Why this work matters
Why detailed as-built reality pays for itself.
Most projects don't go sideways because of what happens in the drawings. They go sideways because the drawings don't match the real building. A detailed, independent as-built survey is a relatively small line item that protects everything that comes after it: design fees, construction spend, lease commitments, lender confidence, and your team's time.
In simple terms: you spend a little now to avoid spending a lot later.
A single avoided re-design, change order, or bad lease decision can easily pay for years of site reality work. The point of Alturascope is not more documentation; it's less risk.
1. De-risking design from day one
Drawings are only a starting point. Reality is what you build from.
When you start from landlord plans, BIM models, or "as-built" drawings, your design team is often working on top of unknowns: columns not where they're shown, shallower ceiling voids, hidden risers, or services that have been modified over multiple lives of a building.
A proper as-built visit confirms clear heights, spans, and constraints, maps MEP and life-safety routes, and highlights code / accessibility issues before they get baked into a scheme. That means fewer redesign loops, less wasted consultant time, and a smoother path through landlord reviews and permitting.
Design risks we routinely uncover
- Columns or transfer beams cutting through "clean" open plans.
- Ceiling voids too shallow for proposed ductwork or lighting concepts.
- Fire routes, stair cores, or shafts that break up ideal layouts.
- Existing MEP already at (or beyond) capacity for the new use.
Catching these on site is far cheaper than discovering them in week 6 of design, or week 3 on site.
2. Reducing change orders & re-work
Unknowns show up as extras. Extras blow budgets.
On most fit-outs, change orders easily reach 10–20% of the contract when reality doesn’t match assumptions. Classic triggers include unexpected slab work, reinforcement, extra sprinkler and duct modifications, and access issues that force means-and-methods changes.
A detailed as-built survey lets you price the base scope properly instead of padding for "unknowns", and turns change orders into true client-driven changes, not unpleasant discoveries. It is essentially buying down your contingency.
Typical cost impacts of poor information
- Unplanned slab infill, trenching, or levelling.
- Additional sprinkler drops and branch lines after ceilings are opened.
- Re-routing ductwork around structure that wasn’t shown.
- Rebuilding walls or soffits to accommodate "found" conditions.
Avoiding even one serious surprise can be worth tens of thousands of dollars— many times the cost of getting the site documented properly up front.
3. Protecting programme & opening dates
Surprises on site don't just cost money. They cost time.
Unknowns create "stop and figure this out" moments: re-design, re-pricing, revised approvals, waiting for landlord or authority decisions. Every iteration risks your target opening date, your landlord relationship, and your internal credibility.
When everyone is working from the same, accurate picture of the building, there are fewer surprises, fewer new drawings, and a much better chance that the dates you give the business are dates you can actually hit.
Schedule impacts we help avoid
- Work stopping while structural or fire-life-safety surprises are resolved.
- Late landlord or base-build issues forcing re-approvals.
- Re-sequencing trades because the site isn't ready as assumed.
The cost of a delayed opening or deferred revenue dwarfs the cost of an accurate as-built.
4. Making better lease & acquisition decisions
The most expensive mistake is picking the wrong building.
For landlords, tenants, and investors, the biggest risk is often committing to a site that can't actually do what you need without heavy capex. Bathroom ratios, power capacity, floor loading, access, and neighborhood context all matter more than glossy marketing photos.
A structured as-built survey gives you a reality-based view of suitability before you sign or renew. It surfaces hidden capex and landlord vs. tenant responsibilities early, and lets you compare multiple options on a like-for-like basis.
Questions an as-built answers before you commit
- Can this floor actually support our headcount and programme?
- Are there enough washrooms and services for our use and hours?
- Is there adequate power, fresh air, and cooling for our concept?
- What base-build items are quietly being pushed onto the tenant?
Avoiding one bad lease, mis-fit clinic, or under-powered site can pay for years of proper site reality work.
5. Giving remote stakeholders real confidence
When people can see the space, they make better decisions.
Most decision-makers can't walk every building. Execs, investors, lenders, and internal partners are spread across cities and time zones. Without a shared reality, discussions are based on anecdotes and phone photos, and confidence is fragile.
A digital twin plus structured report lets everyone walk the space remotely, anchor discussions in shared visuals, and understand both upsides and constraints. That leads to faster alignment and fewer long email threads trying to explain what "that corner by the slab step" actually looks like.
Who benefits most
- Real estate and workplace teams covering multiple regions.
- Private equity sponsors and lenders backing roll-outs.
- Landlords and asset managers weighing capex vs. leasing strategy.
Alturascope's deliverables are designed to be forwarded, dropped into decks, and used in boardrooms without extra translation.
6. The ROI in plain language
A small line item that protects the big line items.
A detailed as-built survey is usually a fraction of a percent of total project cost. But it influences a much larger spend: design fees, construction, landlord allowances, tenant improvements, rent, and business interruption if openings slip.
The question isn't "Can we afford this?" It's "Can we afford not to know what we're about to design, price, or sign for?"
What you're really buying
- Fewer change orders and less re-work on site.
- Fewer design iterations and consultant hours wasted.
- More reliable opening dates and launch plans.
- Better lease / acquisition decisions and avoided mistakes.
- Reusable site intelligence for future phases and stakeholders.
In most cases, avoiding a single serious mistake more than covers the cost of getting the as-built right.
7. Why Alturascope
Site reality done once, properly, and in a way your team can use.
Alturascope combines disciplined, on-the-ground capture with clear, executive-ready deliverables. We don't sell construction and we don't take fees from GCs or trades; our only product is a truthful picture of the building and what it means for your plans.
Every visit delivers a digital twin or 360° walkthrough, labeled photos, fixture and services counts, and a detailed conditions report with a high-level mechanical overview and prioritised recommendations. It's the same structure every time, so you can compare sites and portfolios side-by-side.
How clients use our work
- Feeding designers, GCs, and cost consultants with better inputs.
- Supporting investment memos and credit papers with real visuals.
- Informing lease negotiations and capex planning.
- Building a reusable record for future phases and dispositions.
Wondering if an as-built will change your decision?
Share the building, the decision you're facing, and your timeline. We'll be honest about whether an Alturascope visit is likely to move the needle—and if so, how.