The success of an organization depends not only on the professionalism of managers and employees, but also on the correct, thoughtful location of the office. It is important not only the convenience of its location, but also the interior environment and presentable appearance. The well-known proverb works best here: “You meet people by their clothes...”.

What is the category of business center

Offices are often located in business centers; it is worth learning more about their categories. Categories are determined according to several criteria:

• location. This is very important, because how convenient it is for partners and clients to get to your office depends on whether they will want to contact the company at all. This point also includes ease of access - transport communications, parking;
• presentability of the building. Its facade, entrance, etc. Exterior and interior condition;
• area and design features;
• quality of interfloor ceilings, windows, elevators;
• engineering communications: ventilation, air conditioning, communications;
• facility safety;
• infrastructure.

Classification of business centers

The cost of renting premises in a business center directly depends on its class, which is designated by the letters A, B, C.

The most accessible, but far from the most prestigious, are class C business centers. Their premises should have:

1. Ventilation and heating system.
2. Elevator if the building has more than three floors.
3. Security systems and access control.

These are the minimum requirements that such a business center must meet.

• flow-exhaust ventilation;
• possibility to adjust the microclimate;
• fire safety systems;
• video surveillance and 24-hour security;
• location close to transport arteries.

In our country there are additional levels of quality of office premises, they are designated + or -. Example: a class B+ business center will have conditions somewhere between A and B or almost identical to A-. This division is somewhat arbitrary, because in the center there may be something better and something worse.

As for class A business centers, they have everything that the previous ones have. But a couple more points have been added to this:

1. Visibility from main transport routes.
2. Availability of own power supply and emergency diesel generator.

Golden mean

The Shukhov 14 business center belongs to class B+, that is, by renting offices there, you will feel what comfort and convenience are. The infrastructure is developed at a high level, the location is in the center of Moscow. Despite this, the place is quiet, and transport accessibility is characterized as excellent.

The territory occupied by the business center is 1 hectare. There are several buildings with different number of floors to choose from. There is interior finishing according to the class, all engineering communications are present. If you want to show your partners and clients friendliness and openness, come to the Shukhov 14 business center.

In the field of office real estate, as in other areas of activity, there are basic laws and principles. They contribute to more productive cooperation between realtors and brokers and their clients. This is especially important when making transactions for the purchase and sale, rental or rental of premises. The introduced office classes significantly simplify the interaction between brokers and realtors.

general information

To avoid various confusions and eliminate the need for time-consuming additional clarifications, there is a generally accepted division. Office classes (4 in total) have their own characteristics. The system by which categories of commercial premises are distinguished came to Russia from foreign countries. However, the office market has its own subtleties. Therefore, buildings are divided into certain categories. Within each group there is a more specific division into office classes. Later in the article we will consider them in more detail.

Class A office

This is the type of premises that has the highest reputation among the rest. The combined qualities, as a rule, meet the highest requirements. Below we will present the main characteristics that such premises have.

General provisions

Often, offices in this category are located in central administrative regions or in close proximity to them. A significant addition for this type of premises is the most convenient access and accessibility for transport links. The buildings themselves are predominantly business centers. This class includes structures that have just been built or are less than three years old from the date of commissioning. It is also possible to use thoroughly reconstructed buildings that were erected not so long ago.

Regulatory Requirements

It is necessary to comply with the complete and correct execution of the legal package of documents confirming the owners’ right to property and the right to use the building. The management of a premises or group of facilities must be maintained at a professional level and fully comply with international standards.

Architecture development

Most often, a monolithic or metal frame is used, and the height of an individual floor must be at least 3.6 meters. The maximum permissible load on interfloor floors is 450 kg per 1 sq. m.

Design and finishing

The advantage is the openness of the layout. It allows you to change the appearance of the premises according to the requirements stated by the tenant. Thus, the office layout allows:

To embody the individual preferences of the tenant using the highest quality materials.

In addition, modern windows are installed in such offices to maintain a high degree of natural light in the room. It is also important that in class A buildings it is permissible to install only the latest equipment, and there is also a ventilation system and climate control adjustment.

