The shape of a contributed project

A single construction project contributed to the corpus. A project carries its descriptive attributes (type, location, delivery, sustainability and quality targets) plus a history of design checkpoints — point-in-time snapshots that hold the project's size, program, design metrics, and cost estimate as the design progressed. Schedule milestones and a risk register round out the record. Provide whatever you have; only a name and type are needed to start.

A snapshot of the project at one point in design — usually tied to an estimate milestone such as schematic design (SD) or design development (DD). A project has one checkpoint per milestone, each holding the project's size, program breakdown, design metrics, and cost estimate as they stood at that time.

A description of targets and special program requirements for this project.

A portion of the project grouped by how it is used — for example a residential tower, a parking structure, or a hospital's surgical platform. Attributing costs and metrics to a component lets benchmarks compare like-for-like areas across projects. Three fields classify a component on two distinct axes: useType names the owner program area it serves, programClass names where it sits in the building's anatomy, and functionType names the specific space function below useType. A hospital surgery component, for instance, is useType: HEALTHCARE_INPATIENT, programClass: FUNCTIONAL_SPACES, functionType: OPERATING_ROOMS; the garage beneath it is useType: PARKING, programClass: FUNCTIONAL_SPACES, functionType: BELOW_GRADE_PARKING.

A single measured value for a metric. Every value belongs to either a checkpoint (a project-wide metric) or a component (a metric for one use-type area). Provide values in whatever unit you measured; they are normalized to the metric's canonical unit before benchmarking.

One elemental line of a cost estimate, classified by UniFormat code. Where possible a line is attributed to a design component so cost ties back to a specific part of the project. Benchmarks are only ever published at UniFormat Level 2 or coarser — never as finer-grained unit prices.

A dated milestone in the project schedule. The durations between milestones are what schedule benchmarks compare.

An entry in the project's risk register, scored by likelihood and impact.

A calendar date in ISO-8601 form, e.g. `2024-06-20`. Only the date is used, not the time of day.

The owner program area a component serves — what the space is for, in the owner's terms. Classifies the major program areas that carry different owner-driven program metrics; each value's description names the key Metric values to provide for components of that use. Choose the single closest category, and split a genuinely mixed area into separate components rather than forcing one value. Orthogonal to ProgramClass (where the component sits in the building's anatomy) and refined by FunctionType (the specific space function).

RESIDENTIAL

Market-rate, affordable, student, and condominium dwelling areas — the units and the residential floors that hold them. Key program metrics: UNIT_COUNT, BEDROOM_COUNT, RENTABLE_FLOOR_AREA.

SENIOR_LIVING

Independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. Key program metrics: BED_COUNT, UNIT_COUNT.

HOSPITALITY

Hotel and resort guest-room areas with their front-of-house amenities. Key program metrics: KEY_COUNT, AMENITY_AREA.

OFFICE

Workplace areas — open plan, enclosed offices, and meeting space. Key program metrics: WORKSTATION_COUNT, NET_FLOOR_AREA, RENTABLE_FLOOR_AREA.

RETAIL

Retail, food service, and other leasable commercial areas. Key program metric: RENTABLE_FLOOR_AREA.

HEALTHCARE_INPATIENT

Inpatient and acute patient-care areas — bed units, surgery, emergency, imaging, and their clinical support. Key program metrics: BED_COUNT, OPERATING_ROOM_COUNT, PROCEDURE_ROOM_COUNT, DEPARTMENT_GROSS_AREA.

HEALTHCARE_OUTPATIENT

Clinical and outpatient areas — clinics, medical office, ambulatory surgery, and diagnostics delivered without an overnight stay. Key program metrics: EXAM_ROOM_COUNT, PROCEDURE_ROOM_COUNT, DEPARTMENT_GROSS_AREA.

LAB

Research and teaching laboratory areas, wet or dry, with their lab support. Key program metrics: LAB_MODULE_COUNT, FUME_HOOD_COUNT.

GMP_MANUFACTURING

Pharmaceutical and other GMP production areas — cleanroom suites, process support, and GMP warehousing. Key program metrics: CLEANROOM_AREA, AIR_HANDLING_CAPACITY.

DATA_CENTER

Data halls and the electrical and mechanical gray space that serves them. Key program metrics: IT_LOAD_CAPACITY, DATA_HALL_AREA, RACK_COUNT, UPS_CAPACITY.

EDUCATION

Teaching and learning areas — classrooms, teaching labs, libraries, and campus life. Key program metric: CLASSROOM_COUNT.

ASSEMBLY_CIVIC

Performance, worship, exhibition, sports, and civic gathering areas. Key program metric: SEAT_COUNT.

INDUSTRIAL_WAREHOUSE

Warehouse, distribution, and non-GMP manufacturing areas. Key program metrics: GROSS_FLOOR_AREA, CLEAR_HEIGHT, LOADING_DOCK_COUNT.

