Tenant Improvement Contractor in Chicago

A tenant improvement is where a commercial lease becomes a working space — and where a lot of budgets and schedules quietly go wrong. Chicago Construction Crew is a commercial-only general contractor handling tenant improvements across the city since 1998: office, medical, retail, restaurant, and mixed commercial interiors, built out from shell, vanilla box, or an existing second-generation space. Whether you're a tenant fitting out a new lease, an owner or property manager turning over a suite, or a broker who needs a straight read on cost before a deal closes, we give you the same thing — a realistic scope, a defensible number, and a schedule built around your move-in date.

What a Tenant Improvement Includes

Every TI is different, but the work usually runs across the same systems: demolition and demising walls; framing, drywall, and finishes; flooring, ceilings, and lighting; doors, hardware, and glass; paint and millwork; ADA-compliant restrooms and accessible routes; and the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work that makes the space usable — HVAC distribution and balancing, power and data, and any plumbing the layout requires. The scope depends heavily on where you're starting. A vanilla box with existing MEP is a lighter build than a raw shell that needs full distribution, and a second-generation space may let you reuse infrastructure the last tenant left behind. We identify that early so the scope — and the number — reflect the actual space, not a generic assumption.

How We Run a Tenant Improvement in Chicago

We read the lease and work letter first. Before pricing, we get clear in writing on what's landlord base building, what's tenant responsibility, and what the tenant improvement allowance actually covers — because that's where scope gaps and change orders come from. Then we price with the exclusions named up front, so the number you sign is the number you get. From there the schedule is built backward from your move-in or opening date, and in Chicago that means planning around the Department of Buildings permit and inspection timeline, which drives the calendar as much as the construction does. Throughout, we coordinate with your landlord, property manager, architect, and the inspectors so the handoffs don't become delays.

Tenant Improvements We Handle

Office build-outs and renovations, medical and dental suites, retail and restaurant spaces, and general commercial interiors. We work for tenants fitting out a new lease, owners and property managers preparing space for a new occupant, and brokers who need realistic cost input before a lease is signed. If you want to understand what a build-out will actually cost before you commit, our guide on commercial tenant improvement cost in Chicago walks through the drivers — and we're happy to price your specific space.

Why Work With Chicago Construction Crew

We're a licensed City of Chicago general contractor, fully insured, with a certificate of insurance available on request, and we build commercial interiors exclusively — that focus is why our projects come in scoped right, permitted cleanly, and finished on schedule. Recent permitted work includes a full change-of-use interior build-out in Lincoln Park under City of Chicago permit #101062623 — documented, code-compliant commercial construction with real inspections behind it. What you get from us is a realistic read on cost and schedule before you lock in your lease and construction decisions, clear scope with defined exclusions, and crews who show up and execute — no surprises buried in a change order three weeks in.

Start Your Tenant Improvement

Tell us the address, the approximate square footage, the use (office, medical, retail, restaurant, or other), and your target move-in date — and whether you're starting from a shell, a vanilla box, or an existing space. We'll give you a straight read on scope, cost, and schedule. Call (773) 934-1500 or email george@chicagoconstructioncrew.com.

Tenant Improvement FAQs

A tenant improvement is the construction work that turns a leased commercial space into one a specific tenant can operate in — walls, finishes, restrooms, lighting, and the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing the use requires. It can range from light cosmetic work in a vanilla box to a full build-out of a raw shell. The scope depends on the starting condition of the space and what the tenant's use demands.

What is a tenant improvement (TI)?

How much does a tenant improvement cost in Chicago?

Cost is driven by the starting condition, the level of finish, and how much mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work is involved. A vanilla box with existing MEP costs far less per square foot than a raw shell needing full distribution. We give a realistic range once we see the space and understand the use, and our commercial tenant improvement cost guide covers the main drivers in detail.

What is a tenant improvement allowance?

A tenant improvement allowance is money the landlord contributes toward building out the space, defined in your lease and work letter. It's rarely the full cost of a build-out, and what it covers versus what falls to the tenant is exactly the thing to nail down before construction starts. We read the work letter first so you know where your allowance ends and your cost begins.

Do tenant improvements require a permit in Chicago?

Almost always, yes. Interior alterations in Chicago require permits through the Department of Buildings, and a change of use — for example converting office space to medical or retail — can add requirements. We handle the permitting and inspection process as part of the job and build the schedule around it.

Who is responsible for the build-out — landlord or tenant?

It depends on the lease. Landlords typically deliver a base building condition and may provide an allowance; the tenant is usually responsible for the fit-out beyond that. The specifics live in your work letter, which is why we read it before pricing so responsibility is clear and documented up front.