A useful construction timeline starts with the decisions and approvals needed before work begins, then shows how procurement, site work, building systems and turnover fit together. The right duration depends on the building, existing conditions, location and delivery strategy—not simply its floor area.
This guide brings FCC’s scheduling and construction-process resources together. Use it to brief your project team and evaluate a proposed opening date.
Distinguish development, construction and opening
Development schedule: feasibility, financing, design, zoning and planning, permit submissions and utility coordination.
Construction schedule: mobilization through physical work, testing, inspections, deficiencies and handover.
Opening schedule: occupancy requirements, owner equipment, staffing, licensing, training and business readiness. These may extend beyond construction completion.
Ask which starting point a quoted duration uses. “Twelve months” from an approved permit is different from twelve months from buying land. Municipal reviews and utility work need their own milestones; do not treat them as guaranteed fixed durations.
How building type changes the programme
Interior fit-out: landlord approvals, equipment selection and existing service capacity can control the start. An occupied building may require night work or phased shutdowns.
Retail plaza or commercial shell: site servicing, foundations, structure and enclosure precede tenant-specific work. Shell completion does not mean every tenant can open.
Hotel: repeated room layouts help sequencing, but elevators, electrical equipment, room finishes, brand reviews and commissioning must align.
School or change-of-use project: existing conditions, life-safety upgrades and the operational opening date deserve early consultant review.
These are planning differences, not market-average durations. Request a project-specific baseline supported by drawings, trade availability and supplier quotations.
The phases and their handoff points
Feasibility and design: confirm intended use, survey and investigation needs, budget assumptions and consultant responsibilities. Record the decisions required to release each design package.
Approvals and procurement: track each submission and response. Identify long-lead equipment, shop drawings, deposits and release dates. Early orders can overlap design only where scope, authority and revision risk are understood.
Site preparation and foundations: arrange access, temporary services, erosion controls and excavation. Soil, groundwater, rock, buried utilities and servicing connections can change the sequence.
Structure and enclosure: coordinate framing, roofing, windows and cladding by zone. Plan weather protection before moisture-sensitive work.
Building systems and finishes: coordinate mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire-protection rough-ins; inspect concealed work before closing walls. Then sequence ceilings, flooring, millwork, fixtures and equipment.
Testing and turnover: allow for balancing, commissioning, authority inspections, deficiencies, manuals, warranties and operator training. Required inspections occur throughout construction, not only at the end.
Illustrative overlapping schedule: 12 construction months
Example only—not an FCC project record or a promised duration. Assume a modest new commercial building, completed design, required approvals in place, adequate servicing, available trades and no major remediation. Month 1 begins at authorized mobilization. Design and planning time are excluded.
Months 1–6: procurement and submittals.
Months 1–4: site work and foundations.
Months 3–8: structure and enclosure.
Months 5–10: systems and rough-ins.
Months 7–12: finishes and equipment.
Months 9–12: commissioning and handover.
The overlapping periods represent work in different areas, not permission to skip prerequisites. A detailed schedule must identify dependencies, inspections, resources and float. Weather, utilities or a late equipment delivery can change the completion date.
What owners can do to protect the schedule
Approve layouts, equipment and finishes by agreed decision dates.
Maintain a log of RFIs, submittals, changes and responsible parties.
Ask for a short look-ahead schedule alongside the overall baseline.
Review cost and time consequences before authorizing changes.
Separate contractor-controlled activities from owner, consultant, utility and authority milestones.
Plan handover documents, inspections and training before the final month.
FCC example: an opening date drives coordination
FCC’s published Brampton office-to-school conversion describes more than 20 classrooms, laboratories and building-system upgrades within a condensed programme for an academic opening. The useful lesson is to coordinate specialized services, inspections and procurement with classroom sequencing. The project page does not establish a universal duration for school conversions.
Common scheduling questions
Can phases overlap?
Yes, where design, approvals and safe access permit. Overlap needs coordination and can increase rework risk if decisions change.
Does a finished interior mean we can occupy?
No. Confirm applicable occupancy conditions and required approvals with the municipal building department and project professionals. Review Ontario’s Building Code resources.
What should I bring to a scheduling discussion?
Your location, proposed use, drawings, approval status, target opening date and known equipment needs.
Start with pre-construction planning and construction budgets, or discuss construction management with FCC.
Updated October 28, 2026. Published by FCC Builders Canada. General project-planning information; confirm requirements with your project consultants and the relevant authorities.
