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Constructing a new facility that does not currently exist.

Creating a new addition to an existing facility.

• Renovations or alterations that change existing occupancies
• Renovations or alterations that change life safety components (e.g., fire alarms, fire sprinklers, exiting changes)
• Facility renovation that changes the fundamental purpose, function, or layout of an existing facility (e.g., renovating an office suite to function as a classroom)
• A project or change in facility layout where a major configuration change is required  

Options for Furniture, Procurement, Installation, and Warranties

Professional Services from Planning and Construction

Planning and Construction (P&C)’s team of architects and interior designers provides professional services, direction, and oversight for furniture specification, selection, installation, and warranty management. Departments must utilize P&C services for all public facing areas. P&C reviews products for the following:

• Contract-grade furniture
  • Durability and Longevity:
    Contract-grade furniture is designed and manufactured to withstand the high levels of use and wear typical in commercial spaces such as offices, educational environments, restaurants, and public areas. It uses robust materials and construction methods to ensure longevity, even under constant or heavy use.
  • Safety and Compliance:
    Contract-grade furniture meets strict safety and fire code regulations required for commercial use. It undergoes rigorous testing to ensure it complies with industry standards, making it a safer choice for public environments.
  • Cost-Effectiveness:
    While the initial investment in contract-grade furniture may be higher than residential-grade options, its durability means less frequent replacement and lower maintenance costs, resulting in long-term savings.
• Aesthetic compatibility with building and campus standards
• Functionality, quality, durability, and suitability
• Compliance with federal, state and local requirements (i.e. building, fire/life safety, accessibility, and other codes or regulatory requirements).
• Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Availability of sufficient warranties and warranty support

P&C follows established Furniture and Facility Standards and Guidelines to promote safety and consistency across campus facilities.These standards include ensuring all furniture:

• Has undergone testing performed only by accredited labs and standards who evaluate the safety, durability, and structural adequacy of furniture products.
• Complies with fire safety rating requirements.
• Has a minimum 10-year product warranty on parts and labor.

Every five years the testing criteria is reviewed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the national body that oversees U.S. manufacturing integrity guidelines. Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) provide and evaluate furniture for comfort, safety and durability.

Departmental Procurement, Installation, and Warranty

Colleges, units, and departments may independently procure furniture, installation, and warranty services, for non-public facing areas (i.e. private offices and areas not accessible or visible to the general public).

If a college, unit, or department chooses not to utilize P&C’s services, they are responsible for all aspects related to these tasks and must follow these guidelines:

• Furniture and installation must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and all applicable accessibility requirements.
• Furniture must meet all applicable building code and fire/life safety code requirements.
• Furniture must meet all user and functional needs and requirements, including but not limited to weight capacities, durability, sizing, and ergonomic considerations.
• New furniture should align with the existing building finishes for a cohesive look.
• Colleges, units, or departments cannot modify existing building infrastructure (i.e. power, data, HVAC, lighting, sprinklers, and other items).

When independently procuring furniture, fixtures, and warranties, the college, unit, or department is responsible for:

• Determining furniture and installation items/services
• Warranty claims
• Procuring items through 51�Թ������ܿƴ� Purchasing and Contracts
• Repairs, recovering, modifications, removal, reinstallation, or upgrades to the furniture and its installation, generally, or associated with any activities required for these items in the future (i.e. disassembly and reassembly due to any future improvements in the space).

• Prepare cost estimates, budgets, and project schedules
• Collaborate with stakeholders, architects, engineers, and contractors
• Construction oversight
• Warranty repair

Landscaping, site furnishing

Structural, mechanical, electrical

Room reconfiguration to include rhythm, proportion, and balance

Room and space relationships for scale

Campus master plans establish a framework for both short-term (three to five years) and long-term (10 years and beyond) physical and structural improvements and development on 51�Թ������ܿƴ�’s campuses.