Additional features

To ensure telecommunications, fiber optic materials are used and the services of a reliable provider are connected. For uninterrupted power supply, two independent sources are used or uninterruptible power supply systems are present. A prerequisite for office premises of this class is the presence of a guarded parking lot. For buildings of this level, it is desirable to have two types of parking: underground and above ground. Class A offices have 24-hour perimeter surveillance. High-quality security systems must be installed and the rules for entry into the building are strictly observed. To improve the convenience of staff and the comfort of visitors, complexes of service departments are being formed.

Second category

Premises of this type are mainly business centers that have been in operation for more than 5 years. This type also includes renovated and completely refurbished mansions. Much less often these include reconstructed industrial or administrative buildings erected during the Soviet era, and buildings built in the last 10 years. Class B offices are more popular, since they are in demand on the market due to the absence of radical differences from the category described above. At the same time, their cost is an order of magnitude lower, and accordingly, they are the most profitable for customers. The overall qualities of such buildings must meet certain requirements.

General provisions

The location where a Class B office is located is of great importance. There is a special need for accessibility to transport links. The landscape outside the window is important. Maintaining legal documentation must be as accurate and complete as possible. This is especially true for the right of ownership of a structure and the right to use it. Building management must be maintained at a high level of security. It can be carried out by the building maintenance service, mainly by domestic companies, or by the independent forces of the facility owners.

Exterior

The building has a representative appearance, but there are slight differences with group A. Such buildings cannot boast of exquisite architecture, but the design of the entrance premises is kept at a high level, although without frills.

Interior

An open layout with a large number of corridors is ideal for this type. Finishing is carried out in a standard style using quality materials. Modern ventilation equipment is being installed, and it is possible to use split air conditioning systems. To carry out telecommunications, a fiber-optic connection is laid, and the services of a reliable provider are connected. Maintaining order is maintained by 24-hour security and an automatic security system. Surface parking for cars is available.

Third category

This group includes premises built during the Soviet period and reconstructed for commercial use. As a rule, factories, research institutes and similar facilities fall under this category. If the above classes of offices are distinguished by a convenient location, then the described type is characterized by a different location. Often, a class C office is located in a residential area and is a short distance from metro stations. Often the exterior of buildings is unattractive and, at best, undergoes only cosmetic repairs. The documentation must be completed correctly and in full, but some exceptions are allowed. The layout is standard, with a high number of corridors and load-bearing walls. All interior finishing is carried out only at the initiative of the owners themselves. There is no ventilation, a split system may be present. For telecommunications messages, the services of commercial providers with different reputations are connected, there is a telephone and Internet access. It is possible that there is a complete lack of territory for car parking. The management of the building is fully carried out by the tenants. There may be no service structure at all.

Economy class office

Objects of this type mostly have a negative reputation. Most often they are Soviet-built structures erected more than 15 years ago. They need complete repurposing and major repairs. Such buildings have different locations and can be very far from the transport system.

general characteristics

Unpresentable appearance, often in need of repair work.

Complete absence of air conditioning system.

Outdated communication connections.

Inappropriate layout for office activities.

Lack of security and maintenance personnel.

Office

This term has other meanings, see Office (meanings). The building of the main office (office) of Gazprom in Moscow. Inside the office (office).

Office(English) office) or office(German) Kontor) - a room, building, complex of buildings in which employees of an enterprise (company) work. In the office (office) they receive clients, store and process documents, archives, and the like.

Head office (head office)- office (office) in which the management of the enterprise (company) is located, the location of the central office of the company or enterprise, where the top management of the company or enterprise, directorate, secretariat and other important administrative units are located. The location of the main office is indicated when registering the company. Some refer to their main office as headquarters to add importance, which is a misuse of the term.

An office (office) sometimes also means the office of a manager or employee of a public organization, government agency, enterprise, firm, corporation, and so on.

