Office Decommissioning Guide

What a Decommission Actually Involves

A decommission goes beyond simply moving furniture out. It means disassembling systems furniture, removing all workstations, seating, filing, and ancillary pieces, and leaving the space broom-clean or in the condition required by your lease. For a 50,000 square foot office, a full decommission can involve dozens of workers over several days. The process includes disconnecting power and data from workstations, disassembling panel systems, wrapping and protecting items if they'll be reused or sold, and hauling everything out through freight elevators and loading docks.

Decommission vs. Liquidation

These terms are often confused, but they refer to different things. A decommission is the physical removal of furniture from a space. A liquidation is the financial process of selling or offloading that furniture. In practice, many projects involve both — you liquidate what has resale value and decommission the rest. Some decommission firms handle both sides; others focus strictly on removal and disposal.

Planning Your Timeline

Decommission timelines depend on the size of the space, building access rules, and what happens to the furniture after removal. A rough guideline:

• Small office (under 10,000 sq ft): 1–3 days for physical removal, 2–4 weeks for planning
• Mid-size office (10,000–50,000 sq ft): 3–7 days for removal, 4–8 weeks for planning
• Large office or campus (50,000+ sq ft): 1–3 weeks for removal, 8–16 weeks for planning

Your lease end date is typically the hard deadline. Work backward from there, building in buffer time for delays. Buildings can restrict your access to evenings and weekends, which extends the calendar significantly.

Phased vs. Full Teardown

If parts of the office are still occupied, you'll need a phased approach — clearing one area at a time while the business continues to operate elsewhere. Full teardowns are faster and cheaper but require the space to be completely vacated. If you have the option, a full teardown over a long weekend is usually the most cost-effective approach.

Building Coordination

Building management controls access, and ignoring their requirements will delay your project. Before scheduling any work, confirm:

• Freight elevator reservations — book early; other tenants need the elevator too
• COI requirements — your decommission vendor needs to submit proof of insurance, often 5–10 days in advance
• After-hours and weekend access — most commercial buildings restrict heavy work to off-hours
• Loading dock scheduling — coordinate truck timing to avoid conflicts
• Floor and wall protection — buildings may require protective coverings during the move-out

Disposal Options

Not everything goes to a landfill. Responsible decommission firms will help you sort furniture into categories:

• Resale — high-quality, name-brand pieces in good condition go to used furniture dealers
• Donation — nonprofits and community organizations may accept usable furniture; tax deductions may apply
• Recycling — metals, certain plastics, and fabrics can be recycled; some firms achieve 90%+ diversion rates
• Landfill — the last resort for items that can't be reused, donated, or recycled

Environmental Considerations and Asset Tracking

Many corporate sustainability programs now require documented diversion rates — the percentage of material kept out of landfills. If your organization reports on ESG metrics, ask your decommission vendor for a detailed waste report showing weights and destinations for every category. This data can also support LEED certification efforts for future projects.

Before anything leaves the building, conduct a thorough asset inventory. Tag and photograph every major item. This documentation is critical for insurance claims, tax deductions on donations, and reconciling your fixed asset ledger. Don't rely on the decommission crew to do this for you — it should be completed before they arrive.