What it means
Base building usually includes the foundation, structural frame, roof, exterior walls and windows, common areas, elevators, and the main mechanical, electrical and life safety systems. Many leases also place the central plant and the main risers in this category.
The line between base building and tenant work is set by the lease, and it is not the same in every building.
Why it matters
Where that line sits decides who pays for what. A tenant may find that a new HVAC zone, extra electrical capacity or a fire alarm change is a landlord system that the tenant must pay to modify, and that the landlord's approved contractor must do. These details change both cost and schedule.
Base building condition also affects the design. Older buildings may have limited electrical capacity, tight ceiling space or older fire systems.
How HSM handles it
Before a lease is signed, HSM reviews the base building conditions that will affect your project: available power, HVAC capacity, ceiling space, fire protection and landlord rules for contractors. We put numbers on those findings so the lease can reflect them.
When work touches base building systems, our own electrical and mechanical crews coordinate directly with the building's operators and the landlord's consultants. Because we do not rely on a chain of subcontractors for these trades, shutdowns and tie-ins are booked and carried out by the same team that designed them.
We also document what we find, so the end-of-lease conversation is clear.