Space Planning and Adjacencies
This domain tests space planning and adjacencies: how program requirements become zones, blocks, circulation, and furniture layouts that satisfy function, code, and accessibility. Questions often ask for the best adjacency, minimum clearance, or most efficient planning module.
Core rules
- Zone by function first: public vs private, noisy vs quiet, staff vs visitor, and service vs primary circulation.
- Use an adjacency matrix to rank relationships; place high-frequency links close and separate conflicting uses.
- Plan circulation before furniture. Primary routes should be direct and code-compliant; secondary routes should not pass through private offices or work areas.
- Use a planning module (for example 5 ft or 6 ft) and test furniture dimensions, door swings, and accessible turning spaces.
- Confirm egress access and travel distance early; do not create dead-end corridors or rooms that only exit through another room.
Worked example
Twelve workstations at 80 net sf each = 960 net sf. Add 25% for primary and secondary circulation = 1,200 sf. Add 15% for support (files, printer, huddle) = 1,380 sf. At a 65% efficiency ratio, required gross = 1,380 / 0.65 = 2,123 gross sf. If the tenant suite is 2,000 gross sf, the layout is over budget by about 123 gross sf; reduce support area or workstation size before shrinking circulation below accessible width.
Traps
- Counting only furniture footprints and forgetting chair pull-out, door swings, and accessible clear floor space.
- Placing a required adjacency across a primary circulation path or through a security boundary.
- Using gross area for a furniture layout.
- Forgetting that a conference room, copy room, or storage room may change the occupant load and egress demand.