PARKING

Structured, below-grade, or surface parking. Key program metric: PARKING_SPACE_COUNT.

SUPPORT

Shared support and back-of-house serving multiple uses — loading, central plant, building services, and shared amenities not attributable to a single use. Key program metrics: GROSS_FLOOR_AREA, MECHANICAL_AREA.

OTHER

A use not covered above. Prefer a specific value where one fits. Key program metric: GROSS_FLOOR_AREA.

The spatial class of a component — which part of the building's anatomy it represents, independent of the owner program it serves (that is UseType's job). Splitting an area by program class lets benchmarks separate what the program itself costs from what the site, structure, core, and services wrapped around it cost.

SITEWORK

Work outside the building enclosure — earthwork, site utilities, paving, landscape, and other site improvements.

CORE

The vertical core — elevators, stairs, shafts, and the service rooms banked with them.

SHELL

The primary structure and enclosure — foundations, superstructure, exterior walls and glazing, and roof — independent of interior fit-out.

FUNCTIONAL_SPACES

The spaces that directly deliver the owner's program — dwelling units, patient rooms, operating rooms, classrooms, data halls, sales floors.

SERVICES_SPACES

Spaces that house building systems — mechanical and electrical rooms, plant, and telecom rooms.

CIRCULATION_SPACES

Horizontal circulation and gathering — corridors, lobbies, waiting, and other space that moves people between functional spaces.

INDIRECT_SERVICES

Support spaces that serve the building indirectly rather than any one program area — loading, waste handling, janitorial, general storage, and staff support.

The specific function of the space a component holds — a finer taxonomy than UseType, distinguishing for example the operating rooms from the patient units within one hospital. Benchmarks use it to scale comparable projects to fit a target program: each value's description names the driving program metric(s) the scaling keys on. Provide it when a component is dominated by a single function; split components rather than blending functions. A component's functionType should be consistent with its useType (OPERATING_ROOMS with HEALTHCARE_INPATIENT, DATA_HALL with DATA_CENTER) — inconsistent pairs are flagged for review during normalization, though some pairings are legitimately cross-sector (e.g. FOOD_BEVERAGE in an office building).

OPERATING_ROOMS

Surgical operating rooms and their substerile and immediate support. Scales by OPERATING_ROOM_COUNT.

MED_SURG_UNITS

General medical-surgical inpatient bed units and their ward support. Scales by BED_COUNT.

ICU_UNITS

Adult intensive and critical care units — ICU, CCU, and step-down. Costlier per bed than med-surg; splitting them out keeps benchmarks like for like. Scales by BED_COUNT.

NICU_UNITS

Neonatal intensive care units, counted in bassinets. Scales by BED_COUNT.

EMERGENCY_DEPARTMENT

Emergency department — triage, treatment bays, and trauma rooms. Scales by DEPARTMENT_GROSS_AREA (no dedicated bay-count metric).

IMAGING

Diagnostic imaging — X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, nuclear medicine. Scales by PROCEDURE_ROOM_COUNT.

CLINIC_EXAM

Outpatient clinic space — exam, consult, and treatment rooms. Scales by EXAM_ROOM_COUNT.

PROCEDURE_SUITES

Interventional and procedure rooms short of a full OR — cath lab, endoscopy, interventional radiology. Scales by PROCEDURE_ROOM_COUNT.

LABOR_DELIVERY

Labor, delivery, and postpartum suites. Scales by BED_COUNT.

BEHAVIORAL_HEALTH

Behavioral and mental health units and their secure support. Scales by BED_COUNT.

REHABILITATION_THERAPY

Physical, occupational, and speech therapy — rehab gyms and treatment. Scales by DEPARTMENT_GROSS_AREA.

CLINICAL_LAB

Diagnostic and pathology laboratories serving clinical care. Scales by DEPARTMENT_GROSS_AREA.

PHARMACY

Pharmacy, including USP 797/800 compounding suites. Scales by DEPARTMENT_GROSS_AREA.

CENTRAL_STERILE

Central sterile processing and case-cart operations. Scales by OPERATING_ROOM_COUNT (it serves the surgical platform).

WET_LAB

Bench laboratories with piped services, sinks, and fume hoods. Scales by LAB_MODULE_COUNT and FUME_HOOD_COUNT.

DRY_LAB

Computational, electronics, and instrument laboratories without wet services. Scales by LAB_MODULE_COUNT.

LAB_SUPPORT

Shared lab support — glasswash, autoclaves, equipment corridors, environmental rooms. Scales by the LAB_MODULE_COUNT it serves.

CLEANROOM_GMP

ISO-classified cleanroom and GMP production suites, with gowning and airlocks. Scales by CLEANROOM_AREA and AIR_HANDLING_CAPACITY.

VIVARIUM

Animal research facilities — holding, procedure, and cage-wash. Scales by GROSS_FLOOR_AREA.

