How does building grade change the fit-out?
In a Grade A building the core services are provided, so fit-out spend goes into design and finishes. In a Grade B building more of the services, such as HVAC, backup power and fire systems, are built inside the tenant area.
Grade A buildings come with central air-conditioning, power backup, a fire detection and sprinkler system and managed common areas. Design drawings, fire NOC and services connections in either grade need building management approval before work starts, and that approval sets the real start date.
Grade A vs Grade B, item by item
| Item | Grade A | Grade B |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC | Central chilled water or provision for tenant VRF | Tenant installs split or VRF |
| Power backup | Building DG and UPS provision | Tenant arranges backup |
| Fire system | Building detection and sprinklers | Extended inside tenant area |
| Approvals | Building management approves drawings | Building management approves drawings |
| Fit-out spend goes to | Design and finishes | Services plus finishes |
What is the difference between bare shell and warm shell?
A bare shell gives you the structure, façade, building core and main services brought up to the floor. A warm shell adds centralised air conditioning and power backup from the landlord, and everything else is done by the tenant.
Two landlords can use “warm shell” to mean different things, so attach a written handover specification to the term sheet. The warm shell saving equals the value of the landlord’s air conditioning and power backup that your layout can use, and bare shell needs more time than warm shell. Read bare shell vs warm shell.
What building stock does each city have?
Gurgaon has warm-shell Grade A towers in Cyber City and on Golf Course Road and bare-shell floors on Golf Course Extension Road and Dwarka Expressway. Delhi mixes older strata-owned district centres with newer towers in Aerocity and Jasola.
Noida has new Expressway towers, warm shell near Sector 142 and bare shell further down, and established IT parks in Sector 62. Bangalore has large tech park campuses on the Outer Ring Road, in Whitefield and Manyata, with strong base services. Rates and budgets for each city are in the city cost comparison.
Building stock by city
| City | Typical office building stock |
|---|---|
| Delhi | Older strata-owned district centres (Connaught Place, Nehru Place) alongside newer towers in Aerocity and Jasola |
| Gurgaon | Warm-shell Grade A towers in Cyber City and on Golf Course Road; bare-shell floors on Golf Course Extension Road and Dwarka Expressway |
| Noida | New Expressway towers (warm shell near Sector 142, bare shell further down) and established IT parks in Sector 62 |
| Bangalore | Large tech park campuses on the Outer Ring Road, in Whitefield and Manyata, with strong base services |
Does a fit-out inherit the building’s fire compliance?
No. New partitions, false ceilings and layouts change sprinkler coverage, detection and escape routes, so they must be redesigned, approved by the landlord and, where state rules require it, cleared by the fire department before occupation.
This applies in Grade A and Grade B buildings alike. See office fire safety requirements in India.
What should you check in an older building before pricing?
Check electrical capacity, lift access and ceiling voids, because they limit what can be built on older floors. A site survey before pricing is essential.
In older buildings the budget goes up for strip-out, rewiring and new distribution boards, and for air-conditioning, wiring or fire detection upgrades. Our complimentary floor plan audit checks a floor against your headcount before you sign.
HVAC choices are compared in the office HVAC design guide, and shell condition in bare shell vs warm shell.
Officea Design & Build’s 2026 rate card for Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida is ₹1,800 to ₹4,500 per sq ft before GST, furniture included. Bangalore is 10% higher, at ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 per sq ft. See the cost index for tier details.