Building Typology GPT
Space standards, layout patterns, and design drivers for office, healthcare, school, and residential.
Conversational building typology guide for architects and designers. Covers design standards, space allocation norms, planning principles, and typical configurations for offices, education, healthcare, residential, hospitality, and civic buildings. Ask about your building type and get specific area norms, planning rules, and code references.
The Problem
Space planning for an unfamiliar building type means researching standards from scratch — what gross-to-net ratios are typical, what adjacencies matter, what room sizes regulatory bodies require. Wrong assumptions at schematic design compound through every subsequent phase.
How It Works
Tell it the building type and scale. It provides space standards, typical layout patterns, key adjacency requirements, and regulatory drivers — from office net-to-gross benchmarks to FGI patient room dimensions.
"what is a typical net-to-gross ratio for a class A office building?""key adjacency requirements for an outpatient surgery center"Key Features
Who It's For
Architects beginning schematic design on a building type outside their primary experience area.
This tool provides typology guidance based on published standards and typical practice. Always verify requirements against local code and applicable standards for your project type.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a typical net-to-gross ratio for office buildings?
Class A office buildings typically achieve 75-82% efficiency. Core-dominant floor plates reach the higher end. Perimeter core layouts typically land at 70-75%.
What space standards govern healthcare design?
Healthcare projects can be governed by an adopted FGI edition, state licensing rules, building and fire codes, accessibility requirements, ASHRAE 170, and the approved functional program. Confirm the actual state adoption and facility type before using a room value.
How do I start space programming for a new building type?
Start with: (1) the functional brief, (2) a net area target per occupant, (3) regulatory minimums, (4) adjacency priorities, and (5) gross area including circulation, structure, and mechanical.