GMP_WAREHOUSE

Controlled GMP warehousing — raw materials, quarantine, finished goods. Scales by GROSS_FLOOR_AREA and CLEAR_HEIGHT.

DATA_HALL

Raised-floor or slab IT white space holding racks. Scales by IT_LOAD_CAPACITY, RACK_COUNT, and DATA_HALL_AREA.

ELECTRICAL_ROOMS

Switchgear, UPS, battery, and generator rooms — electrical gray space in any building. Scales by the capacity housed: UPS_CAPACITY, GENERATOR_CAPACITY, and the IT_LOAD_CAPACITY served.

NETWORK_OPERATIONS

Network operations centers, meet-me rooms, and telecom entrance facilities. Scales by WORKSTATION_COUNT.

DWELLING_UNITS

The dwelling units themselves — apartments, condos, student beds. Scales by UNIT_COUNT — split components by unit type (or provide BEDROOM_COUNT) so the scaling reflects the unit mix.

AMENITY_FITNESS

Fitness centers, pools, and wellness amenities, in any sector. Scales by AMENITY_AREA.

AMENITY_LOUNGE

Lounges, clubrooms, coworking, and other social amenity space. Scales by AMENITY_AREA.

LEASING_MANAGEMENT

Leasing offices, property management, and mail and package rooms. Scales by the UNIT_COUNT served.

GUEST_ROOMS

Hotel guest rooms and suites. Scales by KEY_COUNT — split components by room type so the scaling reflects the key mix.

FOOD_BEVERAGE

Restaurants, bars, cafés, and commercial kitchens, in any sector. Scales by SEAT_COUNT.

CONFERENCE_EVENT

Ballrooms, meeting rooms, and event space. Scales by SEAT_COUNT and GROSS_FLOOR_AREA.

OPEN_OFFICE

Open-plan workstation areas. Scales by WORKSTATION_COUNT.

PRIVATE_OFFICE_MEETING

Enclosed offices, conference and meeting rooms, phone rooms. Scales by WORKSTATION_COUNT.

SALES_FLOOR

Retail sales areas and showrooms. Scales by RENTABLE_FLOOR_AREA.

CLASSROOMS

General-purpose classrooms and seminar rooms. Scales by CLASSROOM_COUNT.

TEACHING_LAB

Instructional laboratories and maker spaces. Scales by CLASSROOM_COUNT (or LAB_MODULE_COUNT for higher-ed research-style labs).

LIBRARY_MEDIA

Libraries, media centers, and study commons. Scales by SEAT_COUNT and GROSS_FLOOR_AREA.

GYMNASIUM_ATHLETICS

Gymnasiums, athletics facilities, and natatoriums. Scales by SEAT_COUNT (spectator seating) and GROSS_FLOOR_AREA.

PERFORMANCE_HALL

Theaters, auditoria, and concert halls, including stage support. Scales by SEAT_COUNT.

EXHIBITION_GALLERY

Museum galleries, exhibition, and convention halls. Scales by GROSS_FLOOR_AREA.

WORSHIP_HALL

Sanctuaries and worship halls. Scales by SEAT_COUNT.

WAREHOUSE_DISTRIBUTION

Bulk storage, distribution, and fulfillment floors. Scales by GROSS_FLOOR_AREA, CLEAR_HEIGHT, and LOADING_DOCK_COUNT.

MANUFACTURING_ASSEMBLY

Non-GMP production and assembly floors. Scales by GROSS_FLOOR_AREA.

COLD_STORAGE

Refrigerated and freezer storage. Scales by GROSS_FLOOR_AREA and BUILDING_VOLUME.

STRUCTURED_PARKING

Above-grade parking structures. Scales by PARKING_SPACE_COUNT.

BELOW_GRADE_PARKING

Below-grade parking levels. Scales by PARKING_SPACE_COUNT and BELOW_GRADE_STORY_COUNT.

SURFACE_PARKING

Surface parking lots. Scales by PARKING_SPACE_COUNT.

LOBBY_ENTRY

Entry lobbies, reception, and security screening. Scales by GROSS_FLOOR_AREA.

MECHANICAL_PLANT

Mechanical rooms, penthouses, and central utility plants. Scales by the capacity housed (COOLING_CAPACITY, GENERATOR_CAPACITY); provide MECHANICAL_AREA.

LOADING_DOCK

Loading docks, receiving, and waste handling. Scales by LOADING_DOCK_COUNT.

STORAGE

General, non-specialized storage. Scales by GROSS_FLOOR_AREA.

OTHER

A space function not covered above. Prefer a specific value where one fits. Scales by GROSS_FLOOR_AREA.

