What is the required ventilation for a 15,000 sq. ft. college auditorium?

The correct choice is based on the understanding of ventilation requirements for spaces such as a college auditorium. For auditoriums, ventilation rates are typically calculated based on the occupancy load, the intended use of the space, and specific guidelines like ASHRAE standards.

In this context, a common approach is to determine the amount of fresh air required to maintain indoor air quality. A common rule of thumb for auditoriums is to use a ventilation rate of approximately 15 CFM (cubic feet per minute) per person.

Assuming an occupancy density typically ranges from 15 to 20 sq. ft. per person, one can estimate the number of occupants for a 15,000 sq. ft. space. If we take an average occupancy of one person per 15 sq. ft., that would lead to an estimated occupancy of about 1,000 persons. Using the ventilation rate of 15 CFM per person results in a total ventilation requirement of approximately 15,000 CFM.

However, additional factors, such as potential higher use cases, multi-purpose functionalities, or specific design considerations (like adhering to updated ASHRAE guidelines), could result in increased ventilation needs. This can lead to adjustments that point toward the higher figure