Classification

For the convenience of business transactions, offices are usually classified into one category or another. The most common is a letter classification, according to which the main categories of office premises are identified: A, B, C, D (A - the highest, D - the lowest class), which are further clarified by adding the symbols “+” and “-” (A+ , A, A-, etc.) or digital indices (A1, A2, etc.). Class assignment is to a certain extent subjective and is made taking into account the following characteristics of the premises:

• Location
• Building type
• Year of construction
• Rights
• Building management
• Constructive decisions
• Interfloor ceilings
• Layout and decoration
• Engineering systems
• Air conditioning and ventilation systems
• Telecommunications
• Parking
• Elevators
• Security
• Infrastructure

Class A offices

One of the types of premises intended for the work of employees, conducting commercial activities, and receiving clients. Such offices are located in the central part of the city, in prestigious new buildings, business centers, which makes Class A offices the most expensive in terms of rent. Typically rented to accommodate senior management personnel, they often perform representative functions.

Class A office tenants are large companies and branches of foreign companies.

Class A offices are characterized by: intended for the management of an international management company, individual decoration of the premises or original design, the latest equipment, the presence of a hall for communication with VIP clients, a reception, a floor height of at least 3.6 m, fiber-optic telecommunications.

Features of buildings in which class A offices are located: the presence of an air conditioning system, its own security service, high-speed elevators, conference rooms, surface and underground parking, cafes, automated life support systems, access control systems to the business center building.

Class offices are classified as A+, A, A- or A1, A2 and A3.

Class B offices

Class B offices are one of the types of premises intended for the work of employees and commercial activities. They are somewhat inferior in level to class A offices, they belong to economy class offices, and are characterized by a lower rental rate. Designed to accommodate the company's core personnel. Class B offices are classified as work premises and not representative premises. They are usually chosen by reputable banks, representative offices of foreign companies, and the media.

Class B offices are located in reconstructed mansions, modern buildings, modernized administrative and industrial buildings from the 60-80s of the 20th century. Some class B offices are located in former business centers of category A, which have undergone a period of 5 years of operation.

Class B buildings have the same parameters as Class A buildings, but the range of services may be narrower. Thus, class B offices are characterized by the presence of surface parking; often there is no automated building management system. Buildings with Class B offices are subject to less stringent requirements for the quality of interior finishing and the level of engineering and ventilation systems.

Class C offices

Category C office in Moscow, 2015

A type of premises that are rented from enterprises, administrative institutions or research institutes for office activities, but were not originally intended for it. Premises of this type often lack a modern air conditioning system, as well as a number of other infrastructure components. Many of them are obsolete and require renovation, but they have basic communications, since the buildings, repurposed as office buildings, have already been in operation for a long period.

Office tenants are small companies and organizations. The buildings are located in residential or not very prestigious areas. Often these are buildings with an outdated facade and interior, so tenants make cosmetic or complete renovations. The access is inconvenient and there is no centralized parking.

A limited range of services for class C offices include: central heating, communications, including the Internet, a toilet on the floor or in the corridor, a regular ventilation system, security, and the presence of a canteen or cafe.

Class D offices

Class D offices are premises in a Soviet-era institute building in a condition “without repair”. Buildings of this type have more negative details than positive ones. In many cases, major repairs are required. Characteristic features of class D: unpresentable appearance, inconvenient layout and outdated communications, lack of air conditioning.

Business Center class "A". What is it, and how does it differ from class "B"???