A named, standardized metric definition — the kind of thing being measured about corpus projects to create standardized efficiency metrics. Measured metrics are the underlying countable values a contribution provides directly; derived metrics (marked "Derived") are the standardized efficiency ratios computed from them, with the formula given in each description. Prefer contributing the measured inputs — the derived values are then computed consistently across the corpus — but a derived value may be provided directly when its inputs aren't available. Every project/component type has a natural set of metrics that are of interest, and many are shared across project/component types (e.g. GROSS_FLOOR_AREA); each UseType value's description names the key metrics for components of that use. Values are named without units — each value's description states its canonical unit, how to measure or compute it, and whether it applies checkpoint-wide or per component. A contribution may supply any dimensionally compatible unit via MetricValue.unit; values are normalized to the canonical unit before benchmarking.

GROSS_FLOOR_AREA

Total constructed floor area, in square feet, measured to the exterior face of the enclosing walls and including every enclosed level. The universal denominator of the derived efficiency metrics (WALL_TO_FLOOR_RATIO, NET_TO_GROSS_RATIO, FLOOR_AREA_RATIO, the area-per-count intensities). Expected on every checkpoint, and per component for like-for-like comparison.

SITE_AREA

Total area of the building site, in square feet, measured to the parcel boundary. Feeds FLOOR_AREA_RATIO and SITE_COVERAGE. Checkpoint-wide; expected on every checkpoint.

NET_FLOOR_AREA

Net programmable (assignable) floor area, in square feet, measured to the inside face of walls and excluding structure, shafts, circulation, and mechanical space. Feeds NET_TO_GROSS_RATIO and AREA_PER_WORKSTATION. Applies to every use type.

RENTABLE_FLOOR_AREA

Rentable (leasable or sellable) floor area, in square feet, measured per the applicable standard — BOMA for office and retail, net residential area for multifamily. Feeds RENTABLE_EFFICIENCY. Applies to income-producing types: multifamily, office, retail, mixed-use.

CIRCULATION_AREA

Floor area given to horizontal and vertical circulation — corridors, stairs, elevator shafts, lobbies — in square feet. Feeds CIRCULATION_FACTOR. Applies to every use type.

MECHANICAL_AREA

Floor area dedicated to MEP plant and shafts, in square feet — plant rooms, penthouses, interstitial levels, major shafts. Feeds MECHANICAL_FRACTION. Applies to every use type.

AMENITY_AREA

Shared interior amenity space — fitness, lounges, clubrooms — in square feet, excluding private balconies and terraces. Feeds AMENITY_AREA_PER_UNIT. Applies mainly to multifamily, hospitality, senior living, and office.

GROSS_EXTERIOR_WALL_AREA

Total above-grade exterior wall area, in square feet, measured on the exterior face and including windows and other openings. Feeds WALL_TO_FLOOR_RATIO and WINDOW_TO_WALL_RATIO. Applies to any enclosed building.

WINDOW_AREA

Total exterior glazing — vision glass, spandrel, and glazed doors — in square feet, measured by rough opening across all above-grade elevations. The numerator of WINDOW_TO_WALL_RATIO. Applies to any enclosed building.

ROOF_AREA

Roof area in horizontal projection, in square feet, measured over the outermost roof line. With GROSS_EXTERIOR_WALL_AREA it completes the envelope quantity — high relative to floor area on single-story buildings, low on towers. Applies to every enclosed building.

BUILDING_FOOTPRINT_AREA

The building's plan area at ground level, in square feet, measured to the exterior face of the enclosing walls. Feeds SITE_COVERAGE. Typically checkpoint-wide.

BUILDING_VOLUME

Gross enclosed volume, in cubic feet, measured to the exterior faces of walls and roof. Most telling for high-bay, warehouse, and assembly buildings where floor area alone understates the enclosure.

FLOOR_TO_FLOOR_HEIGHT

Average floor-to-floor height, in feet, top of slab to top of slab. A direct driver of envelope, structure, and MEP riser cost, benchmarked against type norms (roughly 9–10 ft residential, 13–15 ft office and lab, 14–16 ft healthcare). Provide per component in mixed-use projects.

CLEAR_HEIGHT

Clear height from finished floor to the lowest overhead obstruction, in feet, at the typical bay. A key capacity driver for warehouses (racking), data halls (airflow), and GMP suites (interstitial space).

STORY_COUNT

Number of enclosed levels above grade, as a count. Expected checkpoint-wide on every checkpoint; provide it per component too where massing differs (e.g. tower on podium).

BELOW_GRADE_STORY_COUNT

Number of stories below grade, as a count. A driver of excavation, shoring, and foundation cost. Checkpoint-wide; expected on every checkpoint.

UNIT_COUNT

Number of dwelling units, as a count, regardless of size or mix. Feeds AREA_PER_UNIT, PARKING_RATIO, and AMENITY_AREA_PER_UNIT. The primary program driver for residential components.

BEDROOM_COUNT

Total bedrooms across all dwelling units, as a count. Normalizes unit-mix differences (studios vs. family units) when comparing residential projects. Applies to multifamily, student, and senior housing.

BED_COUNT

Number of licensed or planned patient beds, as a count. Feeds AREA_PER_BED and cost per bed. Applies to healthcare and senior living.

