Space Guidelines

The Office of Space Management uses guidelines outlined in the Virginia Campus Planning or Space Management Manual to develop Mason-specific guidelines that are used in planning new or renovated spaces within each space category listed in the University Space Guidelines Table (see below). These space guidelines represent the general guidelines that apply for new construction or renovation projects, and represent maximum allowable square feet for each employee category or space type category. It is understood that variations in space size, or space/office type, may be needed to meet project specific programming needs, particularly for renovation projects in which the project program must be housed within an existing building envelope, or for new space assignments within an existing building. Variations from these guidelines must be approved by the Associate Architect/Planner and the Associate Director, Space Management for each capital or non-capital/small project.

The space guidelines listed in the below chart represent general space/office type guidelines per employee category that are used for facilities planning purposes only. Given limited space resources to meet competing needs, the University may not be able to meet guidelines for space/office type assignments in all new/renovated facilities. Units/departments are encouraged to look at alternate options for meeting new space needs, including shared office arrangements for staff, and faculty as needed, as part of the planning process for new facilities and new space requests.

For new/additional space requests, the unit/department’s current assigned space will be reviewed to suggest ways in which internal reassignments that comply with space guidelines may be able to needs prior to development of options for new space assignments that are submitted for review/approval by the Space Administration Committee.

University Space Guidelines Table

Office Space Guidelines

Note: The minimum SF for an enclosed private office is 90 SF to assure ADA circulation requirements are met. Maximum assignable square feet (ASF) represents an amount that is applied to spaces within new construction or renovation. Actual ASF will vary for space assignments within existing buildings.

*Note: The general space guideline for full-time instructional, research, or admin/professional faculty
is a private office. However, shared faculty office arrangements may be needed due to available ASF limitations for new facility planning, renovation planning, or new space request planning.

**Additional space assigned for research faculty and graduate research assistants is determined by the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV) guidelines for ASF per $100,000 of annual research expenditures.

***Classified employees are assigned to workstations or shared enclosed offices. An approved business need is required for private office assignments. Trades/Support Employees are assigned to shared workstations.

Office Support Space Guidelines

*ASF may vary depending upon the program need within a project.