Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-23
Occupancy Increases
In Office BUILDINGS,
Survey Reveals
Average for Country
Is 1920, Compared
To $685. Lost May

Once building occupancy is still
increasing and the semi-annual sur
vey which the National Association
of Building Owners and Managers
has just completed-with more city
reports tnan ever before-records
an average throughout the country
of 1929 per cent. This compares
with 1895 per cent, as Of last May.
The returns are analysed in the
current isue of "Skyscraper Man
agement." the associations publica-
ton, distributed this week.
After six years, during which sue
cessive increases have carried the
occupancy index from q low Of
72.43 in January, 1894, to the present
level-each survey showing some
improvement-ofilc building occu-
pancy is still below normal, and
there is no talk, save in some
favored spots, of new construction.
Today's vacancy of 1911 per cent
represents 35,110,249 square feet Of
unrented space out Of total Of
2l0.151 ,299 square feet surveyed.
The october study summarizes
returns from 2,423 buildings in Ill
principal cities, and regional figures,
for the most part, reflect the i'm
proved trend. The Southern region
continues to dominate the rental
picture with an average vacancy
of only Ills per cent In 1859 build
ings containing 9,531,744 square feet
Of rentable area. The largest gain,
however, since the past previous
report, was in the New England
region, where 129 buildings, con-
tanning 6,376O9S square feet of
space, showed an occupancy of
1908 per cent, as compared with
1898 per cent in May.
Other Regions.
Other regions reported as follows:
Canada, 87.57 per cent; Middle
Atlantic, 1888 per cent: Midwest
and Northern, 80.65 per cent; North
Central, 8185 per cent; Pacific
INo1 IAi"cSI, oS-oA pei ScIlt, 1dSAliC
Southwest, 8501 per cent, and
Southwest, 1857 per cent
while Office building occupancy
can hardly be said to reflect the
quickened tempo of industrial pro-
duction under the pressure of ma
tional defense activities" states
E. A. Hart of Seattle, chairman of
the National Associations Com
mittee on Renting, lit must be
remembered that the curve of
rental occupancy is slow to respond
to current changes. In this regard
there is frequently lag of IL to
Is months between cause and effect.
Even if industrial output continues
on the upgrade, we can hardly ex-
pect to see the direct results, in
terms of rental occupancy, for quite
some time.
Along with the customary rental
returns, there has been special
listing by member associations of
large units of space in individual
buildings which may be available
for Government uses as defense
needs develop new requirements for
administrative purposes. sssss@
Decentralizing Discussed 4s
1.-THE national association has dis
cuSsed with Government depart
ments the advisability of decentral-
izing some activities now centered
In the National Capital, to make
room for increasing emergency re-
uuirements-this as logical alter
native to the construction of ad-
ditional temporary space which, in
view of the existing surplus around
the country, may serve immediate
needs, but will in the long run
represent an economic loss. This
phase is being thoroughly can
vassed and one of the matters
under advisement in the Division
of Space Control is the possibility
of consolidating Federal agencies
in various cities, grouping them in
existing buildings, as an alternative
to creating additional space through
the erection Of new Federal build
ings.
TT is to be hoped that a policy
will prevail of utilizing to the fullest
extent facilities that now exist,
rather than creating new space
where there is an over-supply."