KEY_COUNT

Number of hotel keys (rentable guest rooms), as a count. Feeds AREA_PER_KEY and cost per key. Applies to hospitality components.

WORKSTATION_COUNT

Number of planned workstations or seats, as a count. Feeds AREA_PER_WORKSTATION. Applies to office components.

CLASSROOM_COUNT

Number of teaching classrooms, as a count. Feeds AREA_PER_CLASSROOM. Applies to education components.

SEAT_COUNT

Number of fixed or planned assembly seats, as a count. Feeds AREA_PER_SEAT and cost per seat. Applies to assembly, civic, performance, and worship components.

PARKING_SPACE_COUNT

Number of parking stalls, as a count across all levels. Feeds AREA_PER_PARKING_SPACE and PARKING_RATIO. Attach to the parking component where one exists.

ELEVATOR_COUNT

Number of elevator cabs, passenger and service combined, as a count. A vertical-transportation adequacy and core-cost benchmark against the units or beds served. Applies to any mid- or high-rise building.

LOADING_DOCK_COUNT

Number of truck dock positions, as a count. A throughput benchmark for industrial and warehouse buildings; also relevant to data centers, hospitals, and large retail.

COOLING_CAPACITY

Installed mechanical cooling capacity, in tons of refrigeration, as total connected plant capacity. Feeds COOLING_TO_IT_RATIO on data centers and area-per-ton comparisons on any conditioned building.

GENERATOR_CAPACITY

Installed standby or emergency generation, in kilowatts of nameplate capacity. Benchmarked against IT_LOAD_CAPACITY on data centers and per bed on hospitals. Applies to healthcare, data centers, labs, and high-rise buildings.

AIR_HANDLING_CAPACITY

Total installed supply-air capacity, in cubic feet per minute (CFM), as the sum of air-handling unit design airflows. Feeds VENTILATION_INTENSITY. Applies to pharmaceutical, healthcare, and lab projects.

DEPARTMENT_GROSS_AREA

Departmental gross area (DGSF), in square feet — each clinical department's area including intra-department circulation, excluding inter-department circulation and building support. Feeds GROSSING_FACTOR, AREA_PER_OPERATING_ROOM, and AREA_PER_EXAM_ROOM. Healthcare projects only.

OPERATING_ROOM_COUNT

Number of full surgical operating rooms, as a count, excluding procedure rooms. Feeds AREA_PER_OPERATING_ROOM and cost per OR. Healthcare projects only.

PROCEDURE_ROOM_COUNT

Number of interventional and procedure rooms short of a full OR — cath labs, endoscopy, interventional radiology, imaging — as a count. With OPERATING_ROOM_COUNT it sizes the interventional platform. Healthcare projects only.

EXAM_ROOM_COUNT

Number of outpatient exam and consult rooms, as a count. Feeds AREA_PER_EXAM_ROOM. Applies to clinical and outpatient components.

LAB_MODULE_COUNT

Number of standard laboratory planning modules (typically a 10–11 ft structural bay), as a count. The planning denominator for lab area and fume-hood density. Applies to lab and pharmaceutical projects.

CLEANROOM_AREA

Floor area of ISO 14644-classified space (ISO Class 8 or cleaner), in square feet, summed across suites regardless of grade. Feeds CLEANROOM_FRACTION. Applies to pharmaceutical, GMP, semiconductor, and sterile-processing projects.

FUME_HOOD_COUNT

Number of fume hoods, as a count. A proxy for exhaust and make-up air demand that drives AIR_HANDLING_CAPACITY and lab MEP cost. Applies to lab and pharmaceutical projects.

IT_LOAD_CAPACITY

The critical IT electrical load the facility is designed to serve, in kilowatts — UPS-backed load at full build-out, excluding mechanical and house loads. The defining data center size metric; feeds POWER_DENSITY, POWER_PER_RACK, and COOLING_TO_IT_RATIO. Data center projects only.

DATA_HALL_AREA

Data hall ("white space") floor area, in square feet — raised-floor or slab IT space, excluding electrical and mechanical gray space. Feeds DATA_HALL_FRACTION and POWER_DENSITY. Data center projects only.

RACK_COUNT

Number of IT rack positions at full build-out, as a count. Feeds POWER_PER_RACK. Data center projects only.

UPS_CAPACITY

Installed UPS capacity, in kilowatts of module nameplate. With IT_LOAD_CAPACITY it expresses the power redundancy topology (N, N+1, 2N). Data center projects only.

EMBODIED_CARBON_UPFRONT

Total up-front embodied carbon — life-cycle stages A1–A5 — in kgCO₂e, from a whole-building life-cycle assessment. Feeds EMBODIED_CARBON_UPFRONT_INTENSITY. Checkpoint-wide.

