> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.strata.hendersonengineers.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.strata.hendersonengineers.com/workflows/mechanical-planning/spaces.md).

# Spaces

Create, edit, and configure spaces for mechanical planning.

Spaces are the base unit of the system hierarchy. Each space represents a discrete room or area in the building.

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## Creating spaces

**In Canvas view:** Use a drawing tool (Polygon `P`, Rectangle `R`, or Plop Fill `F`) to draw a boundary on the floor plan. A new space is created from the geometry.

**In Data view:** Press `S` to add a blank space row, then assign a name and space type.

**From CSV or Excel:** Press `I` in Data view to import multiple spaces from a file. Note that importing **overwrites** the existing space list — see [Data View → Importing](/workflows/mechanical-planning/data-view.md#importing-spaces-from-csv-or-excel).

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## Space attributes

Space fields appear in the right detail panel when a space is selected:

| Field                | Unit       | Description                                                                |
| -------------------- | ---------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Space Name           | —          | Space label (e.g., Room 101, Gym, Main Office)                             |
| Space Type           | —          | Category that drives design-criteria defaults (e.g., Classroom, Gymnasium) |
| Floor                | —          | The floor this space is on                                                 |
| Zone                 | —          | The zone this space belongs to (if any)                                    |
| Source               | —          | The source serving this space's zone (if any)                              |
| Airflow Density      | CFM/ft²    | Airflow assumption for the space                                           |
| Cooling Load Density | ft²/Ton    | Cooling assumption for the space                                           |
| Heating Load Density | BTU/h\*ft² | Heating assumption for the space                                           |

The three density fields arrive pre-filled — Airflow Density from the space type, and the two load densities from the project's basis of design. **They are editable.** Type over a value to override it for this space, or clear the field to go back to the inherited default. Selecting a space also shows its calculated **Cooling Load** and **Heating Load** — see [Loads and Densities](/workflows/mechanical-planning/loads-and-densities.md).

> 📸 **Screenshot — Space detail panel** A selected space with the right detail panel showing Space Name, Space Type, Floor, Zone, Source, and the Airflow Density, Cooling Load Density, and Heating Load Density fields with one of them overridden.

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## Placed vs. unplaced

A space is **placed** when it has geometry on the canvas. A space created in the Data view without drawing is **unplaced**.

Unplaced spaces are listed separately in the left Layers tree. To place one, select it and draw its boundary in Canvas view.

Once placed, a space's geometry is the source of its area — area is not entered manually.

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## Assigning to a zone

Spaces are grouped into zones. See [Zones](/workflows/mechanical-planning/zones.md) to assign and ungroup.

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## Deleting a space

* **Canvas view:** select the space → `Delete`
* **Data view:** select the row → `Delete`

Deleting a placed space removes its geometry. If it was in a zone, it's removed from that zone and zone tonnage recalculates.

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## Related

* [Canvas View](/workflows/workspace/canvas-view.md)
* [Data View](/workflows/mechanical-planning/data-view.md)
* [Zones](/workflows/mechanical-planning/zones.md)
* [Loads and Densities](/workflows/mechanical-planning/loads-and-densities.md)
* [Copy and Clone Spaces](/workflows/workspace/copy-and-clone-spaces.md)
* [Floors](/workflows/workspace/floors.md)