EFFECT OF DESIGN ON OFFICE BUILDING EFFICIENCY RATIOS

Abstract

Be it for owner-occupation or speculative renting, there is always a need to maximize usable space within a development. For the owner, it means more space for office activities, and even income, if extra space is rented out. For the speculative developer, it means more income. A measure of usable space is the efficiency ratio of a building. An optimum design ensures the maximization of this ratio. The fundamental design variables of an office building can be segregated into the shape, core position, core type, typical floor size and the height. This study attempts to gain a better understanding of how these design variables affect the efficiency ratio of a building. It is discovered that there is no fixed combination of design variables that will maximize the efficiency ratio, although, some elements of the design variables may give, or interact with other elements to give more favourable results.