Building Core

Elements and Design

The typical floor plate of the

standard commercial office
structure contains the following:
Vertical Circulation Core
Open Lease Space
Optional public corridor.

Building Core

Core

Lease Area

Core

Tenant Lease Space

Lease Depth

Lease
Core

Tenant Lease Space

Depth

Optional Corridor

Lease
Core

Tenant Lease Space

Depth

Tenant Lease Area

Elements of the Building Core

The Building Core of the Commercial building contains

Passenger Elevators & Lobby

The Building Core of the Commercial building contains

Passenger Elevators & Lobby

Service Elevator

The Building Core of the Commercial building contains

Passenger Elevators & Lobby

Service Elevator
Service Elevator Vestibule

The Building Core of the Commercial building contains

Passenger Elevators & Lobby

Service Elevator
Service Elevator Vestibule
Mechanical Room

The Building Core of the Commercial building contains

Passenger Elevators & Lobby

Service Elevator
Service Elevator Vestibule
Mechanical Room
Vertical Chase

Passenger Elevators & Lobby

Service Elevator

Service Elevator Vestibule

Mechanical Room

Vertical Chase

The Core also consists of

Fire Egress Stairs

The Core also consists of

Fire Stairs
Restrooms

The Core also consists of

Fire Stairs
Restrooms
Drinking Fountain Vestibule

Fire Egress Stairs

Public Restrooms

Public Restrooms

Core Location

The Building Core can take any of basic

locations relative to the floor plate.

Central Core
Off- set Core
Exterior Core
Split Core

Central Core Location

In the central core the

lease depth is relatively
equal around the core of
the building.

Central Core Location

Central Core Location

Central Core Location

In the central core the

lease depth is relatively
equal around the core of
the building.
The Tenant can lease the
entire floor plate

Central Core Location

Lease
Core

Tenant Lease Space

Depth

Core Location

Or the tenant can lease a portion of the floor

plate.

Central Core Location

Lease
Core

Tenant Lease Space

Depth

Central Core Location

Bruce Graham
John Hancock Bldg.
Chicago, Ill.

Central Core Location

Frank Gehry
New York Times
Headquarters

Central Core Location

Core Location

Off- Set Core Location

The off Set-Core places the core off center

creating differing lease depths.

Off- Set Core Location

Lease Depth 1

Core

Lease Depth 3

Lease
Depth
2

Off- Set Core Location

The off Set-Core places the core off center

creating differing lease depths.
This provides greater leasing options.

Off- Set Core Location

Lease Depth 1

Core

Lease
Depth 2

Off- Set Core Location

Henry Cobb
Electicite de France
Paris, France

Off- Set Core Location

Jean Nouvel
Torre Agbar
Barcelona, Spain

Split Core Location

The Split core divides the core with a central

space, all components of the core are accessed
from this central space.

Split Core Location

Core

Core

Tenant Lease Space

Split Core Location

Off- Set Core Location

This eliminates the need for any peripheral

access corridor and lease space can extend
right up to the walls of the core elements.

Split Core Location

Tenant Lease Space

Core

Core

Split Core Location

Murphy / Jahn, Deutsche Post

Split Core Location

Cesar Pelli
International
Finance Center II

Split Core Location

The Split Core can be divided in any number of

ways. It should be noted that this increases the
depth of the core and therefore the size of the
floor plate.

Split Core Location

Core

Core

Core

Core

Tenant Lease Space

Split Core Location

The lease area can here too be divided but

access must still be maintained to two means of
egress in case of fire.

Split Core Location

Tenant Lease Space

Core

Core

Core

Core

Split Core Location

Norman Foster
Swiss Re

Split Core Location

Exterior Core Location

In the Exterior Core configuration the core is

pulled either to one side or edge.
If the core is pushed to one side creating a dead
wall this can be used to advantage where poor
views or party walls present a problem.

Exterior Core Location

Core

Tenant Lease Space

Exterior Core Location

Michael Graves
Humana Bldg.

Exterior Core Location

Exterior Core Location

Norman Foster
Commerzbank

Exterior Core Location

Steven Holl
5th Ave. & 42nd

Exterior Core Location

Exterior Core Location

The Core can also be isolated as a separate

mass element independent from the lease floor
plate.

Exterior Core Location

Core

Tenant Lease Space

Core

Exterior Core Location

Richard Rodgers, 122 Leadenhall St.

Exterior Core Location

Richard Rodgers
Lloyds of London

Exterior Core Location

Elevator Configurations in Tall Buildings

Different banks of elevators serve different floors

1-20

21-40

Elevator Configurations in Tall Buildings

Unused Elevator lobbies are used to hold core

elements such as restrooms or mechanical

Lobby

MM

W
W

Elevator Configurations in Tall Buildings

Elevator Configurations in Tall Buildings

Elevator Configurations in Tall Buildings

Elevator banks drop

out of the core as
they are no longer
needed.

Elevator Configurations in Tall Buildings

As elevator banks drop out the space becomes

lease space or the floor plate is reduced

Lease Space

Lobby

Elevator Configurations in Tall Buildings

The reduction in the

core due to the drop
out of elevator banks
allows for the
increase of lease
space or reduction of
floor plate allowing
the building to taper.

Elevator Configurations in Tall Buildings

It may become necessary to relocate the fire

egress stairs to maintain efficiency of the lease
space or for design purposes

Lobby

Elevator Configurations in Tall Buildings

Fire egress stairs can

be are transferred
horizontally

Elevator Configurations in Tall Buildings

To minimize the
square footage of the
core on very tall
buildings architects
can stack the elevator
banks and use express
elevators to sky
lobbies. Banks of
elevators service only
a set of designated
floors while movement
between them is
achieved by the
express system.

Elevator Configurations in Tall Buildings

Minoru Yamasaki
World Trade Center

Lease Space Planning

Lease space can be arranged in basically two

general configurations:
Perimeter Office
Executive Core

Lease Space Planning

The Perimeter Office

In the perimeter office, private managerial offices
line the outside wall of the building.

Their views make them prime locations

Lease Space Planning

Core

Tenant Lease Space

Lease Space Planning

The corners of the

building are then the
most sought after.
These are often
reserved for the
highest staff level.
Architects often facet
the buildings corners
to create more corner
offices.

Lease Space Planning

The Executive Core

Increasingly we see the introduction of the
executive core which moves the executive offices
to the center of the floor plate.
This allows greater light penetration and
maximizes the number of people who get a view.

Lease Space Planning

Core

Tenant Lease Space

Residential Cores

The typical residential core is smaller

because it will usually not require as many
elevators and there is no need for the public
restrooms.

Residential Cores

The Residential Core consists of

Fire Stairs

Residential Cores

The Residential Core consists of

Fire Stairs
Elevator Lobby

Residential Cores

The Residential Core consists of

Fire Stairs
Elevator Lobby
Service Elevator

Residential Cores

The Residential Core consists of

Fire Stairs
Elevator Lobby
Service Elevator
Vestibule

Residential Cores

The Residential Core consists of

Fire Stairs
Elevator Lobby
Service Elevator
Vestibule
Mechanical Room

Residential Cores

The Residential Core consists of

Fire Stairs
Elevator Lobby
Service Elevator
Vestibule
Mechanical Room
Trash Chute

Residential Cores

Residential Cores

Residential Layouts

It is common to push all major spaces to

the perimeter.
Closed spaces such as bathrooms, closets
mechanical closets, and kitchens are often
pushed toward the core.

Residential Cores

Residential Cores

This is because code calls for all major

rooms to be accessible to the perimeter for
fire rescue.
It also allows for maximum light
penetration

Residential Cores