Retrofits win when the existing building genuinely supports the operation. When it does not, retrofit costs frequently exceed ground-up construction, and owners usually discover this after signing a lease. Six conditions decide it, and every one can be checked before money moves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What disqualifies a building from retrofit?
Inadequate incoming electrical service, insufficient clear height, roof or slab capacity below what the equipment requires, absent floor drainage, hostile column spacing, or zoning separation distances.
When does retrofit cost more than building new?
When two or more structural gates fail at once. Individually they are line items; together they compound into a rebuild.
What is a property condition assessment?
An evaluation of whether an existing building can carry the loads, meet code and support the intended operation — run before a lease or purchase, not after.
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