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Forum Categories BOMA 1996 - Office Buildings Question

Distribution of Common areas across multiple buildings linked together.

Michel Sakal: GKC Architects; September 10, 2015

Here is a bit of a poser: I am trying to determine total rentable area by tenant using BOMA 96. My project is comprised of four separate buildings linked together with above ground tunnels.

As such, I have portions of common areas that serve all four buildings (Gym, locker rooms, conference rooms), other common areas that serve three building (Cafeterias, seating areas, links between the buildings) and yet more common areas of various type (loading, shipping,mechanical areas), in a couple of combinations that serve two or more building.

Using ANSI/BOMA Z65.1-1996, what is your suggestion as to the best way to tackle this monster?

Mike S.

David Fingret: Extreme Measures Inc.; September 11, 2015

Hi Michel,

If you are using BOMA 1996 you can consider the entire project as one building and therefore, the common areas you noted would be Building Common Areas and spread across each of the buildings proportionately. This methodology of calculating building complexes is mentioned in question #20 of BOMA's supplementary document known as "Answers to 26 Key Questions About The ANSI/BOMA Standard Method For Measuring Floor Area In Office Buildings".

I would however recommend using BOMA 2010 if you can. BOMA 2010 is a more sophisticated, modern and flexible standard which has an official methodology for determining rentable areas in office complexes (or campuses or multi-building sets). The guidelines are provided as a BOMA Best Practices document that you can find here: http://www.boma.org/standards/Documents/BOMA%20Best%20Practices%203.pdf

Thanks,
David