Commercial Office Fit Out - 20 Carlton House Terrace
Client: Main Contractor
Size: 15,000 square metres
Appointment: Contractor- Side Commissioning (CxC)
Project Overview
20 Carlton House Terrace is a commercial office development comprising approximately 15,000 m² of shell and core office accommodation. The building was designed to support flexible workplace requirements, with the end client occupying approximately 6,300 m² across Levels 6–9, alongside the 10th-floor terrace, ground floor reception, and a lower ground event space.
Dedicated plant space allocations were incorporated to support the tenant’s operational requirements, including a specialist kitchen extract system located at roof level.
A key challenge for the project was ensuring successful integration between tenant systems and the existing base build infrastructure, particularly the fire alarm, BMS, and security systems. This required careful coordination between the fit-out works, base build systems, and multiple trade contractors to ensure a smooth commissioning and handover process.
Our Approach
Sygna was appointed to provide contractor-side commissioning management, delivering structured oversight and technical assurance throughout the project.
From the outset, our team focused on commissionability, undertaking detailed design reviews to ensure systems could be effectively tested, verified, and integrated into the base building infrastructure.
Given the phased nature of the works and evolving construction programme, a clear commissioning strategy and programme were implemented to support critical milestones and handover phases. Independent tracking mechanisms were introduced to monitor progress across multiple areas of the building, providing transparency for the project team and enabling early identification of potential issues.
A central commissioning tracker was developed and used across the project team to manage ATP activities, track outstanding actions, and coordinate progress between trades. The tool proved instrumental in maintaining visibility of commissioning status and supporting collaboration between the commissioning team, project managers, and contractors.
Client feedback highlighted the value of this approach:
“Mainly on the ATP front, the tracker has been brilliant. It’s a good tool to get us where we are today.”
The tracker also enabled targeted discussions during commissioning meetings, helping highlight individual responsibilities and drive accountability across the trade teams.
“The individual tabs were very useful for commissioning meetings and catching up with trades – highlighting individuals and holding accountability.”
Commissioning Responsibilities and Scope
Our commissioning management responsibilities covered a range of activities designed to ensure effective system delivery and integration, including:
Reviewing the design to ensure systems were fully commissionable and testable
Coordinating trade contractors to support fluid completion and successful project delivery
Independently tracking and monitoring progress across Levels 1–5
Developing, compiling, and finalising commissioning test scripts
Witnessing system testing and verifying installation performance
Reviewing and accepting final commissioning certification
Managing the integration of tenant systems with base build fire alarm, BMS, and security systems
Our Added Value
Beyond core commissioning management, Sygna delivered additional value through structured planning, quality oversight, and collaborative stakeholder engagement.
Key contributions included:
Critical handover planning, enabling clear sequencing and delivery of project phases
Installation quality management, identifying and resolving issues early in the commissioning process
Commissioning programme management, adapting to programme changes while maintaining progress
Transparent reporting, giving the project team visibility of system readiness and commissioning status
Coordination with the building operator team, ensuring operational requirements were incorporated early
Management of base build integration, ensuring seamless connectivity between tenant and building systems
Stakeholder feedback highlighted the effectiveness of communication and collaboration across the project team:
“Communication was brilliant, and the support from the team was very good.”
The commissioning process also received strong feedback during the final testing stages:
“[One of the client’s feedback] was that it was one of the best he has been a part of.”
Outcome
Through a structured and technically robust commissioning process, Sygna supported the successful delivery of the project’s office accommodation and supporting infrastructure.
Despite programme changes and external challenges beyond the project team’s control, the commissioning strategy remained aligned with construction progress and milestone requirements.
“The programme changed during the project, but the team kept up with it.”
By maintaining clear communication, strong coordination with trades, and transparent tracking of commissioning activities, the project team successfully delivered reliable system integration and a confident handover to the client.
Lessons for Future Projects
The project also provided valuable insights that will support future delivery:
Early engagement with trade contractors improves coordination and accountability
Implementing a commissioning tracker early in the programme supports better trade engagement and progress visibility
Identifying key individuals within trade teams helps streamline communication and responsibility
Establishing standardised templates and tracking tools can further strengthen consistency across projects
These lessons emphasise the importance of early planning, effective stakeholder engagement, and transparent commissioning processes in delivering complex building projects successfully.
