SO, what is a test fit?

LET’s See How a Test Fit Helps

Before you spend real money on design, construction, or a purchase contract, you need one simple answer:

“Will this actually work for us?”

A Test Fit gives you a fast, visual, numbers-backed way to see how your ideas play out on a specific property or building—so you can move forward with confidence instead of guesswork.

When You’re Looking at a Property:

You’ve FOUND a site. You’re excited about it… but you’re stuck between possibilities, opinions, & what the numbers say.

Common problems we hear:

  • “We don’t know what this property can realistically support.”

  • “The broker says one thing, zoning says another, and the GC says something else.”

  • “We’re not ready for full design fees—we just need to know if this idea pencils out.”

  • “We need something clear to show partners, lenders, or a board before we commit.”

That’s where a Property Test Fit helps.

Property Test Fit: What we look at

For a specific parcel or group of parcels, we explore options like:

  • Approximate building area and height, given zoning, setbacks, parking, and utilities

  • How many units, bays, or suites might fit

  • Parking and access patterns that actually work for people using the site

  • Basic phasing or “Version A vs. Version B” scenarios

  • High-level checks against what your pro forma needs to see

You get simple diagrams, quick area takeoffs, and a short explanation in plain English—not a 100-page report you’ll never read.

When You’re Looking at a Building:

Sometimes the question isn’t about dirt. It’s about walls that already exist—or a prototype building you’re PLACING ON A SITE PLAN.

Common problems we hear:

  • “Can our team actually fit in this building the way we work today?”

  • “Is adaptive reuse realistic here, or are we forcing it?”

  • “We’re about to lease or buy this building, and we don’t know what we’re walking into.”

  • “We like the prototype from the site test fit, but we need to prove it works for our organization.”

That’s where a Building Test Fit helps.

Building Test Fit: What we look at

For an existing or prototype building, we explore:

  • How your program (offices, classrooms, meeting rooms, labs, storage, etc.) actually fits

  • Basic circulation, egress, and code-related constraints that could impact your plan

  • Opportunities for adaptive reuse vs. areas that fight your goals

  • Early alignment with rough budget and phasing discussions

  • Whether you’re over-building, under-building, or in the sweet spot

You get scaled floor plans, area summaries, and notes on key risks and opportunities—enough to make a decision without committing to full design.

So… What Is a Test Fit, Really?

A Test Fit is a quick, targeted study that answers one key question:

“Can this property or building do what we need it to do?”

It’s not full architecture. It’s the step before full architecture—the one that keeps you from spending time and money on the wrong idea.

With each Test Fit, we bring:

  • Architect’s eye for function, code, and flow

  • Builder’s reality check on constructability and cost drivers

  • Developer’s mindset about viability, value, and risk

How Our Test Fit Process Works:

1. Clarify the mission
We start with a short working session to understand your goals, constraints, and non-negotiables—use, budget range, timing, and stakeholders. We want to understand or help you build ‘your story’.

2. Explore realistic options
We quickly sketch one to three options that respect zoning, building constraints, and how people will actually use the space.

3. Review and decide next steps
We walk you through the options, explain tradeoffs, and answer questions. You decide whether to move forward, pivot, or walk away with confidence.

What You Walk Away With

Every Test Fit is a little different, but you can expect a clear, practical package you can actually use:

  • Simple site and/or floor plan diagrams

  • Basic area breakdowns and capacity, cost, and risk assumptions

  • Notes on key code, access, and phasing considerations

  • A short summary you can share with partners, lenders, or leadership

  • A recommended next step: proceed, refine, or rethink

No fluff. Just enough clarity to move forward wisely.

Ready to See How a Test Fit Helps?

You don’t have to guess what a property or building can do for you.


You don’t have to rely only on broker sketches or back-of-the-napkin math.

Let’s pressure-test your ideas before you commit.

See How a Test Fit Helps - CLICK ON THE APPTOINTMENT

Share your property or building details, and we’ll follow up with a right-sized Test Fit scope and fee.