Beyond the build: how Design and Build creates value across the asset lifecycle

Design and Build (D&B) is often viewed through a narrow lens, as a procurement shortcut to deliver space faster and more cost-effectively. However, for landlords, funds, and asset managers navigating a competitive and evolving commercial property market, D&B represents something more significant. It is a strategic model that can deliver meaningful impact at every stage of the asset lifecycle.

From acquisition to tenant occupation, and eventually to exit or refinancing, a well-executed D&B partnership has the potential to reduce risk, support leasing and marketing efforts, improve tenant satisfaction, and protect long-term value. When planned and delivered effectively, it becomes a tool for unlocking both near-term leasing performance and longer-term portfolio resilience.

More than a delivery model

Not sure exactly where or how D&B can benefit your asset lifecycle? Let us break it down for you:

1. Supporting acquisition and repositioning strategies

Design and Build can create value even before a lease is signed or a marketing campaign has begun. For landlords assessing acquisitions or looking to reposition underperforming space, bringing in a D&B partner early in the process allows for faster and more informed decisions.

At this stage, D&B provides:

• Early-stage test fits and feasibility studies to understand the true potential of a space
• Insight into ESG improvements that align with broader portfolio goals and reduce future retrofit costs
• Speed-to-market projections to help support business case approvals
• Clearer visibility of capital expenditure and potential return on investment

A partner like Interaction, with experience working across landlord, developer, and fund-led schemes, adds commercial insight and tenant understanding that extends well beyond layout and finishes.

2. Accelerating marketing and pre-letting

Interest in commercial office space does not begin when the fit-out is complete. Tenants now expect to see high-quality visual materials, virtual walkthroughs, and clear evidence that a space is being designed with their needs in mind.

With Design & Build, marketing tools are often developed alongside technical drawings. Interaction’s approach includes:

• CGI and Revit visuals created during the design process
• Matterport digital walkthroughs that can be shared before handover
• Marketing packs designed specifically for leasing agents and tenant decision-makers
• Narrative-driven design strategies that link tenant goals with space outcomes

This integration gives leasing teams a competitive advantage. They can begin promoting and letting the space before construction is complete, which reduces void periods and improves speed to revenue.

For example, at FOUNDRY Wandsworth, a coworking space owned by investors L&G, we delivered a best-in-class coworking space with community at its heart. Thanks to the efficiency of D&B, and the focus on speedy tenant acquisition, FOUNDRY reached 72% occupancy in just six months – far exceeding initial projections.

3. Enhancing tenant experience and operational efficiency

Well-executed design influences more than aesthetics. It plays a critical role in how tenants interact with their workspace, how productive they are, and how long they stay.

When D&B is used to deliver tenant-centric outcomes, it leads to:

• Greater engagement by reflecting diverse workstyles and needs
• Improved comfort and productivity through smart zoning, lighting and acoustic design
• Higher retention by delivering flexible, attractive environments
• Fewer maintenance issues due to better coordination between design and delivery

Interaction’s B Corp certification reinforces its commitment to creating sustainable, inclusive spaces. These features are becoming essential for tenant retention and ongoing asset performance.

4. Supporting exit, refinancing or repositioning

The impact of Design & Build is not limited to the operational phase of an asset. When it is time to refinance, sell, or reposition, a well-documented and high-quality fit-out makes a measurable difference.

D&B supports these goals through:

• Delivering spaces that meet the expectations of investors and buyers, including ESG alignment
• Providing full specifications and project documentation that assist with technical due diligence
• Supporting asset value with SKA, BREEAM or WELL certifications
• Ensuring consistency across assets to simplify portfolio-level reviews

By involving a D&B partner early, landlords create a foundation that can simplify and strengthen asset transitions later in the lifecycle.

5. A partner that adds value beyond delivery

Not every D&B provider approaches projects with a strategic mindset. Choosing the right partner makes all the difference.

Interaction brings:

• Close collaboration with agents, investment teams and consultants
• The ability to scale delivery efficiently across different sites and regions
• Tools and frameworks that simplify repeatable design and cost control
• A shared commitment to ESG, speed, collaboration, and long-term value

This approach transforms D&B from a tactical delivery method into a strategic asset for commercial real estate teams.

Royal London saw the benefit of a D&B partner that truly understands their portfolio when they turned to Interaction to deliver a second ready-to-let workspace – two years after we’d completed the first in their Distillery Building in central Bristol. Already familiar with the building’s nuances and having proved our ability to create spaces that attract ambitious tenants, we delivered the second plug-and-play workspace in just eight weeks from brief to completion. Fast, efficient, and designed to attract tenants from day one – that’s D&B at its best.

Ready to create long-term value?

Interaction helps asset managers, landlords, and funds deliver workspaces that align with leasing strategies, meet tenant expectations, and support long-term value. Whether you are acquiring, repositioning, or managing a multi-site portfolio, we bring clarity, speed and strategic input at every stage.

Talk to us about how we can support your next project, from initial feasibility through to long-term performance.