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Tenant Advisory
Space Needs:
Rules of Thumb
For traditional environments and assuming normal amenities of generic office usage, the general rule of thumb is to allow 160 to 250 usable square feet per person. This allocation varies depending on the type of business and their individual style or culture. It will be affected by special needs such as large conference rooms, demo rooms, training facilities, or equipment rooms. Keep in mind that in many firms with a flatter organizational structure, the traditional office environment (with management in windowed offices and employees in core areas) is being questioned, particularly by those involved in the high technology sector. If your firm wants to investigate alternative office concepts, these standards will not apply.
Prior to entering the market, a firm should have an accurate estimation of their needs that can serve as a standard for determining whether a building has an efficient layout. The following traditional office standards can be used to roughly estimate the amount of usable space required for a business:
President, CEO, or Chairman of the Board
250 to 400 square feet – allows for desk, credenza, visitor chairs, meeting area
Vice President
150 to 250 square feet – allows for desk, credenza, 4-6 visitor chairs, small round table
Executive Office
100 to 150 square feet – desk, lateral file, 2 visitor chairs
Employee Office
100 to 125 square feet – desk, lateral file, 1 visitor chair
Partitioned Open Space
80 to 100 square feet for clerical supervisor or manager
Workstation Area
50 to 100 square feet for clerical, depending on file and equipment needs
64 to 80 square feet for technical personnel
Conference Room
25 to 30 square feet per person – conference seating
15 square feet per person – theater style
Lunch Room
15 square feet per person, plus a kitchen area equal to one third – one half of seating area
Reception Area
150 to 250 square feet – Receptionist and 2 - 4 visitors
250 to 350 square feet – Receptionist and 6 – 8 visitors
Mail Room
9 feet wide with 30" counters on either side
File Room
7 square feet per file plus a 3-4’ wide aisle
Library
175 to 450 square feet with seating for 4 – 6 people.
Allow 12’ for bookshelf width.
Circulation Space
Allow 20 – 30% of total usable area for corridors and circulation.