Oleg

Category-Class A
Category A business centers include buildings that meet the following requirements:
1. Location
Category A business centers are located, as a rule, in the historical center of the city (prestigious business-wise parts of the Central, Admiralteysky, Petrogradsky, Vasileostrovsky districts). These business centers have convenient access roads, excellent views and developed infrastructure.
2. Building
The category A business center occupies a separate specialized building built later than 1990 or completely reconstructed according to international quality standards. The following requirements are imposed on such a building: a high level of repair and finishing work, an effective floor plan in the form of office blocks, the presence of a conference room, a cafe/restaurant, secure surface parking or an underground garage.
3. Communications
Business centers of category A are characterized by high power communications, providing maximum comfort and ease of work. For business centers of this level, it is mandatory to have:
* sources of backup power supply
* centralized air conditioning system
* centralized heating system (including backup autonomous system)
* high-capacity fiber optic communication channels
* high-speed elevators
* unlimited number of telephone lines
* modern fire alarm and fire extinguishing systems.
4. Security
Category A business centers are guarded around the clock, highly professional security uses video surveillance and access control systems, and reception is required.
The management company of a category A business center is a professional company with a well-known brand (more than three years of experience in the office real estate market, has at least three objects under management).
Of the more than one and a half hundred business centers in St. Petersburg that exist today, only a few can be classified as category A (Atrium at Nevsky, 25, The Sweden House, Northern Capital House, White Nights). The first business center in the city that fully meets the highest requirements of this class is Atrium at Nevsky, 25. These business centers have the highest rental rates (at the level of $480 - $800 per sq. m per year and above).
Tenants of office space in such business centers are most often large corporations, financial and banking groups, successful legal, auditing and consulting firms.
Category-class B
Category B business centers include buildings that meet the following requirements:
1. Location
Business centers of category B are located, as a rule, in prestigious commercial and financial districts of the city: parts of the Central, Admiralteysky, Petrogradsky, Vasileostrovsky districts that do not fall into category A, and areas adjacent to the historical center of St. Petersburg - parts of the Vyborg, Krasnogvardeysky, Moscow , Primorsky, Kalininsky districts, with a good location (on embankments, near highways, metro stations).
2. Building
A category B business center occupies a separate specialized building after selective major renovation or cosmetic renovation with a high level of finishing and the use of imported materials. The following requirements are imposed on such a building: effective floor layout, conference room, cafe/restaurant, secure surface parking.
3. Communications
Category B business centers are characterized by a good state of internal communications. For business centers of this level it is mandatory to have:
* air conditioning systems (split system, individual)
* centralized heating system
* fiber optic communication channels
Also, business centers of category B are characterized by the provision of a wide range of additional services.
4. Security

What classes of business centers exist and what do they mean?

Korland Karlovich

There are three main classes of business centers: “A”, “B” and “C”, there are also intermediate “B+” and “C+”, but they are, as a rule, conditional.

Class "C" business centers are usually located on the outskirts of the city, for example, on the territory of some industrial zone. Such centers are poorly guarded and do not always have equipped parking. It is not at all necessary for such centers to have cafes; they can also be located far from the metro and main transport hubs, as if in an inconvenient location.

Class "B" business centers are a good option for medium-sized companies - they have a convenient location and parking, most often on the street, guarded. Developed infrastructure near the business center - there are shops and cafes. Most likely, there is a metro station within walking distance, which is convenient for its employees without cars and visitors.

Finally, class “A” business centers are modern, renovated at an international level, equipped with the latest technology, expensive buildings in the city center. They always have convenient access, and most often have underground parking. The inside is always clean, and they are guarded by the best category 6 specialists, with whom the owners of the center have a contract. Here are the “cream of society” - the offices of leading banks, funds, major Internet projects, trade organizations, and other billionaire companies.

Networker

Business centers and office centers are usually divided into classes A, B+, B, C+, C. In fact, most often the management of a business center decides for itself which class to assign, well, deciding on some parameters of the building, but only some are tested by the qualification commission, where in fact, they assign a class for two years.

What is the difference between a class A business center and class B

Mosin rifle

usually only by the ambitions of the owners
cooler decoration and public spaces
definitely this is all a complete sell-out, not a single class A office that I have seen is such
either the elevators are crap or the finishing is blatantly cheap

Leodavinci

Plus, these are also the most modern sound insulation and ventilation systems and the provision of a certain number of parking spaces for a certain number of square meters of office space. Relatively speaking, per 100 sq m of office there are 2 parking spaces. There are more of these places in class A than in class B.
I agree with the first responder. I haven’t seen class A business centers (really “a” class) even in the center of Moscow...

The new list consists of 26 items.

The Moscow Research Forum announced the update of a number of classification points for office buildings. During the year, the companies included in the Forum discussed the criteria for assessing office buildings and their compliance with modern market requirements. As a result, more than 70% of the classification points were revised in the direction of tightening the requirements for objects.

