mixed-use-programming - SKILL.md Agent Skill

name: mixed-use-programming description: >- Develop land use programs and optimize the mix of uses for urban districts, neighborhoods, and individual buildings. Use when the user asks about land use programming, use mix ratios, program distribution, retail sizing, office space requirements, residential-commercial balance, anchor tenant strategy, community facility planning, or when developing a development program for a site. Also use when the user needs to determine what uses go where, how much of each use is needed, or how to create vibrant mixed-use environments.

Mixed-Use Programming Skill

You are an expert in mixed-use development programming with deep knowledge of urban economics, real estate demand drivers, community facility planning, and the spatial requirements of every land use type. You develop programs that create vibrant, economically viable, and socially complete neighborhoods and districts.

1. Land Use Categories

Classify all program elements into the following standard categories and subcategories. Every development program should explicitly list the subcategories being included and their floor areas.

RESIDENTIAL

Subcategory	Description	Typical Unit Size (NIA)
Studio / Efficiency	Single room + kitchen + bath	25 - 40 m2
1-Bedroom	Living + 1 bed + kitchen + bath	40 - 60 m2
2-Bedroom	Living + 2 bed + kitchen + bath	60 - 90 m2
3-Bedroom+	Living + 3+ bed + kitchen + bath(s)	90 - 140 m2
Affordable (30 - 80% AMI)	Same typologies, income-restricted	Same sizes, policy-mandated percentage
Senior / Elderly	Accessible units, communal facilities, care support	35 - 65 m2 per unit
Student Housing	Small units or shared, near campus/transit	15 - 30 m2 per bed
Co-living	Private room, shared kitchen/living	12 - 25 m2 private + shared space
Serviced Apartments	Hotel-like services, longer stay	30 - 70 m2 per unit

COMMERCIAL

Subcategory	Description	Typical Module
Convenience Retail	Grocery, pharmacy, bakery, convenience store	200 - 2,000 m2 per unit
Comparison Retail	Fashion, electronics, homewares, specialty	50 - 500 m2 per unit
Destination Retail	Department store, furniture, large-format	2,000 - 20,000 m2 per unit
Food & Beverage	Restaurant, cafe, bar, fast-casual	50 - 500 m2 per unit
Office Class A	Premium, new build, full amenities, prime location	200 - 50,000 m2 per floor plate
Office Class B	Good quality, older or secondary location	200 - 20,000 m2 per floor plate
Office Class C	Basic, budget, older buildings	100 - 5,000 m2 per floor plate
Hotel / Hospitality	Guest rooms, lobby, F&B, conference, wellness	25 - 45 m2 per room (varies by class)
Co-working	Shared workspace, meeting rooms, amenities	6 - 10 m2 per desk

CIVIC / INSTITUTIONAL

Subcategory	Description	Typical Size
Early Childhood Center	Childcare, pre-school (0 - 5 years)	200 - 1,000 m2 building, 0.2 - 0.5 ha site
Primary School	Elementary education (5 - 11 years)	2,000 - 8,000 m2 building, 1.0 - 2.0 ha site
Secondary School	Middle/high school (11 - 18 years)	5,000 - 20,000 m2 building, 3.0 - 5.0 ha site
Tertiary / Training	University campus, vocational training	Varies widely
Health Clinic	GP, dentist, pharmacy, basic diagnostics	500 - 2,000 m2
Community Center	Multi-purpose hall, meeting rooms, offices	800 - 2,500 m2
Library Branch	Books, digital access, study, events, community	500 - 2,000 m2
Place of Worship	Varies by faith; gathering hall, offices, community space	200 - 5,000 m2
Cultural Facility	Gallery, theater, museum, performance space	500 - 10,000+ m2
Government Services	Offices, service counters, meeting rooms	500 - 5,000 m2

RECREATION

Subcategory	Description	Typical Size
Sports Fields	Football, cricket, rugby, athletics	1.0 - 3.0 ha per field
Sports Courts	Tennis, basketball, netball, futsal	500 - 2,000 m2 per court
Swimming Pool	Indoor or outdoor, competition or leisure	1,500 - 5,000 m2 building, 0.5 - 1.0 ha site
Indoor Gym / Fitness	Commercial or community gym	500 - 3,000 m2
Parks and Gardens	See public-space-design skill	0.1 - 50+ ha
Amphitheater / Event Space	Outdoor performance and events	1,000 - 10,000 m2

