The Central and Health Sciences department's assist university Resource Responsibility Centers (RRC's) and associated departments with space planning services as a way to better understand interior space requirements needed to support programs over specific periods of time.
Space Planning is a fundamental element of the interior design process that coordinates program requirements with physical space; it's an in-depth analysis of how physical space within a building, floor or suite is used. It considers the space's purpose, functional requirements and its occupants, resulting in a comprehensive space plan - a plan that aligns with university goals, and ensures efficient, effective and optimal use of floor space to meet institutional needs.
Space Planning by practice addresses the allocation and division of interior space to the wants and needs of its occupants and typically includes the following.
- Establishing program requirements for each department via program interviews, discussions and surveys - and may be a result of prior occupancy planning efforts.
- Creating bubble diagrams that begin to define functional zones - focus, interactive, collaborative.
- Creating block plans that expand a bubble diagram's zones by showing a breakdown and division of the zones by space types - office, workstation, huddle, etc.
- Creating test fit plans that include additional detail such as furniture layouts and equipment placement; defining primary and secondary circulation patterns.
Space Plans can be used to support and justify capital and non-capital improvement projects - working with U Construction or Capital Project Management via the Project Request process to further develop project scope, budget development and support funding for pre-design.