EMBODIED_CARBON_WHOLE_LIFE

Total whole-life embodied carbon — life-cycle stages A–C — in kgCO₂e, from a whole-building life-cycle assessment. Feeds EMBODIED_CARBON_WHOLE_LIFE_INTENSITY. Checkpoint-wide.

ANNUAL_ENERGY_USE

Predicted annual energy use, in kBtu per year, from the design energy model. Feeds ENERGY_USE_INTENSITY. Checkpoint-wide.

ANNUAL_WATER_USE

Predicted annual water use, in gallons per year. Feeds WATER_USE_INTENSITY. Checkpoint-wide.

FLOOR_AREA_RATIO

Derived — the checkpoint's GROSS_FLOOR_AREA ÷ SITE_AREA, dimensionless. The standard zoning and density measure of how intensely the site is developed (dense urban mixed-use commonly runs 8–12). Checkpoint-wide.

WALL_TO_FLOOR_RATIO

Derived — GROSS_EXTERIOR_WALL_AREA ÷ GROSS_FLOOR_AREA, dimensionless. The classic envelope-efficiency measure: lower values mean a more compact massing enclosing the same floor area (0.32–0.45 is typical of a concrete mid-rise). Applies to any enclosed building.

WINDOW_TO_WALL_RATIO

Derived — WINDOW_AREA ÷ GROSS_EXTERIOR_WALL_AREA, the fraction of the envelope that is glazed. Balances facade cost, daylight, and thermal performance (0.30–0.45 is a common target band). Applies to any enclosed building; not meaningful for largely windowless types such as data halls and warehouses.

NET_TO_GROSS_RATIO

Derived — NET_FLOOR_AREA ÷ GROSS_FLOOR_AREA, dimensionless. The broadest plan-efficiency measure: how much of the constructed area serves the program directly. Applies to every use type, checkpoint-wide or per component.

RENTABLE_EFFICIENCY

Derived — RENTABLE_FLOOR_AREA ÷ GROSS_FLOOR_AREA, dimensionless. The headline pro-forma efficiency for income-producing buildings — how much of what is built can be leased or sold. Applies to multifamily, office, retail, and mixed-use components.

CIRCULATION_FACTOR

Derived — CIRCULATION_AREA ÷ GROSS_FLOOR_AREA, dimensionless. Flags plans that spend an outsized share of area moving people rather than serving program — a key lever in multifamily corridor planning and healthcare departmental layouts. Applies to every use type.

MECHANICAL_FRACTION

Derived — MECHANICAL_AREA ÷ GROSS_FLOOR_AREA, dimensionless. Separates process-driven buildings from conventional ones: expect it high on pharmaceutical (often 30–50%), healthcare, and data center projects and low on residential. Applies to every use type.

SITE_COVERAGE

Derived — BUILDING_FOOTPRINT_AREA ÷ SITE_AREA, dimensionless. The share of the site the building occupies at grade — a massing and zoning measure that pairs with FLOOR_AREA_RATIO. Checkpoint-wide.

AREA_PER_UNIT

Derived — GROSS_FLOOR_AREA ÷ UNIT_COUNT, in square feet per dwelling unit. Captures unit sizing plus the plan efficiency wrapped around it; read alongside RENTABLE_EFFICIENCY to separate the two. Residential and multifamily components.

AREA_PER_BED

Derived — GROSS_FLOOR_AREA ÷ BED_COUNT, in square feet per bed (BGSF per bed). The canonical hospital sizing benchmark. Applies to healthcare and senior living.

AREA_PER_KEY

Derived — GROSS_FLOOR_AREA ÷ KEY_COUNT, in square feet per key. The standard hospitality sizing benchmark, sensitive to amenity and back-of-house program. Hospitality components.

AREA_PER_WORKSTATION

Derived — NET_FLOOR_AREA ÷ WORKSTATION_COUNT, in square feet per seat. The workplace density benchmark. Office components.

AREA_PER_CLASSROOM

Derived — GROSS_FLOOR_AREA ÷ CLASSROOM_COUNT, in square feet per classroom. A program-efficiency benchmark for education projects.

AREA_PER_SEAT

Derived — GROSS_FLOOR_AREA ÷ SEAT_COUNT, in square feet per seat. The sizing benchmark for assembly, civic, and performance venues.

AREA_PER_PARKING_SPACE

Derived — a parking component's GROSS_FLOOR_AREA ÷ PARKING_SPACE_COUNT, in square feet per stall. The structured-parking efficiency measure (typically 300–400 square feet per stall). Parking components.

PARKING_RATIO

Derived — PARKING_SPACE_COUNT ÷ UNIT_COUNT, in stalls per dwelling unit. The residential parking-provision benchmark; per-bed and per-key analogues derive the same way. Multifamily and mixed-use.

AMENITY_AREA_PER_UNIT

Derived — AMENITY_AREA ÷ UNIT_COUNT, in square feet per dwelling unit. A market-positioning benchmark for multifamily and senior living.

