K / tsubo |
| 30% | ¥400K / tsubo | ¥500K / tsubo | ¥600K / tsubo |
Berthier Associates’ quotes do not change significantly after the design competition. First, our quotes for the work we contract directly (C-work) are always presented at full implementation-level detail. In addition, we provide highly accurate estimates for building-designated contractor work (B-work) as well. We calculate these estimates using benchmarks accumulated from over 40 years of fit-out projects with a wide range of building owners, tailored to each specific situation. Of course, you are welcome to change the design or specifications after the competition to suit your preferences — in that case too, we can quickly provide a revised quote by adjusting the estimate already presented.
B-work: Work carried out by the building’s designated contractors.
C-work: Work for which the incoming tenant can choose their own contractor.
*The division between B-work and C-work varies by building, so it is advisable to ask the building manager for a work-category table and confirm before signing the lease.
Berthier Associates can handle all restoration work classified as C-work under the building’s regulations.
*The division between B-work and C-work for restoration work varies by building, so it is advisable to ask the building manager for a work-category table and confirm before signing the lease.
We support you in selecting your new office building. For example, our experienced project designers are happy to advise on requests such as:
• Test-fit plans for tenant spaces you are considering
• Estimated project costs for tenant spaces you are considering
• Professional advice on the standard specifications of buildings you are considering
Participation in design competitions is free of charge.
Since our founding in 1984, we have completed more than 2,000 projects, primarily for foreign-affiliated companies. We can communicate in English and prepare presentation materials and quotations designed for submission to overseas headquarters.
Our head office is in Akasaka (Minato-ku), and we have particularly extensive experience with major buildings in central Tokyo. We can support projects broadly across the Kanto region, so please feel free to contact us first.
Feel Free to Contact Us First
We’re happy to discuss scheduling and costs even before a property has been decided.
Participation in our design competition is free of charge.