INFRASTRUCTURE

Subcategory	Description	Typical Size
Structured Parking	Multi-level garage	25 - 35 m2 per space (inc. access)
Surface Parking	At-grade lot	25 - 30 m2 per space (inc. access)
Underground Parking	Below-grade garage	30 - 40 m2 per space (inc. access, ramps)
Transit Facility	Bus stop, tram stop, metro station	Varies
Utility / Services	Substation, pump station, telecom	Varies
Waste Management	Collection point, recycling center	50 - 500 m2
Logistics / Last-mile Delivery	Micro-hub, locker facility	200 - 2,000 m2

2. Mix Optimization Framework

Determining the right mix of uses requires balancing demand analysis, supply constraints, standards, and the qualitative goal of creating a vibrant, 24-hour place.

2.1 Demand-Driven Analysis

Demographic Analysis:

Current and projected population by age, household type, and income
Household size distribution determines unit mix (1-person households = studios/1BR; families = 2-3BR+)
Income distribution determines affordability requirements and retail/F&B spending capacity
Employment projections determine office and commercial space demand

Market Study Inputs:

Residential absorption rate: how many units per year can the local market absorb? (typically 50 - 200 units/year in a mid-sized market, 200 - 1,000+ in a major city)
Office absorption: how much new office space is being leased per year? (5,000 - 30,000+ m2/year in growing markets)
Retail vacancy rate: if existing vacancy is above 10%, new retail supply should be cautious
Hotel occupancy: if existing occupancy is above 70%, there may be capacity for new rooms
Visitor/tourist projections: drive hotel, F&B, and destination retail demand

Spending Capacity:

Retail spending per capita: $5,000 - 15,000 / year in developed economies
If a new neighborhood of 10,000 people generates $100M in annual retail spending, and retail achieves $3,000 - 6,000 / m2 in annual sales, the neighborhood supports 17,000 - 33,000 m2 of retail
F&B spending: typically 25 - 40% of total retail spending
This demand will not all be captured locally: assume 30 - 50% capture rate for convenience, 10 - 20% for comparison

2.2 Supply-Driven Constraints

Site Capacity:

FAR (Floor Area Ratio): determines total buildable floor area. FAR 2.0 on a 10 ha site = 200,000 m2 GFA
Height limits: determine maximum floors and therefore maximum density
Coverage/footprint: determines how much of the site is built vs. open space
Setbacks: reduce usable footprint

Infrastructure Capacity:

Water and sewer: calculate demand per use (residential: 150 - 250 L/person/day; office: 50 - 80 L/employee/day)
Transport: peak-hour trip generation by use must not exceed road and transit capacity (see references/land-use-guide.md)
Power: substation capacity for the district
Digital: fiber and telecoms infrastructure

Parking Capacity:

Parking requirements by use (see references/land-use-guide.md)
Parking structures consume significant area: 1,000 parking spaces = approximately 30,000 - 35,000 m2 of structured parking GFA
Reduce parking ratios near transit to free up development capacity

2.3 Standards-Based Benchmarks

UN-Habitat Recommendations:

Residential floor space: 40 - 60% of total district
Economic (commercial + civic) floor space: 40% minimum
Street/public space: 30 - 45% of total land area
Green/open space: 15 - 20% of total land area
Density: 150+ people/ha for efficient transit and services

LEED-ND (Neighborhood Development):

Mixed use: minimum 3 diverse uses within 400m walk for credit
Housing diversity: minimum 3 housing types (size, tenure, price point)
Community facilities accessible within 400m walk

Jane Jacobs' 4 Conditions for Diversity (The Death and Life of Great American Cities):

Mixed primary uses: minimum 2 primary functions that bring people out at different times
Short blocks: block perimeters of 120 - 240m (not exceeding 400m) for pedestrian permeability
Buildings of varied age and condition: mix of new and old allows diverse economic uses
Sufficient density: enough people to support diverse uses (she cited 100+ dwellings/acre in some contexts)

2.4 The 24-Hour Neighborhood Test

A well-mixed neighborhood generates activity at all times. Test the proposed mix against this framework:

Time Period	Primary Use Generating Activity	Supporting Uses
6 - 9 AM (Weekday)	Residential (departures), Office (arrivals)	Cafe, convenience retail, transit
9 AM - 12 PM (Weekday)	Office, Institutional	Retail, F&B, services
12 - 2 PM (Weekday)	Office (lunch), Institutional	F&B, retail, parks
2 - 5 PM (Weekday)	Office, School (departures)	Retail, services, play areas
5 - 8 PM (Weekday)	Residential (arrivals), F&B, Fitness	Retail (late), cultural, entertainment
8 - 11 PM (Weekday)	Residential, Hotel, F&B/Bars	Cultural (theater, cinema), entertainment
11 PM - 6 AM	Residential, Hotel	Late-night F&B (limited)
Weekend daytime	Residential, Visitors, Market	Parks, F&B, retail, cultural, sports
Weekend evening	Residential, Visitors	F&B, cultural, entertainment, events

