Delivering High-End Office Spaces More Cost-Efficiently Than the Market
Workspaces are Evolving—High-End Spaces Don’t Have to Mean High-End Costs
Since COVID and the rise of remote work, the way businesses approach office space has changed rapidly. In Toronto, companies need flexible, functional, and beautiful spaces to attract teams back to the office, drive collaboration, and boost productivity. Yet, as demand rises, so have construction costs.
According to the "Global Office Fit-Out Cost Guide 2024" by CBRE Insights, the cost to cover fit-out, furniture, technology, security, and professional fees for an office in Toronto can easily exceed $200 per square foot and go as high as $515 per square foot for luxury builds. With these numbers, it's no surprise that boards and CFOs are cautious about the investment. At Clearspace, our mission is to democratize great office spaces—making them attainable, not exclusive. Over the past five years, we’ve designed and built millions of square feet of office space for companies like Martin Brower, L'Occitane, and the YMCA, all while maximizing value. We’re here to show that high-end office spaces can be achieved more cost-effectively, and without cutting corners.
The Challenge: Affordable, High-End Offices
The post-pandemic world demands premium workspaces that can adapt to new ways of working. However, rising labor and material costs have continuously driven up the price of creating these spaces. At Clearspace, we’ve developed a system that makes high-end offices affordable without sacrificing quality.
JLL's U.S. and Canada Design Trends and Cost Guide benchmarks construction costs across various categories. Many of the projects we work on fall within the "Moderate" and "Progressive" groups, both typically feature open floor plans with bench-style workstations and minimal enclosed offices, which are common among tech and service companies.
According to JLL, the average fit-out cost starts at $261 per square foot. By comparison, our equivalent projects average $155 per square foot. These are premium spaces delivered without compromising on construction or material quality.
How Do We Do It?
At Clearspace, we’ve rethought a system that’s been stagnant for too long. Our approach combines design, construction, and technology to unlock two unique ways to value-engineer projects. Traditionally, value engineering is done after the design phase, often leading to cost reductions by stripping out elements or compromising quality. We take a different approach, ensuring that we deliver the intended design without diluting the finish or quality. Here’s how we do it:
Leveraging Technology to Value Engineer from the Start
First, we use technology to begin value engineering during the pre-construction phase—well before tendering, which is when most projects traditionally address cost-saving measures. The key to effective value engineering is confidence in pricing. With our proprietary pricing tool, Clarity, we can turn a test fit into a Class B budget instantly. Clarity automates tasks like fixture counts, complex takeoffs for drywall and flooring, and engineering calculations—tasks that would usually take hundreds of manual hours.
Armed with accurate pricing and planning metrics, we can optimize layouts to reduce costs. For instance, we ensure enclosed rooms are positioned to minimize HVAC needs, and adjust partitions to reduce material use. These are the most expensive elements to alter once construction begins, but they offer the greatest savings when addressed early. This process can drive significant project savings and prevent costly rework later on.
Integrated Design and Construction for Cost-Effective Execution
Second, our integrated design and construction team ensures seamless, cost-effective execution. Once the plan and estimate are approved, our Studio Director, Aileen Holland, and her team bring the vision to life. Because our designers and construction managers work closely together, every design is created with cost in mind, ensuring that concepts are practical and easy to build.
For example, our team collaborates with glazing specialists to identify the most cost-effective glass panel sizes that still meet the design’s aesthetic. By adjusting the design to use standard-sized panels instead of custom ones, we achieve the same look while driving further savings. That's not something a design can typically do because it requires direct access to the construction manager and trades working in real time to adjust plans. This is just one way our design and construction teams work together to maintain the integrity of the design while keeping costs down.
The Result: High-End Spaces Without the High-End Price
At Clearspace, we deliver high-end office spaces without the high-end price tag. We believe that quality should never be compromised, which is why we’ve designed a process that provides premium environments at a fraction of the typical cost. By strategically managing every aspect of the design and build process—from the initial consultation to the final handover—we ensure that our clients receive exceptional value for their investment.
Despite the difference in cost, our spaces maintain a high-end feel. Every detail is meticulously planned to ensure that the final space not only meets but exceeds expectations. The result is a workspace that’s beautiful, functional, and adaptable to the needs of modern businesses—all at a cost that doesn’t compromise your capital budget.
