Uniqlo Racking TI Approved on First Review in San Jose

CLIENT: Uniqlo for Gray West Construction
LOCATION: San Jose, CA
PROJECT TYPE: Mall Tenant Improvement

Permit Place supported Gray West Construction on a back-of-house (BOH) racking tenant improvement at Uniqlo’s San Jose mall location. The focused TI scope required coordinated review through the City of San José Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement within an active retail environment.

As part of Uniqlo’s broader rollout program, consistency and speed were essential. Permit Place managed submittal strategy, documentation alignment, and jurisdictional coordination to ensure the BOH modifications advanced without disrupting construction sequencing.

Challenges

While the technical scope was limited, mall-based TI work always requires careful framing. Back-of-house racking modifications must be clearly defined to avoid triggering unnecessary life-safety or broader build-out review questions.

Maintaining clarity in scope and documentation was critical to preventing re-review cycles.

Solutions and Strategies

Permit Place applied its structured Due Diligence process to:

  • Confirm the correct TI submittal path for BOH racking
  • Align drawings with San Jose’s documentation standards
  • Clarify mall-specific coordination requirements
  • Sequence the submittal to avoid unnecessary review layers

Early communication with both the AHJ and Gray West Construction ensured signatures, documentation, and scope descriptions were complete prior to filing.

Project Wins

  • Approved in the first review cycle
  • No resubmittals required
  • 3-day submittal-to-approval timeline
  • Maintained Uniqlo’s program schedule

The project demonstrates how clearly defined scope, disciplined documentation, and proactive coordination can move mall TI work efficiently even within large municipal jurisdictions like San Jose.

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