Red flags: If any time period shows no activity-generating use, the mix is deficient. Common gaps:

Weekday daytime dead zone: insufficient office or institutional use
Evening dead zone: insufficient residential, F&B, or cultural use
Weekend dead zone: insufficient residential or visitor-attracting uses

3. Use Mix by Context

Use the following recommended ratios as a starting point, then adjust based on demand analysis and site-specific factors.

Recommended Mix Ratios (% of total GFA)

Context	Residential	Office	Retail + F&B	Civic / Institutional	Hotel	Notes
CBD / City Core	20 - 30%	35 - 50%	10 - 15%	5 - 10%	5 - 10%	Office-led; residential provides evening/weekend life
Urban Center	40 - 50%	15 - 25%	10 - 15%	8 - 12%	3 - 8%	Balanced mix; strong residential base with employment
Neighborhood Center	50 - 60%	8 - 15%	8 - 12%	8 - 12%	0 - 3%	Residential-led; local retail and community facilities
Residential Neighborhood	65 - 75%	3 - 8%	5 - 10%	5 - 8%	0 - 2%	Primarily housing with convenience services
Suburban Center	50 - 65%	10 - 20%	8 - 15%	5 - 10%	0 - 5%	Car-oriented; larger format retail, office parks
Transit District (TOD)	35 - 45%	20 - 30%	10 - 15%	8 - 12%	3 - 8%	High density; transit supports all uses
Waterfront	40 - 55%	10 - 20%	10 - 15%	5 - 10%	5 - 10%	Tourism/leisure component; premium residential
Innovation District	25 - 35%	30 - 40%	8 - 12%	10 - 15%	3 - 8%	Research/tech office; live-work; university/R&D anchor
Cultural Quarter	30 - 45%	5 - 15%	10 - 20%	15 - 25%	5 - 10%	Cultural facilities anchor; F&B and gallery retail strong

Land Use Ratios (% of total site area, not GFA)

Component	Min	Recommended	Max
Building footprint	25%	35 - 45%	55%
Streets and circulation	20%	25 - 35%	40%
Public open space (parks, plazas)	10%	15 - 25%	35%
Semi-private open space (courtyards, gardens)	5%	10 - 15%	20%
Surface parking	0%	0 - 5%	15%

4. Retail and Commercial Sizing

4.1 Retail Space Per Capita

Developed economies: 1.5 - 2.5 m2 of retail GFA per person in the catchment
Developing economies: 0.5 - 1.0 m2 per person
Over-retailed markets (US suburban): 4.0+ m2/person - avoid over-supply

4.2 Convenience Retail Sizing

Catchment: 500m radius / 5,000 people minimum Typical components:

Use	Size Range	Threshold Population
Supermarket / grocery	400 - 2,500 m2	3,000 - 5,000 people
Pharmacy	100 - 300 m2	3,000 - 5,000
Bakery / pastry	50 - 150 m2	2,000 - 5,000
Convenience store	100 - 300 m2	1,000 - 3,000
Laundry / dry cleaner	50 - 150 m2	5,000 - 10,000
Hair salon / barber	50 - 150 m2	3,000 - 5,000
Bank / ATM	50 - 200 m2	5,000 - 10,000
Post office / parcel pickup	50 - 200 m2	5,000 - 10,000

Total convenience retail: 1,000 - 4,000 m2 for a neighborhood of 5,000 - 10,000 people

4.3 Comparison Retail Sizing

Catchment: 2 km radius / 25,000+ people Typical components:

Use	Size Range	Threshold Population
Fashion / clothing	100 - 500 m2 per store	10,000 - 25,000
Electronics	200 - 1,000 m2	25,000+
Homeware / furniture	500 - 5,000 m2	25,000+
Bookshop	100 - 500 m2	15,000 - 25,000
Sporting goods	200 - 1,000 m2	25,000+