Let us recall that the Classification of office buildings was developed by the Moscow Research Forum in 2003 and finalized in 2006.

The updated classification consists of 26 points, which group requirements into the main categories: engineering systems, design features, location, parking, property, building management and tenant services. An important innovation was the “Certification” item - the compliance of business centers with international energy efficiency standards, such as BREEAM and LEED. This point is still advisory in nature, but it indicates changes taking place in the market and the growing importance of the environmental efficiency of buildings.

Significant changes have affected the “Parking” item. In connection with the latest changes in the organization of parking space in the city, analysts from five leading international companies have come to the conclusion that it is necessary to change parking requirements. For business centers located within the Garden Ring, the provision of parking spaces has become a recommendation: 1 parking space per 100 sq. m. m of rentable area. For class A and B+ objects located outside the Garden Ring, the supply ratio has become a mandatory parameter:

Between the Garden Ring and the Third Transport Ring: no less than 1/80;

Between the Third Transport Ring and the Moscow Ring Road: no less than 1/60;

Outside the Moscow Ring Road: 1/30 – 1/40 or more.

In general, the requirements for classified buildings have become more stringent. Thus, 7 criteria have become mandatory:

Availability of a central building management system (for class B+)

Availability of heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (for class B-)

The waiting period for elevators is no more than 30 seconds (for class A)

Minimum ceiling height “clean” 2.7 m (for class B+)

The depth of the floor from the window to the “core” should not exceed 10 m (for class A)

Loss coefficient no more than 12% (for class B+)

Availability of an effectively organized reception area (for class A)

The Class B- building classification system has been revised. The building assessment criteria are now mandatory and advisory in nature. To classify a building as a class B- object, all 8 mandatory criteria must be met to ensure safe and fairly comfortable work for office employees:

Availability of heating, ventilation and air conditioning system,

Modern fire safety system,

Availability of modern elevators for buildings of 4 floors or more,

Availability of a video surveillance system and access control to the building,

Use of high-quality materials when decorating common areas and facades,

Availability of organized guarded parking,

Organized building management,

Availability of internal infrastructure, taking into account the existing infrastructure in the immediate vicinity of the building.

In Russia, the classification of office premises was adopted in 2006; it was created according to the Western model and involves dividing all office facilities into three categories: “A” (elite class), “B” (business class) and “C” (economy class). -Class).

Class A offices

The most prestigious office premises belonging to class “A” are executive class offices.

Their fundamental differences:

• modern office center building (not older than 8 years);
• expensive interior decoration that meets the highest European standards, high ceilings, raised floors;
• the presence of modern, convenient elevators in sufficient quantities;
• availability of a central automated ventilation and air conditioning system;
• availability of centralized fire and security alarm systems;
• convenient location (center, transport accessibility);
• enhanced security, including guarded parking, video surveillance, face control;
• professional management;
• high prices (rental rates are above $1000, the cost per square meter is at least $9 thousand).

An example of class “A” offices in Moscow would be premises in the Four Winds Plaza business centers in the city center on Bolshaya Gruzinskaya Street, Aquamarine-2 on Ozerkovskaya Embankment, Citydel Business Center in the Basmanny District, Midland Plaza on Arbat, Gazoil Plaza in Cheryomushki.

An analysis of the commercial real estate market shows that class A offices have about 15% of the demand in this market segment, but they make up more than 71% of the new space commissioned in Moscow in 2007 and the demand for them is gradually growing.

“B” class offices

Class “B” office space is the golden mean; they are mostly in demand by tenants and are the most attractive for buyers of commercial real estate in Moscow at present.

A Class B office is also a high-quality space. Moreover, taking into account the peculiarities of the commercial real estate market, it is customary to single out from this class those premises that have a higher level and label them as a “B+” class office. Class “B” and “B+” offices must have:

• high-quality repairs;
• open floor plan;
• modern elevators;
• modern fire alarm, ventilation and air conditioning systems;
• isolated bathrooms;
• separate parking;
• 24-hour security;
• catering for employees and visitors;
• fiber optic communications, separate telephone lines.

