CHANAKYA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

SUBJECT - OFFICE DESIGN

ASSIGNMENT NO. 1

GUIDED BY - ID. DHARA CHAWDA MAM

SUBMITTED BY - NILESH BODKHE

Q1. What do you mean by circulation of space in office?

Answer-Circulation plays an important role in the design. The
term 'circulation' refers to the movement of people through,
around and between buildings and other parts of the built
environment.
It is the support space which is required for circulation on office
floors, linking all major functions, i.e.-
 Primary - used to access and interconnect core spaces. It
provides access to and egress from space.
 Secondary - through general office areas. It leads to
primary circulation route.
 Tertiary - provides access to all office spaces, open
workstations, etc.

Key considerations for circulation:-

  Corridor widths: The minimum width for office
corridors is 44”, but a more functional and desirable
width is 60”.
 Corridor lengths: Dead end corridor may not exceed
20 feet.
 Maximum travel distances: Measured by path or
travel, not as crow flies.

Q2. What are the factors that impact productivity in an office?

Answer- The main factors effecting productivity in an office:-
- Improved access-68%
- Comfort-42%
- Privacy-28%
- Flexibility-24%
90% surveyed believe improvements in office design can
increase employee productivity.
Comfort: The comfort level of an office is judged on the basis of
the following factors:
 Climate: This means the micro climate of the office. In a
country like India where temperatures have a high degree
of fluctuation, it is very important that the micro climate of
an office is controlled through air-conditioning and other
 related means so that the productivity of the employees
does not suffer due to discomfort.
 Lighting: Lighting is another major issue in judging the
comfort level of an office. In offices usually general and
task lighting is used so that the work can be carried out
without difficulty or eyestrain.
 Good ergonomics: Ergonomics is the study of human
abilities and characteristics which affect the design of
equipment, systems, and jobs. The terms ergonomics and
human factors can be used interchangeably.
 Sound, noise, and acoustics: In an office it is very
important that your design cuts down noise levels to the
minimum by the use of walls and partitions etc. effective
acoustics go a long way in providing an environment
conducive to productive work.
 Enough space: Availability of sufficient space is also a
major issue in an office. As a designer it is your duty to
ensure that all workers are getting enough space to carry
out their work in comfort.
 Good atmosphere: The atmosphere of a space is affected
by the general ambience of that space which includes
among other things the colours, texture, and patterns
used.
 Clean and neat environment: Along with the atmosphere it
is also necessary that the environment of an office is neat
and clean. One way of ensuring this is to provide sufficient
 storage space in the office so that when not in use things
can be put away.
 Adequate privacy: These days due to shortage of space
most offices are being designed with an open plan, in spite
of this it is imperative that all the workers have adequate
privacy to do their work in peace. Privacy can be imparted
to a design by the usage of low height partitions and also
plants etc.
 Communication: Communication is one of the most
important factor affecting the efficient working of an
office.
- communication: communication between employees
and departments should be easy and trouble free.
- Open communication at all levels: the process of
communication should be open across all levels of the
office, starting from the top and going down to the
bottom.
 Access: As stated earlier the basic components of an office
are: people, equipment and furnishing. A good design will
always keep in mind that these components are easily
accessible to each other.
The following points are most important in this regard:
- Access to needed space.
- Access to equipment.
- Access to people.
 Functionally efficient: As the basic function of an office is
to carry out work, functional efficiency is of vital
importance in an office.