4.4 Food and Beverage Sizing

F&B per capita: 0.3 - 0.5 m2 GFA per person in the catchment
Seat count: 200 - 350 seats per 10,000 people
Typical mix: 40% restaurants, 30% cafes, 15% fast-casual/takeaway, 15% bars
Average size: cafe 80 - 150 m2, restaurant 150 - 400 m2, bar 100 - 300 m2
F&B needs foot traffic: locate at intersections, transit stops, ground floors of office/residential, facing public spaces

4.5 Office Space Sizing

Per employee (NIA): 10 - 15 m2 traditional; 6 - 10 m2 co-working/hot-desk; 15 - 25 m2 creative/tech
GFA to NIA ratio (office): typically 75 - 85% (15 - 25% core, circulation, plant)
Floor plate: 200 - 2,500 m2 per floor (varies by market and building type)
Employment density: 1 employee per 10 - 15 m2 NIA (traditional), 1 per 6 - 10 m2 (co-working)
Office generates demand for: F&B (lunch), convenience retail, fitness, childcare, transit

4.6 Hotel Sizing

Demand proxy: 1 room per 1,000 visitor-nights per year (from tourism data)
Room size: budget 18 - 22 m2, midscale 25 - 35 m2, upscale 35 - 55 m2, luxury 50 - 100+ m2
GFA per room (including lobby, F&B, back-of-house): 45 - 80 m2 total per key
Typical urban hotel: 100 - 300 rooms; boutique: 30 - 80 rooms
Hotel generates demand for: F&B, retail, transit, event space, wellness

4.7 Ground Floor Design Rules

Active ground floor depth: 8 - 15m for retail, 6 - 10m for cafe/restaurant (deeper = less natural light)
Ground floor ceiling height: 4.0 - 5.0m clear (allows mezzanine, signage, servicing, future flexibility)
Frontage requirements: minimum 6m per retail unit; maximum 15m without an entrance break
Transparency: minimum 60% glazing on ground floor facades facing public space
No blank walls: every ground-floor facade facing a street or public space must be active (retail, F&B, lobby, community use, display window, or at minimum an art wall)
Servicing: rear access for deliveries; no roller shutters or loading docks on primary frontages
Residential ground floors: if residential at ground, elevate 0.5 - 1.0m above sidewalk for privacy, or set back behind a private garden zone (2 - 3m)

5. Community Facility Requirements

Use the following thresholds and sizing formulas to determine when and how large community facilities should be in a development program.

5.1 Education

Facility	Population Threshold	Site Area	Building Area	Service Radius
Early Childhood Center (0 - 5)	1 per 3,000 - 5,000 people	0.2 - 0.5 ha	200 - 1,000 m2	300 - 500m walk
Primary School (5 - 11)	1 per 5,000 - 10,000 people	1.0 - 2.0 ha	2,000 - 8,000 m2	500m walk
Secondary School (11 - 18)	1 per 15,000 - 25,000 people	3.0 - 5.0 ha	5,000 - 20,000 m2	1,000m walk

Sizing formulas:

Early childhood: 3.5 - 5.0 m2 indoor space per child + 7.0 m2 outdoor per child; assume 50 - 100 places per center
Primary: 5.0 - 8.0 m2 per student (building), 10 - 15 m2 per student (site); assume 300 - 600 students
Secondary: 8.0 - 12.0 m2 per student (building), 20 - 30 m2 per student (site); assume 800 - 1,500 students

Co-location: Schools should share facilities (sports fields, halls, libraries) with the community for after-hours use. Design for dual access.

5.2 Healthcare

Facility	Population Threshold	Building Area	Service Radius
GP Clinic / Medical Center	1 per 5,000 - 10,000 people	300 - 1,000 m2	500m - 1 km
Pharmacy	1 per 3,000 - 5,000 people	100 - 300 m2	500m
Dental Clinic	1 per 5,000 - 10,000 people	100 - 400 m2	1 km
Community Health Center	1 per 20,000 - 50,000 people	1,000 - 3,000 m2	2 km
Hospital (general)	1 per 50,000 - 200,000 people	10,000 - 100,000+ m2	5 - 15 km

5.3 Community and Cultural

Facility	Population Threshold	Building Area	Service Radius
Community Center	1 per 10,000 - 15,000 people	800 - 2,500 m2	1 km
Library Branch	1 per 20,000 - 30,000 people	500 - 2,000 m2	1 - 2 km
Place of Worship	Varies (1 per 5,000 - 10,000 typical)	200 - 5,000 m2	Varies
Youth Center	1 per 10,000 - 20,000 people	500 - 1,500 m2	1 km
Senior Center	1 per 15,000 - 25,000 people	300 - 1,000 m2	500m
Performance Venue	1 per 50,000+ people	1,000 - 5,000 m2	City-wide
Art Gallery	1 per 30,000 - 50,000 people	500 - 3,000 m2	2 - 5 km

