The information in this article applies to:
QUESTION
I have a large area that needs to have smaller office spaces within that have ceilings shorter than the main area. How do I create these shorter areas, while being able to create storage space above?
![Extra storage above an office Commercial airplane hangar with office ceiling used for storage](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03012/3012-Featured-13.jpg?1633985121)
ANSWER
Smaller, shorter rooms with storage above can be created within a larger room by using a second floor. For example, if the larger room is going to have 18' ceilings and the smaller rooms will have 9' ceilings, you would create the first floor with a 9' ceiling height and the second floor could be 9' minus the thickness of the ceiling structure of the smaller rooms.
To create the first floor
- Select Edit> Default Settings
from the menu.
- Select Floors and Rooms> Floor Levels> 1st Floor, then click the Edit button.
![Default Settings dialog](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03012/3012-DefaultSettings-13.png?1633985121)
- In the 1st Floor Defaults dialog, specify the desired Ceiling height on the Structure panel.
For this example, 109 1/8" is used.
![Change the ceiling height for first floor defaults as necessary.](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03012/3012-FirstFloorDefaults-13.png?1633985121)
-
Click OK and Done to close the dialogs.
- Select Build> Wall> Straight Exterior Wall
, then click and drag to draw out the exterior walls.
For this example, a 45' x 45' structure is drawn.
- Select Build> Wall> Straight Interior Wall
and then click and drag to draw the interior walls of the space.
For this example, two 12 'x 12' rooms are drawn.
![Small first floor rooms inside a larger structure](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03012/3012-fig3-12.jpg?1633985121)
To create the second floor
- Select Build> Floor> Build New Floor
from the menu.
- In the New Floor dialog that appears, select the Derive new 2nd floor plan from the 1st floor plan option, then click OK.
- In the 2nd Floor Defaults dialog, specify the Rough Ceiling height as well as the Floor Structure for the storage space above the smaller rooms.
![Build a new floor and set the 2nd floor defaults.](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03012/3012-SecondFloorDefaults-13.png?1633985121)
-
Click OK when done to apply the changes and close the dialog.
- With the second floor now active, select Tools> Floor/Reference Display> Reference Display
to turn on the Reference Display feature so that you can see the placement of the walls on floor 1 while working on floor 2.
![Use the reference display to line up the railings with the first floor walls.](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03012/3012-fig5-12.jpg?1633985121)
- Select Build> Railing and Deck> Straight Railing
and click and drag to draw a railing on top of the 1st floor interior walls along the storage area perimeter.
- Select Tools> Floor/Reference Display> Reference Display
to turn off the reference floor display.
There should now be two rooms on the second floor: the smaller storage area above the interior rooms and the big room over the larger area.
![The second floor storage area surrounded by railings](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03012/3012-fig6-12.jpg?1633985121)
- Using the Select Objects
tool, select the larger room on floor 2, then click the Open Object
edit button.
- On the General panel of the Room Specification dialog, use the drop-down menu beside Room Type to select Open Below, then click OK.
![Choose the Open Below Room Type in the Room Specification dialog](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03012/3012-RoomSpec-13.png?1633985121)
- Take a Camera
view to see the results.
![Camera view of a storage loft inside a larger room](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03012/3012-Camera-13.png?1633985121)
A staircase can now be added going up to the storage area, and doors and windows can be added to the interiors rooms located on the first floor.