GROSSING_FACTOR

Derived — GROSS_FLOOR_AREA ÷ DEPARTMENT_GROSS_AREA, dimensionless. The building grossing factor: how much whole-building area each square foot of clinical department requires once inter-department circulation and support are added. A core healthcare planning-efficiency benchmark. Healthcare projects only.

AREA_PER_OPERATING_ROOM

Derived — the surgical component's DEPARTMENT_GROSS_AREA ÷ OPERATING_ROOM_COUNT, in square feet per OR. Sizes the surgical platform. Healthcare projects only.

AREA_PER_EXAM_ROOM

Derived — the clinical component's DEPARTMENT_GROSS_AREA ÷ EXAM_ROOM_COUNT, in square feet per exam room. The clinic-module efficiency benchmark for outpatient work. Healthcare projects only.

POWER_DENSITY

Derived — IT_LOAD_CAPACITY ÷ DATA_HALL_AREA, in watts per square foot of data hall. The headline density measure of a data center design; rising rack densities (liquid cooling, AI loads) push it up sharply. Data center projects only.

POWER_PER_RACK

Derived — IT_LOAD_CAPACITY ÷ RACK_COUNT, in kilowatts per rack. Distinguishes conventional enterprise halls (roughly 5–10 kW per rack) from high-density and AI halls (30 kW and beyond). Data center projects only.

COOLING_TO_IT_RATIO

Derived — COOLING_CAPACITY (converted to kilowatts; one ton of refrigeration ≈ 3.52 kW) ÷ IT_LOAD_CAPACITY, dimensionless. Expresses cooling redundancy and efficiency against the critical load. Data center projects only.

DATA_HALL_FRACTION

Derived — DATA_HALL_AREA ÷ GROSS_FLOOR_AREA, dimensionless. The white-to-gross share: how much of the building is revenue-generating IT space versus electrical, mechanical, and support gray space. Data center projects only.

CLEANROOM_FRACTION

Derived — CLEANROOM_AREA ÷ GROSS_FLOOR_AREA, dimensionless. The classified share of the building — the single strongest cost driver on pharmaceutical and GMP work. Pharmaceutical, GMP, and semiconductor projects.

VENTILATION_INTENSITY

Derived — AIR_HANDLING_CAPACITY ÷ GROSS_FLOOR_AREA, in CFM per square foot. Captures how air-change-driven the building is; cleanroom and healthcare programs run far above commercial norms. Pharmaceutical, healthcare, and lab projects.

EMBODIED_CARBON_UPFRONT_INTENSITY

Derived — EMBODIED_CARBON_UPFRONT ÷ GROSS_FLOOR_AREA (converted to square metres), in kgCO₂e per m² — the unit embodied-carbon targets are quoted in. The standard up-front carbon benchmark. Checkpoint-wide.

EMBODIED_CARBON_WHOLE_LIFE_INTENSITY

Derived — EMBODIED_CARBON_WHOLE_LIFE ÷ GROSS_FLOOR_AREA (converted to square metres), in kgCO₂e per m². Whole-life carbon on a comparable per-area basis. Checkpoint-wide.

ENERGY_USE_INTENSITY

Derived — ANNUAL_ENERGY_USE ÷ GROSS_FLOOR_AREA, in kBtu per square foot per year: the energy use intensity (EUI), the standard operational-energy benchmark. Checkpoint-wide.

WATER_USE_INTENSITY

Derived — ANNUAL_WATER_USE ÷ GROSS_FLOOR_AREA, in gallons per square foot per year: the water use intensity (WUI). Checkpoint-wide.

A unit of measure a contributed value may be expressed in, grouped by dimension. A metric value's unit must match the dimension of its metric (an area unit for GROSS_FLOOR_AREA, a power unit for IT_LOAD_CAPACITY); incompatible pairings are rejected. Each Metric's description states the canonical unit values are normalized to for benchmarking.

COUNT

SQUARE_FEET

SQUARE_METERS

FEET

METERS

CUBIC_FEET

CUBIC_METERS

KILOWATTS

MEGAWATTS

TONS_REFRIGERATION

Tons of refrigeration (cooling).

CFM

Cubic feet per minute.

CUBIC_METERS_PER_HOUR

LITERS_PER_SECOND

KBTU_PER_YEAR

KILOWATT_HOURS_PER_YEAR

GALLONS_PER_YEAR

CUBIC_METERS_PER_YEAR

KG_CO2E

Kilograms of CO₂ equivalent.

METRIC_TONS_CO2E

Metric tons of CO₂ equivalent.

The currency a cost is expressed in. Costs are normalized for currency, time, and location before benchmarking.

USD

EUR

GBP

CAD

What a metric value can be attached to: a project-wide checkpoint, or a single use-type component.

The primary use of a project. Choose the single closest category.

