The Unseen Shift: How Fit Outs Happen Out of Hours
- declan191
- Aug 26
- 3 min read
“When planning any project, the most important thing is the construction programme. This programme has a completion date. That date never moves. We always meet those dates.”
— Kevin Stanley, Project Manager at Built
The Immoveable Deadline: Deadlines Don’t Move, Contractors Do
In commercial fit outs, the completion date is immovable. Yet unforeseen challenges inevitably arise: noise and dust restrictions, access blocked by building events, or environments that are off-limits during the working day. These constraints do not alter the programme. Instead, the fit out contractor must adapt - sequencing works with precision, coordinating trades, and, when required, pushing noisy or disruptive tasks into the night and over weekends to keep the project on track.
As Kevin recalled of Bonham Quay, Galway: “We couldn’t drill after nine in the morning. Most of the heavy works had to be done at night or at the weekend. The programme doesn’t move, so you plan, sequence and get it done.”
The Reality of Live Fit Outs: Leadership in the Shadows
“When you’re working at night or weekends, it’s not just about doing the work. It’s about prepping for when you’re finished. You don’t want to upset tenants or building management. You’ve got to keep it clean, keep it smart, and be as invisible as possible.” - Kevin Stanley
This is the reality of modern fit outs in live, urban environments. Success depends not only on technical delivery but on project managers with the experience and authority to make difficult calls. They must balance immovable client deadlines with the demands of building managers, tenants, and subcontractors - ensuring progress continues, even at anti-social hours.
Bonham Quay: No Drills After Nine: Galway by Night
At Bonham Quay, Built Interiors delivered a full CAT B fit out beneath three occupied floors. Strict noise restrictions meant no drilling after 9am, forcing critical works into evenings and weekends. With no lift access, every material was transported via stairwell or telehandler. Waste removal and deliveries were carefully sequenced on a cramped city-centre site. Through detailed coordination drawings, proactive communication, and meticulous planning, Built handed over a high-quality workplace on time and within budget.
Tech that Sees Clashes Before They Happen
Adaptability is vital, but so too is foresight. Technology such as point cloud surveying and 3D coordination modelling allows contractors to detect clashes before work begins, reducing intrusive rework and minimising disruption to those already in the building. Dust suppression, weekend logistics, and out-of-hours cleaning become as essential to delivery as glazing or joinery.
1 Le Pole Square: Point Clouds and Night Shifts in Dublin
The challenges at 1 Le Pole Square highlighted the complexity of working in a live, urban environment with intricate service routes and demanding logistics. Built deployed point cloud surveying to streamline clash detection and ensure all services could be installed with minimal disruption to the surrounding building. Noise restrictions and access limitations meant intrusive works were shifted to evenings and weekends, with sequencing of trades carefully managed to protect the programme. By combining advanced surveying with strong project leadership, Built delivered a collaborative, modern workspace on schedule despite the pressures of a busy city-centre site.
The Unseen Shift that Keeps Projects Moving
The unseen night-shifts and weekend crews are what make these projects possible. They are the difference between disruption and delivery, between a workspace that sits empty and one that welcomes people back on schedule.
Out of Sight, Always on Time
If you want to see how complex live environment projects succeed despite noise bans, tight logistics, and immovable deadlines, show me the case studies.
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