---
title: "Small Meeting Rooms (151)"
created: 2026-07-01
updated: 2026-07-01
type: concept
status: compiled
namespace: pattern-language
pattern_number: 151
pattern_name: "Small Meeting Rooms"
source_repository: https://github.com/zenodotus280/apl-md
source_url: https://github.com/zenodotus280/apl-md/blob/master/Patterns/Small%20Meeting%20Rooms%20%28151%29.md
license_note: Non-commercial reuse with attribution; see namespace README and source LICENSE.md.
related_patterns:
  - "University as a Marketplace (43)"
  - "Local Town Hall (44)"
  - "Master and Apprentices (83)"
  - "Flexible Office Space (146)"
  - "Small Work Groups (148)"
  - "Light on Two Sides of Every Room (159)"
  - "Sitting Circle (185)"
  - "Different Chairs (251)"
  - "Pools of Light (252)"
  - "The Shape of Indoor Space (191)"
---

# Small Meeting Rooms (151)

> Source pattern from the abridged `apl-md` corpus. Use as a design reference and constraint seed; do not treat as commercial-clean training data.

### Problem
>The larger meetings are, the less people get out of them. But institutions often put their money and attention into large meeting rooms and lecture halls.

### Solution
>Make at least 70 percent of all meeting rooms really small—for 12 people or less. Locate them in the most public parts of the building, evenly scattered among the workplaces.

### Related Patterns
... within organizations and workplaces - [[University as a Marketplace (43)]], [[Local Town Hall (44)]], [[Master and Apprentices (83)]], [[Flexible Office Space (146)]], [[Small Work Groups (148)]], there will, inevitably, be meeting rooms, group rooms, classrooms, of one kind or another. Investigation of meeting rooms shows that the best distribution - both by size and by position - is rather unexpected.

Shape meeting rooms like any other rooms, perhaps with special emphasis on the fact that there must be no glare - [[Light on Two Sides of Every Room (159)]] - and on the fact that the rooms should be roughly round or square, and not too long or narrow - [[Sitting Circle (185)]]. People will feel best if many of the chairs are different, to suit different temperaments and moods and shapes and sizes - [[Different Chairs (251)]]. A light over the table or over the center of the group will help tie people together - [[Pools of Light (252)]]. For the shape of the room in detail, start with [[The Shape of Indoor Space (191)]] ...

---

> [!cite]- Alexander, Christopher. _A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction_. Oxford University Press, 1977, p. 712.
> #APL/confidence/medium
>
> #APL/Building-Patterns/Public-Rooms