The effect of space flexibility and building orientation on grade-B office building occupancy rate in Kampala City

This paper focused on linking the influence of the specifics of building services orientation and space flexibility on the occupancy dynamics of Grade-B office buildings. The paper employed a cross-sectional design, backed with qualitative and quantitative research approaches, on a sample size of 115 respondents including tenants (70), property managers/owners (40), and real estate experts (05). Data collection was through questionnaires and interview guides. Quantitative analysis was done through univariate and bivariate methods buttressed by the use of MS Excel, MS. Word and STATA version 15. The qualitative component employed thematic analysis. The findings indicate a significant relationship between occupancy length and the sufficiency of rentable space to meet business needs. Buildings with bigger rentable spaces had higher occupancy. Lastly, the majority (82.9%) of the tenants could not customize their rentable spaces according to their needs due to restrictions from landlords and property managers, leading to their high mobility. We recommend attention to the design and layout of parking spaces commensurate to the building's capacity and local regulations and ensuring flexibility of floor plans during building designs. A well-designed building with convenient road accessibility, ample parking, attractive amenities, and tenant- focused design can better retain tenants, leading to better building performance.