(pronounced ser-kyeh-LAY-shehn FAK-ter)

To understand what a Circulation Factor is, you must first know what circulation space is: interior space needed for occupants to get from spaces of function to other spaces of function – i.e., aisles between workstations, hallways linking offices, corridors around the building core (if a tenant has a whole floor), internal stair systems, etc. Just so you know, the space needed for day-to-day tasks in offices, cubicles, conferencing, storage, etc. is called Net Square Footage. To calculate the total Usable Square Footage, then multiply Net Square Footage by the Circulation Factor. Therefore, conversely, if a small office of 4,999 USF is determined to have a 3,703 NSF, then the Circulation Factor is 1.35 because 1.35 X 3703 NSF = 5,000 USF. Obviously, depending on how certain areas are planned out, they will have higher or lower Circulation Factors. For example, a customer service area that the public will never see might have a factor of 1.30, while the Executive area, where entertaining of high-roller decision-makers occurs often, might have a more generous factor of 1.60. And if someone not particularly practiced at efficient space planning lays out the space, the factor could be even higher, which means that the tenant isn’t getting as much bang for their buck.

See also: Net Square Footage, Usable Square Footage