Office occupations densities

Abstract

The square feet available per person (ft2/person) in a building reflect its density of occupation. This can be calculated for either lettable area or usable area, depending on the objective. Lettable ft2/person includes the primary circulation, which reflects the efficiency of the building; whereas usable ft2/person excludes primary circulation and is more useful for space planning purposes. The tables illustrate occupation densities for a range of companies. They have been sub‐divided into sectors, and are ranked according to ft2/person of lettable space. The companies were randomly selected and for reasons of confidentiality are described only by the nature of their business. The companies are categorised by sector in order to discover whether there are any major differences between them. A relatively high proportion of professional companies and clearing banks showed comparatively high densities, while services companies had relatively lower densities. All of the sectors, except the European companies, illustrate at least a doubling of lettable densities between the tightest and most generous. This may be a function of increasing inefficiency as the proportion of primary circulation increases, and/or a pro‐rata fall in population as the proportion of usable area increases.