5.4 Community Center Programming

A typical 1,500 m2 community center should include:

Multi-purpose hall (250 - 400 m2): events, markets, fitness, performances, elections
Meeting rooms x 2 - 3 (30 - 60 m2 each): community groups, classes, tutoring
Kitchen (30 - 50 m2): event catering, cooking classes, community meals
Office (50 - 100 m2): community organization, local council presence
Reception / foyer (50 - 100 m2): information, display, casual meeting
Storage (50 - 100 m2): furniture, event equipment, supplies
Restrooms: sized for hall capacity (1 WC per 25 people)
Outdoor space: terrace, garden, or plaza connection for overflow

6. Vertical Mixed-Use Design

When multiple uses are stacked in a single building, follow these rules.

6.1 Typical Stacking Order (Bottom to Top)

Basement / Below grade: Parking, service, plant rooms, storage
Ground floor: Retail, F&B, lobby (residential or office), community use
Level 1 - 2 (Podium): Office, medical, co-working, hotel lobby, community, childcare
Level 3+ (Tower): Residential or hotel above; office in middle levels

Rationale: Retail needs street frontage and foot traffic (ground only). Office tolerates podium levels with limited natural light on lower floors. Residential benefits from upper floors (views, light, quiet, privacy). Hotel can go anywhere above ground but benefits from views.

6.2 Separate Entries and Cores

Residential entry: dedicated lobby at street level, separate from retail and office; direct access to residential elevators; secure access control
Office entry: dedicated lobby, often grander and more public-facing; separate elevator bank
Retail entry: direct from street at grade; no shared lobbies with residential
Service entry: at rear or side, not visible from primary public frontage; dedicated service elevator for deliveries
Hotel entry: prominent street presence with porte-cochere or canopy; dedicated elevator to guest floors

6.3 Structural Considerations

Column grid: Retail prefers 8 - 10m spans (flexible, open floor plans). Residential prefers 6 - 8m (wall positions). Office prefers 9 - 12m (open plan). Use a transfer structure at the transition (typically at podium roof level).
Floor-to-floor height: Retail ground floor: 4.5 - 5.5m. Office: 3.6 - 4.2m. Residential: 2.8 - 3.3m. Hotel: 3.0 - 3.6m. Parking: 3.0 - 3.3m.
Load-bearing: Retail and parking floors need higher live loads (5 - 10 kPa). Residential typically 2 - 3 kPa.

6.4 Servicing and Logistics

Separate waste collection for residential (domestic) and commercial (trade waste)
Dedicated loading dock for commercial tenants: minimum 1 bay per 5,000 m2 commercial GFA
Residential move-in/move-out logistics: dedicated service elevator and staging area
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems are typically separate for each use (different requirements, metering, and operating hours)

6.5 Podium and Amenity Deck

The roof of the podium (typically Level 3 - 5) is the ideal location for shared amenity:
- Residential amenity: pool, gym, garden, BBQ, lounge, co-working
- Office amenity: terrace, meeting rooms, outdoor workspace
- Shared: can be combined if access is controlled
Podium roof level often provides the largest continuous outdoor space in a high-rise mixed-use building

7. Reference Links

Use the following reference for detailed space standards, parking rates, trip generation, revenue assumptions, phasing logic, and absorption rates:

Detailed land use guide: See references/land-use-guide.md for comprehensive space standards per use, parking and trip generation rates, revenue and cost assumptions, phasing logic, and absorption rates.

Key External References:

Jane Jacobs, "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" (1961) - the foundational text on mixed-use urbanism
UN-Habitat, "A New Strategy of Sustainable Neighbourhood Planning: Five Principles" (2014)
ULI (Urban Land Institute), "Mixed-Use Development Handbook" (2003)
ITE Trip Generation Manual (10th Edition) - vehicle trip rates by land use
LEED-ND v4 Reference Guide - mixed-use and diversity credits
Congress for the New Urbanism, "Sprawl Repair Manual" by Galina Tachieva (2010)
Steuteville & Langdon, "New Urbanism: Best Practices Guide" (4th Edition)
NACTO Transit Street Design Guide (2016) - transit-oriented mixed-use design
World Bank, "Planning, Connecting, and Financing Cities-Now" (2013)