Block and stack planning in seconds

Block and stack planning is a method used by space planners and facilities managers to visualize and plan the physical spaces within a building or across their real estate portfolio. This approach helps to organize workspaces to support company structures and operational needs.

Modern block and stack planning processes use intuitive software that offers functionality like a drag-and-drop interface, real-time data updates, and integrations with other enterprise systems to help space planners plan, measure, and adapt office layouts. Block and stack planning tools provide a holistic view of space distribution and make it easy to plan and implement changes to offices and workspaces. This strategic workplace management tool supports day-to-day operational efficiencies and plays a critical role in long-term real estate planning.

Block and stack planning can help improve efficient use of space, potentially lowering real estate costs by eliminating unused or underutilized areas. Flexible tools support dynamic changes within the organization, such as shifts toward hybrid work models or department reshuffles. Software like OfficeSpace offers a data-centric approach for making informed decisions about space needs, supporting growth without excessive spending on additional real estate.

Facilities managers, workplace experience managers, space planners, and commercial real estate teams use block and stack space planning tools. This allows them to manage workspaces, and ensure offices are right-sized for potential growth or downsizing.

The process of allocating space to teams is called racking and can be done in block and stack planning tools. With OfficeSpace, you can easily drag and drop teams from one floor to another, with an intuitive “allocation queue.”

Yes! Businesses of any size can benefit from racking and allocating desks and spaces to meet the needs of your employees — whether you have a team 200 or 20,000.

Visual stack planning is when space planners create an interactive visual representation of floors to understand how they are occupied by different departments or teams. 

Visual block planning is when space planners take the rough allocations of teams/departments across floors and sites from a stack plan, and place those teams/departments onto a floor plan.