ADVANCED_TECHNOLOGY

AEROSPACE

AFFORDABLE_HOUSING

AGRICULTURAL

AIRPORT_TRAFFIC_CONTROL_TOWER

AQUARIUM

ARENA_EVENT_CENTER

AVIATION_AND_TRANSPORTATION

BIOTECH_LIFE_SCIENCES

BRIDGE

CALL_CENTER

CAR_RENTAL_FACILITY

CASINO

COMMERCIAL_AND_RETAIL

CONVENTION_CENTER

CORPORATE

CORRECTIONAL_FACILITY_JAIL_PRISON

COURTHOUSE

CULTURAL_AND_PERFORMING_ARTS

DAMS_AND_RESERVOIRS

DATA_CENTER

DENTAL

EDUCATION

ENTERTAINMENT

FEDERAL

FOOD_AND_BEVERAGE

GOVERNMENT

GYMNASIUM

HANGAR

HEALTHCARE

HIGHER_EDUCATION

HOSPITAL

HOSPITALITY_AND_GAMING

HOTEL_INN_RESORT

INDUSTRIAL

INFRASTRUCTURE_HEAVY_CIVIL

JUSTICE

K_12

LIBRARY

MAINTENANCE_FACILITY

MANUFACTURING

MASS_TRANSIT

MEDICAL_OFFICE_BUILDING

MENTAL_HEALTH

MILITARY

MINING

MISSION_CRITICAL

MIXED_USE

MULTI_FAMILY

MUNICIPAL

MUSEUM

NATATORIUM_INDOOR_POOL

OFFICE

OIL_AND_GAS

OTHER

PARKING_STRUCTURE

PEOPLE_MOVER

PETROCHEMICAL

PHARMACEUTICAL

PHARMACY

POWER_GENERATION

PUMP_STATION

RAILWAY

RELIGIOUS

RENEWABLE_ENERGY

RESEARCH_AND_DEVELOPMENT_LABORATORY

RESIDENTIAL

RETAIL_AND_RESTAURANT

ROADWAY_HIGHWAY

RUNWAY_TAXIWAY

SENIOR_LIVING

SINGLE_FAMILY

SPECIAL_OPERATIONS

SPORTS

STADIUM

STATE

STUDENT_HOUSING

TENANT_IMPROVEMENT

TERMINAL

THEATER

THEME_PARKS

TRANSIT_STATION

TUNNEL

WAREHOUSE

WASTEWATER_TREATMENT_PLANT

WATER_TREATMENT_PLANT

WATER_WASTEWATER

ZOO

Where a project is in its lifecycle.

DESIGN

CONSTRUCTION

COMPLETE

The design phase a checkpoint corresponds to.

CONCEPT

Concept / pre-design.

SD

Schematic Design.

DD

Design Development.

CD

Construction Documents.

GMP

Guaranteed Maximum Price.

Whether a project is privately or publicly owned and funded.

PRIVATE

PUBLIC

FEDERAL

The labor wage basis for the construction work.

UNION

OPEN_SHOP

How a project is contracted and delivered.

DESIGN_BID_BUILD

DESIGN_BUILD

CM_AT_RISK

Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR).

CM_AGENCY

Construction Manager as Agent.

IPD

Integrated Project Delivery.

P3

Public-Private Partnership.

Whether the work is new construction or modifies an existing building.

NEW

RENOVATION

TENANT_IMPROVEMENT

A project's energy or sustainability certification target.

CODE_MINIMUM

LEED_CERTIFIED

LEED_SILVER

LEED_GOLD

LEED_PLATINUM

NET_ZERO

LIVING_BUILDING

Living Building Challenge.

The overall finish and quality level, ordered from economy to luxury.

ECONOMY

STANDARD

ABOVE_STANDARD

PREMIUM

LUXURY

Degree of site difficulty — subsurface conditions, and/or grade variation.

NONE

MINOR

MODERATE

SIGNIFICANT

SEVERE

The primary HVAC generation approach.

PACKAGED_ROOFTOP

Packaged rooftop units (RTU).

VAV_CENTRAL_PLANT

VAV with a central plant.

CHILLED_WATER_VRF

Chilled water or VRF.

GEOTHERMAL_HEAT_PUMP

Geothermal heat pump.

DISTRICT_ENERGY

District energy.

Expected subsurface / bearing conditions and the foundation type they imply.

GOOD

Good — shallow spread footings.

AVERAGE

Average — mat foundation.

POOR

Poor — deep foundations / piles.

VERY_POOR

Very poor — caissons / special foundations.

ASCE 7 seismic design category for the site, from A (lowest) to F (highest).

A

B

C

D

E

F

Level of life-safety, security, and protective design.

STANDARD

ENHANCED

HIGH_SECURITY

BLAST_PROGRESSIVE_COLLAPSE

Blast- / progressive-collapse-resistant design.

DETENTION

The broad US region a project falls in.

WEST

SOUTHWEST

MOUNTAIN

MIDWEST

SOUTHEAST

NORTHEAST