A great tenant improvement is what sets a commercial space apart, and in an office, the electrical plan decides how well the space works every day. Henderson’s Electric Solutions handles commercial tenant improvements for offices, restaurants and retail spaces across the East Valley. This guide focuses on offices: what an office build-out needs electrically and how to plan it so the space works on move-in day.
Short answer: An office build-out usually needs a panel and power plan sized for the space, flexible workstation power, lighting with the controls your energy code requires, conference room power and AV pathways, data and network pathways, break room circuits, and exit and emergency lighting. Plan it with your electrician during design, before walls and furniture are locked in.
What does an office build-out need electrically?
- Power distribution: a panel or subpanel sized for the space, with room to grow
- Workstation power: outlets, floor boxes, furniture feeds or power poles where people actually sit
- Lighting and controls: fixtures, dimming, occupancy sensors and daylight controls where required
- Conference rooms: power for displays, video conferencing and AV equipment, with pathways for cabling
- Data and network: pathways and power for network equipment, Wi-Fi access points and security devices
- Break rooms: dedicated circuits for refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers and dishwashers
- Life safety: exit signs and emergency lighting
- Extras: EV charging for staff or visitors, signage and exterior lighting
How should you plan workstation power?
Workstation power is where office build-outs most often go wrong. Start with a furniture plan, even a draft one, so outlets land where desks will be. Open offices often use furniture feeds from walls, power poles or floor boxes; private offices usually need outlets on more than one wall. Count the devices at each desk, including monitors, docking stations and task lights, and plan circuits so a full row of workstations doesn’t share one overloaded circuit. Leave capacity for growth, because headcount rarely stays the same.
What lighting works best in an office?
Good office lighting is even, comfortable and easy to control. For most spaces we recommend 4000K with dimming, and we like color-selectable fixtures that let you choose the color temperature on site, so the space can be tuned once people are working in it. Fixtures with good color rendering make skin tones, materials and screens look natural. Your local energy code may require automatic controls such as occupancy sensors, daylight controls near windows and separate zones; we confirm what applies to your space. For conference rooms and reception areas, a system like Lutron lighting controls makes scenes simple. Our post on commercial lighting design goes deeper.
What do conference rooms need?
Conference rooms pack a lot into a small space: a display or projector, video conferencing equipment, speakers, laptop charging and sometimes a control panel. Plan power at the display wall and the table, include floor boxes or table connections if the table sits in the middle of the room, and add pathways for AV and network cabling so nothing runs across the floor. Dimmable lighting with presets makes presentations and video calls look better.
How does an office tenant improvement work, step by step?
- Walkthrough: we look at the existing space, panel and service with you or your GC.
- Plans and load review: we review the drawings and furniture layout and confirm the power the space needs.
- Permits: commercial electrical work needs permits and inspections from the city or town.
- Rough-in: wiring, boxes, conduit and pathways go in while walls and ceilings are open.
- Inspection: rough-in inspection before walls close.
- Trim-out: devices, fixtures, controls and panel labeling.
- Final inspection and walkthrough: we test everything and confirm it works before move-in.
We coordinate with general contractors, architects, property managers and low-voltage vendors to keep the schedule moving. For the bigger picture, read what business owners should know about tenant improvement electrical.
What kind of office projects do we work on?
One example is an architecture firm’s office build-out we completed, where we handled the precision lighting, conference room technology and flexible workstation power to match the firm’s creative vision. Every office is different, but the goal is always the same: a space that works for the people in it from day one.
Office build-out electrical checklist
- Share a furniture plan, even a draft, with your electrician
- List equipment for break rooms, conference rooms and IT closets
- Confirm who handles low-voltage cabling and where it will run
- Ask which lighting controls your energy code requires
- Plan for future growth in panel capacity and circuits
- Ask about surge protection for network and AV equipment; we recommend it
- Confirm who pulls permits and schedules inspections
When should I call an electrician?
Call during design, before the lease is final if you can, so the electrical plan can shape the layout instead of fighting it. In an existing office, call right away if breakers trip often, outlets or panels feel warm or you smell burning. Keep people away, turn off the breaker only if it’s safe and dry to reach, and call 911 for any fire. We answer emergency calls 24/7.
Serving Queen Creek and the East Valley
We handle office and commercial build-outs in Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, Florence, Scottsdale, Apache Junction and Gold Canyon, Sun Lakes, Tempe, Cactus Forest, Coolidge, Paradise Valley and Ahwatukee.
Frequently asked questions
What electrical work does an office build-out need?
Most office build-outs need a power plan and panel sized for the space, workstation power, lighting and controls, conference room power and AV pathways, data pathways, break room circuits, and exit and emergency lighting.
When should I bring in an electrician for an office tenant improvement?
As early as possible, ideally during design and before the furniture layout is final. Early input keeps outlets, floor boxes and lighting where you need them.
Do office build-outs need permits?
Yes. Commercial electrical work in a tenant improvement needs permits and inspections from your city or town. The GC or electrical contractor typically handles them.
What color temperature is best for office lighting?
We usually recommend 4000K with dimming, often on color-selectable fixtures so the color temperature can be adjusted once the space is in use.
Do you work with general contractors on office projects?
Yes. We coordinate with general contractors, architects, property managers and low-voltage vendors from walkthrough to final inspection.
Ready to power your office build-out?
Henderson’s Electric Solutions LLC is a family-owned electrical contractor in Queen Creek, owned by Randy and Tori Henderson. Randy is our licensed electrician (ROC CR-11 #341452), and we’re bonded, insured and BBB accredited. Our CR-11 license covers residential and commercial work.
Call Randy at (480) 430-2775 or request an estimate online. Regular hours are Monday through Friday, 6 AM to 6 PM, and we answer emergency calls 24/7. Solutions Only - No Excuses.