What is a stacking plan?

Stacking Plan Definition

A stacking plan is a diagram that shows the occupancy distribution across different floors of a commercial building, typically detailing tenant information and the area they occupy. It's used for managing leases, visualizing tenant mix and space utilization, and planning for future vacancies and renewals. This tool helps property managers, owners, and investors in strategic decision-making and assessing the value and stability of real estate investments.

Stacking plans typically include:

  1. Floor-by-Floor Breakdown: The stacking plan provides information for each floor of a building. It shows which tenants occupy specific floors or parts of floors.
  2. Tenant Information: For each occupied space, the stacking plan often includes the tenant's name, the area they occupy (usually in square feet or square meters), and sometimes details about the lease.
  3. Visualization of Occupancy: The plan visually represents the distribution of tenants across the building, showing which areas are leased, which are vacant, and the tenant mix.
  4. Lease Management: By including lease term information, the stacking plan helps manage lease expirations and renewals. It helps predict future vacancies and plan marketing/renovation efforts.
  5. Asset Management and Sales: For asset managers and potential investors, stacking plans provide a quick overview of a building's tenant diversity and lease maturities.
  6. Design and Layout Planning: Stacking plans can also be used to plan or visualize changes in the layout or design of a building for tenant improvements.

Overall, a stacking plan should provide a clear and concise overview of a property's occupancy and lease status. It's a great tool to help property managers, owners, investors, and brokers understand/plan space usage in commercial properties.