SPACE PLANNING

Space planning is an integral part of the interior design process, but the demand for it as a discrete
service is growing. In space planning, the design professional blocks out interior spatial areas, defines
circulation patterns, and develops plans and layouts for furniture and equipment placement.

PURPOSE OF SPACE PLANNING

Integrate space planning with wide planning objectives

Plan for the long-term space management and planning
Identify options for space efficiency to meet priorities
Manage space guidelines

ADVANTAGES OF SPACE PLANNING

Involvement of interested parties in the definition of the scope of work prior to the design
effort
Emphasis on gathering and analyzing data early in the process so that the design is based upon
sound decisions
Efficiencies gained by avoiding redesign and more redesign as requirements emerge during
architectural design.

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Space Planning

SPACE PLANNING STANDARDS

CLOSED OFFICES VS OPEN PLAN

The open plan approach (with a very limited number of ceiling height partitions for offices) is
encouraged. It has a higher degree of efficiency and flexibility, and provides easier distribution
of natural light and daylighting techniques, heating and cooling to the working areas. This
approach can be adapted to a larger building depth and still present an open and airy
atmosphere. It also encourages interaction between individuals and work groups.

CEILING HEIGHT
Above all, the general office space should have a uniform ceiling height to provide flexibility for
future floor plan changes.
The clear ceiling height for office spaces is a minimum of 2700 mm (9 feet) for spaces that are
larger than 14 m2 (150 square feet). The clear ceiling height of individual office rooms not
exceeding an occupiable 14 m2 (150 square feet) is a minimum of 2400 mm (8 feet). The clear
ceiling height of private toilets and small closets, which are ancillary to other office spaces is a
minimum of 2300 mm (7 feet 6 inches). Enclosed offices should have the same ceiling height as
adjacent open office spaces to allow future reconfiguration flexibility.

AUTOMATED DATA PROCESSING (ADP) AREAS

ADP spaces require access flooring over a plenum space, even if access floors are not used
elsewhere in the building. ADP areas are almost exclusively associated with main frame
computer equipment.

TRAINING AND MAJOR CONFERENCE ROOMS

Individual training and conference rooms may be located within the building to best suit the
tenant. If such spaces are grouped to form a large training or conference facility, they should be
located near the ground floor to avoid excessive loading of vertical transportation and to
provide immediate egress for large groups of people.
Rooms designed for video teleconferencing or training should have a minimum clear ceiling
height of 3000 mm (10 feet).

PUBLIC SPACES
Public spaces are those accessible to the general public. They include entrances, lobbies,
stairways, public elevator and escalator lobbies, and the permanent corridors at each floor level.
In historic buildings, new materials should be commensurate in quality with original finishes and
compatible in form, detail, and scale with original design.

ENTRANCES AND VERTIBULES

The main entrance to a Federal building must be conveniently located for vehicular and
pedestrian traffic. All public entrances shall be accessible to physically challenged individuals.

ENTRANCE LOBBIES AND ATRIA

The lobby should be clearly visible from the outside, both day and night.

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ELEVATOR AND ESCALATOR LOBBIES

Like entrance lobbies, elevator and escalator lobbies shall be designed to efficiently
accommodate the movement of pedestrian traffic to other parts of the building. Adequate
space should be provided to perform this function.

PUBLIC CORRIDORS
A clear hierarchy should be visible in the treatment of spaces and corridors as they lead visitors
from the entrance lobby to the main corridors and finally to departmental corridors. It is
desirable to introduce as much natural light as possible into corridors, through windows,
transoms or borrowed lights.

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BASIC STEPS ON SPACE PLANNING

Pre-design steps to the more creative development of a floor plan that solves the practical and esthetic
problems of the users.

BUBBLE DIAGRAM
A trial-and-error method to quickly explore all the planning options, both good and bad, of a
given planning problem.

BLOCK PLANNING
A well-established technique that particularly uses wide-spread in large scale and store
planning. The process of development and the results are similar to those in a bubble diagram.
Its primary advantage is that the result is more like a floor plan and more geometric quality.

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SPACE PLANNING TECHNIQUES

The technique begins with an empty field (tabula rasa) and locates the elements in accordance with
some algorithm. The technique for choosing which element should "enter" the plan and for determining
its location provides the means for classification.

RANDOM GENERATION METHOD

The simplest and most obvious method for generation or construction of floor plans is by
random choice of elements and/or locations.

ORDERED SCORES
This method, the simplest and most sophisticated use of the affinity interaction matrix, builds
the plan by using the elements in accordance with an ordered list based on total interaction
scores.

ASSIGNMENT ONE
This method is based on the polymino assembly procedure described by Mitchell and Dillon. The
choice of elements to enter a plan is made on the basis of interaction with elements already
placed in the location on the basis of adjacency to the placed elements. The method may be
modified somewhat by the following options:
A. Positioned Elements. Choice of element is based on interaction with all elements already
placed on the plan and the element with the highest interaction score individually to the
most of the placed elements is chosen for entry.
B. Number of Dependent Elements. Positioning of an element chosen by the previous option
may be restricted to the only locations around the elements with which it had the greatest
interaction.
C. Interacted Elements. Choice of element to be placed is again chosen on the basis of
interaction with positioned elements.

NUCLEAR GROWTH
This method is a new approach to the problem of space planning. Selection of an incoming
element is based upon the scores of the available elements to the cluster of elements previously
positioned.

SMALL AND DIMENSIONALLY DEMANDING SPACES

Mastery of planning typical small and dimensionally demanding spaces.
USUAL CONCERNS OF FUNCTIONAL PLANNING, COMFORTABLE
CLERANCES AND TRAFFIC FLOW

VISUAL PRIVACY
Use partitions or versatile spaces to avoid direct viewing.

SPECIAL ACCESSORIES
An additional accessory to the basic fixture to provide comfort.

BARRIER-FREE DESIGN

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Facilities must be designed for comfortable use by disabled users.

RESIDENTIAL / NON-RESIDENTIAL / PUBLIC FLOOR PLAN SAMPLES

RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN PLANS

RESIDENTIAL BATHROOM PLANS

PUBLIC RESTROOM PLANS

A. Specialized Equipment Intensive Spaces

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B. Space planning in terms of satisfying a human and social need.

TRAVEL AND EGRESS

A. Corridors and Aisles
A 360-degree turn of a wheelchair requires a 5-0
diameter space, as in the end of corridor condition

A straight corridor should be at least 3-8 wide for

comfortable operation

A right angle turn requires a 3-8 radius for a comfortable wheelchair operation

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B. Ramps
The minimum slope of a ramp is 1:12, or a maximum
8.33 percent change. Maximum run of a continuous
Ramp is 30 feet. Beyond that length, ramps must have
a flat rest

Doors
A minimum door opening must be at least 2-8 wide, and
3-0 is considered optimal

On the pull side of a door, a minimum distance of 1-6

must be maintained from the opening handle jamb of the
door to an intersecting partition or any other obstruction
that will not permit wheelchair to access to the door

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