Room and Space Planning

General

All spaces are to be designed to suit the functional requirements of the space, while still allowing for future flexibility and multi-functionality of the space.

The Project Brief will contain specific details of spaces to be provided.

Proportions (XY)

Proportions listed for each room or space is an indication of the general desired configuration of the space.

The following table below indicates the typical room and space types along with their proportional configuration, which is based on the functional requirements and the type of activity focus of the space.

Table: Room and Space Types

Design Occupancy's

The design occupancy of a space will vary depending upon the designated function of the space whereby:

• Focused learning, personalised study, work-points or reflective spaces tend to be designed for individual occupants
• Collaborative spaces are generally designed for a small to medium number of occupants and include meeting spaces, active learning spaces and seminar type spaces
• Directive learning spaces such as larger general learning spaces, lecture or tutorial spaces are generally for larger numbers of occupants.
• Information distribution spaces such as large lecture auditoriums for larger numbers of occupants.

The design brief is to be developed to direct the number of the various types of spaces and clarify the occupancy numbers based on an assessment of the facility needs and projected space demand.

Note that the cited design occupancy does not supersede any technical requirements of the building and should be considered in conjunction with equipment and infrastructure capacities and operational scenarios.  The design occupancy is indicative, design occupancy's need to be assessed on a project to project basis, as some projects may be existing buildings with particular space constraints.

Table: Design Occupancy's

Areas – General

Areas of spaces are based predominately on either the design occupancy for the individual function or the plant and equipment requirements. The areas listed within the room data are minimum areas to be allocated for that space and do not include circulation area between spaces unless specifically identified.

With respect to design occupancy, regulations such as the Building Code of Australia (BCA) give an indication of expected generic areas per occupant. It should be noted that the areas listed in the BCA include:

• Space for individual occupants,
• Space for generic equipment, and
• Circulation space for occupants to maneuver between areas.

The design team are to develop a design that:

• Includes areas to meet the functional requirements
• Allows for future flexibility of the functional use of the spaces
• Provides sufficient circulation areas between spaces to meet access and egress requirements
• Is the most efficient use of the space available.

Circulation areas such as corridors are to be designed to meet the requirements for all expected users including mobility impaired occupants and are to meet the regulatory requirements which are typically set out within the National Construction Code/Building Code of Australia and the Australian Standards, such as AS1428.1.

Minimum Areas

• Note that the cited areas do not supersede any technical requirements of the building and should be considered in conjunction with equipment and infrastructure capacities and operational scenarios.

Table: Minimum Areas

Other Room and Space Planning Requirements

For each specific space there are additional planning requirements or constraints that are important and are to be taken into consideration in the design of any new facility. These requirements will include planning requirements such as:

• Relationship to adjacent spaces (including location of space with respect to other areas on Campus)
• Specific legislative requirement (designed to meet laboratory code or food handling code).

Table: Other Planning Requirements