In early 2025, nonprofit organization Global Wellness Institute reported that Canada was among the top ten fastest-growing wellness economies in the world, valued at $143.9 billion as of 2023.
With Vancouver’s reputation as a health-oriented and environmentally-conscious city, we work hard to ensure that the health and wellness spaces we design and build live up to our clients’ fullest potential.
Having recently completed renovations for our longstanding client’s, Kids Physio Group, newest location in North Vancouver, let us walk you through the steps on how to effectively plan for tenant improvements for a new health and wellness space.
Pre-Construction
No matter what type of health and wellness facility you’re opening, the most important thing you can do is surround yourself with the right team of professionals. This doesn’t just the design-build team: this also includes your commercial agent (depending on if you’re buying or leasing the space), interior designer, and architect.
Some questions you should ask before you start tearing down walls include:
- Your Vision: Do you have a brand identity? How do you want your patients to feel when entering the space?
- Functionality: What spaces do you need for the type of service you plan to provide? Are there accessibility concerns? What’s the lighting like?
- Regulations: What’s permitted based on the city’s building bylaws and code? What will your landlord allow when it comes to tenant improvements?
- Budget: How much do you actually need to bring this all to life? What hidden costs have you not yet considered, such as furniture?
Having worked with Kids Physio Group over a number of years, we had the advantage of deeply understanding their values, mission, and overall vision, making work on their new North Vancouver location both a seamless and highly rewarding experience.
Doing things right from the very start increases the likelihood of a smooth building permit approval, bringing you one step closer to opening your doors for business.
Construction
With a strong pre-construction management plan in place, now comes the fun part: actually starting to see your vision come to life.
Construction timelines can vary depending on the size, location, and scope of a project. Although we’ve worked on several projects for this client in the past throughout Metro Vancouver, we still treat every tenant improvement as a new endeavor. Every municipality has its own set of regulations, bylaws, and codes that must be carefully adhered to.
North Vancouver, for instance, poses its own set of complications as it is actually divided into two distinct municipalities, the City and the District, with our project site located in the City of North Vancouver.
With over 800 projects under our belt, here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Having a detailed construction schedule helps minimize disruption and keeps everyone accountable
- Share your thoughts! Interior design details such colour palettes and millwork all play a role in creating a health and wellness environment that feels welcoming to your patient – your input is welcome.
- Stay involved when and where you can. Action items such as attending site meetings and keeping an eye on project progress keeps you in the loop while also building excitement and anticipation for when you do finally open.
Post-Construction
Once the space is done, it can be very tempting to want to open your doors right away – after all, a lot of work went into designing and building the perfect health and wellness space.
But before you schedule a Grand Opening, take these final steps:
- Conduct a final inspection and walkthrough of the space, including testing of equipment, to confirm that everything is functioning properly and that the space is in compliance with any health care regulations
- Train your staff in the new space first, so that they are familiar with their surroundings and know how to best utilize the environment
- Consider doing a soft opening or launch first before scheduling a grand opening. This gives you an opportunity to identify any potential problem areas, inefficiencies, or unforeseen risks and mitigate them before opening on a larger scale.
- Have a marketing plan in place. How do you plan to promote the new space? What can you do to attract new potential patients?
- Celebrate with your team! Everyone worked hard to bring this vision to life.
The team at Collab have completed tenant improvements for many health and wellness facilities over the years.
Ready to take the next step in bringing your health and wellness space to life?
Contact us today and let us deliver your success story.