Austin commercial real estate · October 23, 2026
Building Measurement Questions for Austin Commercial Real Estate Owners
By Adam Boskovich | Austin, Texas | Senior Account Director, Stevenson Systems
Commercial real estate decisions often begin with a number: the building’s reported square footage. That figure can influence underwriting, leasing strategy, operating comparisons, and the way an asset is presented to the market.
Based in Austin, Texas, I advise ownership groups, developers, asset managers, property managers, leasing teams, and acquisition teams on building measurement programs. Whether an assignment involves an Austin property or a national portfolio, the practical objective is the same: understand what the area figures represent, how they were developed, and whether the supporting records can be relied upon.
Start with the source of the reported area
An offering memorandum, rent roll, lease abstract, architectural drawing, and measurement report may each present area information differently. Before relying on a figure, identify its source.
Ask when the source was created, whether it reflects the building’s current configuration, and whether the underlying calculations are available. A total without supporting documentation can be difficult to evaluate when questions arise later.
Confirm the measurement methodology
BOMA, REBNY, and IPMS provide recognized approaches to property measurement. The appropriate methodology depends on the property type, intended use, market practice, lease language, and the owner’s objectives.
The important point is not simply which methodology produces a particular result. The team should understand the standard and edition used, the scope of the work, and the assumptions supporting the calculation. That information makes the reported area more defensible and easier to compare.
Reconcile the documents during acquisition review
Acquisition teams examine leases, operating expenses, physical conditions, and market assumptions. Area documentation deserves the same attention.
Compare the measurement report with floor plans, lease exhibits, the rent roll, and other materials used in underwriting. A difference between documents does not automatically indicate additional revenue or value. It identifies a question that should be understood before it becomes part of the ownership baseline.
Keep development and renovation records connected
Austin properties, like assets in other active markets, can change through development, repositioning, tenant improvements, and alterations to shared areas. Those changes can leave older measurement records out of step with the physical building.
Development and construction teams should identify the drawings used, preserve revision dates, document unresolved conditions, and establish what information will be handed to leasing and operations. A measurement report is most useful when the next team can understand its basis and find the supporting files.
Compare like with like across a portfolio
Owners may operate office, industrial, life science, retail, multifamily, and mixed-use properties within the same portfolio. Those assets should not be assumed to share the same measurement basis.
Create a simple inventory showing the methodology, edition, report date, property type, source drawings, and any known exceptions for each asset. This makes inconsistencies visible and helps teams prioritize reviews around acquisitions, renewals, renovations, and other business events.
Establish an ownership record that can be maintained
After a measurement assignment, retain more than the final total. Keep the report, drawings, calculations, relevant correspondence, and subsequent revisions together. Assign responsibility for maintaining the record as the building changes.
Good documentation gives acquisition, asset management, property management, and leasing teams a shared reference point. It also reduces the likelihood that an unexplained number will be carried forward simply because it appeared in an earlier document.
A practical Austin perspective
My work is national in scope, but Austin is now home. The city provides a useful base for advising owners and investment teams in Texas and across the country.
After more than 33 years in commercial real estate, my perspective remains straightforward: reliable building information begins with a clearly defined scope, an appropriate methodology, and records that explain the result. Those fundamentals help teams make better decisions in Austin and in every market where they own or evaluate property.
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General industry perspective. Asset-specific conclusions require review of the applicable records, agreements, and measurement methodology.