FF&E: What Is FF&E? Why Is It Important to Me?

Throughout the course of any building project, you will come across terminology that may not make a whole lot of sense to you. At Sports Facilities Advisory, we understand that you may not be a finance or project planning expert, but that’s why we are here to help!
We are happy to help you decode the mysteries of sports facility planning lingo as we work to achieve your project planning goals, starting with the acronym FF&E.

What Is FF&E?

The term “FF&E” is an acronym that stands for furniture, fixtures, and equipment. This term is frequently used to describe the items in every building project that are not included in the blueprints or construction design drawings. FF&E have no permanent ties to the construction of the building or the utilities, and may include items like:

• Phone systems
• Furniture
• Desks
• Window shades
• Electronic equipment

In regards to a planning project involving a new sports center or multi-purpose center, FF&E may also include essential pieces of equipment such as workout machines, weights, exercise mats, or protective sports gear like helmets and harnesses.
Although these items depreciate in value over time, they are essential costs to consider when valuing a company or planning the construction of a brand new facility.

Why Is It Important?

You might be sitting there thinking, “Well, that’s nice to know, but why does it matter to me?” As a building owner or investor, this is actually extremely important information. Unfortunately, not all facility planning organizations consider FF&E when calculating the total cost of construction for the building project, despite the fact that additional costs for FF&E can be quite significant. This is especially true for a project like a new sports complex or community recreation center.
Neglecting to address the FF&E for your project may mean severely underestimating the total cost of construction, which can cause serious problems for all parties involved.

Estimating the Costs

Estimating the cost of FF&E on your own can be difficult, especially if you don’t have prior experience planning the development and building of a brand new facility. Fortunately, the experts at Sports Facilities Advisory are here to help.
We will discuss the implications of FF&E on your project, estimate the total cost of FF&E for your facility, and ensure that it is taken into account when projecting your overall costs of construction. At SFA, we leave no stone unturned and no question unanswered so you can feel confident in the success of your project from start to finish.
If you have additional questions about FF&E or how it relates to your planning project, please contact Sports Facilities Advisory today.