George Mason University

The Office of Space Management uses guidelines outlined in the Virginia Campus Planning or Space Management Manual to develop Mason-specific standards 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 standards 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 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 standards must be approved by the Associate Architect/Planner and the Associate Director, Space Management for each capital or non-capital/small project.

The space standard for university senior-level administrators and full-time instructional/administrative faculty is (1) individual office. However, with limited space resources to meet competing needs, departments are encouraged to consider shared office arrangements to meet new office needs when
possible.

The space standard for part-time instructional, administrative,or adjunct faculty is shared office space, or workstations, which maximizes availability of individual offices to meet growth needs for new full-time faculty. The space standard for classified staff is shared office space, or a workstation. Classified staff may be assigned an individual office if there is an approved business need for that assignment.

Office support space square feet guidelines will vary according to the number of occupants within a unit/department. The standards outlined in Table 1 (see below) represent general guidelines for maximum size for support spaces. Units/Departments are asked to review current space assignments and make necessary changes to comply with space guidelines within the review process for new space requests that are submitted. Since available space is a scarce resource, units/departments must assure their assigned spaces comply with University guidelines to help resolve space needs internally before new space assignments are considered for approval.

University Space Guidelines Table

Office Space Guidelines/Standards

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.

**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 Standards

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