Bare core and shell with no MEP at the floor.

  • Bare core and shell with no MEP at the floor.
  • Tenant inherits the bare structure and façade.

Cold shell

Construction · US

Short definition

Bare core and shell with no MEP at the floor.

Full definition

Tenant inherits the bare structure and façade. The tenant designs and installs all MEP from the riser. Highest tenant capex; highest design freedom.

Why this matters for Class A leasing

Cold shell is part of the construction vocabulary that institutional Class A occupiers, landlords, and advisers use across US markets. Understanding it correctly affects how you read lease documents, model occupancy economics, and benchmark deal terms across cities. Class A Atlas tracks the US definition alongside the global standard so cross-border occupiers can translate quickly.

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