Bathroom Placement

[exnihilo]

I'm working on opening a 6,000 sq. ft. building with two floors. Each floor has a male and a female bathroom, but the current configuration is sorta off balance or lacking I believe.

Currently, I'm working with an architect who is drawing up plans to submit for a renovation permit, so I'd like to figure something out with the bathrooms if needed. The architect's firm really only had general advice (an even amount of fixtures), nothing specific to a nightclub.

First Floor Male Bathroom: One sink, one urinal, one toilet behind a door.
First Floor Female Bathroom: One sink, one toilet.

Second Floor Male Bathroom: One sink, one urinal.
Second Floor Female Bathroom: Three sinks, three doored toilet enclosures.

Well, I know no one can tell me how different fixtures will effect the eventual occupancy load my building will receive due to city differences, but I do want to know if a balancing act is to be played, what kind of rules of the thumb any of you have ever used when it comes to determining a number of fixtures between male and female bathrooms?

[clubdesign]

here in Chicago we do have a code that we follow. The code is broke down per sf and the numbers may surprise you. We are required to have an equal number of units for men and women.
For a 6000 sf space assume 1500 sf is back of the house, this leaves you with 4500 sf or a capacity in the neighborhood of 300 patrons. For this we would figure 6 stalls per sex minimum. You may want to use a single handicap to meet ada but we try and do seperate facilities if possible.
I would highly recommend you pay close attention to the ladies room and actually overspend in this area. If a woman is not comfortable in your bathroom do you think her and her girlfriends will come back? Make them feel like they should , they are the lifeblood of a good club

[intensity]

You will need to check with your local code for number of urinals etc for your floor plan. The City will tell you exactly how many urinals and stalls are required. They may have a minimum per number of bathrooms also.

For instance let's say you only have one men's room, they may require you have 3 urinals, 3 stalls and 3 sinks. If you have two men's bathrooms they may require you to have a minimum of 2 of each in each bathrom, maybe more. Every region is different. Usually these building codes are spelled out in detail. Your architect should be fully aware of the building codes in your area.

Don't overlook the details. You're gonna be pissed when you finish the project and an inspector walks through and tells you you are short some stalls or urinals and you get to sink another 20k into what you thought was a finished project. Also, don't go by the existing fixtures. Codes change and the place you are renevating may be out of code and grandfathered in, which you will not be.