In addition, class “B+” offices are close in properties to class “A” and are characterized by a convenient location, transport accessibility and secure parking, the use of high quality materials in the finishing of the building and premises, modern building security using video surveillance systems, and unified building management.

Examples of class “B” commercial real estate are the offices of the business centers “Tushino”, “Meridian” in the left bank district, “9 acres” in Cheryomushki, “Magistral” in the Khoroshovsky district, “Cascade” in Maryina Roshcha, “Start” in the Basmanny district .

Class “B+” can be seen in the office centers “Derbenevskaya Plaza” in the south of Moscow, “Beautiful House” in the Otradnoe district, “Academichesky” in the southwest, “Old Arbat” in the center of Moscow, etc. Rental rates for such premises are quite high, and purchasing them is a profitable investment, which causes a constant increase in demand in this market segment.

Offices "C" class

Class C office space is one of the most affordable on the commercial real estate market. These administrative spaces are in consistently low demand; their advantage - low rental rates - is appreciated by small companies that are just beginning to develop.

Class “C” offices are most often located in old, repurposed buildings or buildings of existing enterprises and have:

• redecorating;
• elevator (if the building has more than 3 floors);
• cabinet or mixed layout;
• passive ventilation system;
• wooden windows;
• low quality of additional services: catering, security, parking, etc.

It makes sense to use class “C” premises as back offices, branches where clients are not invited, but where certain intra-company activities take place: for example, dispatchers work, accounting is located, etc. Examples of such premises include offices in a business center on the Academician Tupolev embankment, in the building of a business center on Alekseevskaya, as well as numerous areas leased by factories, shops, and educational institutions.

In the last 10 years, a previously unimaginable number of shopping centers have been built. Each of them, trying to attract buyers and tenants, tries to stand out with its name, architecture, infrastructure, concept... The situation is almost the same with business centers.

As a result, attempts were made to somehow systematize various objects into classes and types. The article provides an opportunity to familiarize yourself with this classification.

Classification of business centers

Currently in Russia, there is no single approved classification of buildings that meet or fall under the standards of an office business center (business center). These can be either new buildings (built taking into account the specifics and characteristics approved exclusively in the customer’s design documentation), or completely converted (restored, reconstructed) buildings that are of historical or architectural value for the city, or already outdated administrative buildings (research institutes, buildings and workshops, factories and other government institutions moved out of the city).

Thus, the right to classify new buildings is entirely the responsibility of its owners. The classification of buildings and administrative buildings built several years ago, converted into business centers, causes all sorts of controversy.

Of the most acceptable, we will consider the classification of business centers proposed by the Guild of Managers and Developers of Commercial and Industrial Real Estate (GUD).

Based on the totality of various characteristics, business centers are divided into categories: business center real estate assessment

“Class A” business center;

Business center "class B";

Business center "class C".

In this case, the following are not subject to classification:

objects in which no repair work has been carried out for more than 15 years;

objects that are both partially occupied by tenants and are in the process of reconstruction/redevelopment and have an unfinished appearance;

built-in office space.

It should be noted that “business center” and “office center” have identical names.

Classification

General classification

The most prestigious high-quality buildings, which are such by:

location,

the status of tenants and the level of demand,

level of engineering maintenance and cleaning.

The buildings must be of superior construction/design, and equipped in accordance with the latest technological advances and comfort requirements. Buildings must be new or competitive with new construction and managed by professional management.

Buildings with an average or above average level of construction, equipment, location, and tenant status. The building infrastructure may not always satisfy tenants in terms of quantity and quality of services. Slight obsolescence of buildings is allowed.

Buildings with an average or lower level of construction, equipment, location and tenant status. As a rule, these are outdated or highly worn buildings, possibly functionally improved.

Characteristics are assessed in the following categories:

Location and accessibility

Building components and properties

Building management and level of service provided

And, if the business center by location belongs to class “A”, by the type and technical level of the building - to class “C”, by the level of the management company - to class “B”, then the total class of the object will be “C”.

The classification of business centers in St. Petersburg is somewhat different from the classification adopted in Moscow.