Space Reconfiguration and Renovation Projects
As needs change over time, tenants often need to convert space or phase the conversion of individual space or rooms to meet these changing needs.
Following are Sustainable Strategies to consider as you Reconfigure or Renovate. For federal facilities, these strategies can also help your building meet the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings
. Refer to the Share Section for a representative project Case Study to discover key practices, benefits, results and checklists.
Sustainable Strategies
Renovate Open Office and Teaming Spaces
- Select low-emitting materials and materials with recycled content that are recyclable and durable
- Install CO2 sensors in densely populated areas to monitor ventilation rates
- Consider energy-efficient products and that contain energy-efficient standby power
- Maximize energy savings through use of occupant sensors for powering down lamps and temperature when movement is not detected and automatic lighting controls for light dimming based on time of day and available daylight
- Design HVAC systems to have multiple zones to increase thermal comfort, and consider using underfloor air to provide occupant control of diffusers
- Design for individual control and adjustability for lighting, air flow, and thermal comfort
- Allow for maximum access to daylight and views to the exterior for occupants with layout strategies and systems furniture panels no higher than 48 inches
- Keep views to exterior to reduce mental stress and increase visual rest
- Install individually adjustable blinds or automated shading systems at windows
- Implement sound control strategies and properly tuned sound masking systems
- Select acoustical ceiling tiles with higher Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) absorption in the open office areas
- Separate workstation areas from noise-generating activities and equipment
- Use space utilization analysis to identify more effective use of space
- Develop space standards for workstations to assure equity and flexibility in workstation design
- Design open office to be flexible, allowing for quick transition from collaborative to individual setup
- Incorporate separate areas for smaller, impromptu meetings, as well as space for individual employees who need to concentrate
- Support mobility within the office with wireless connectivity and communication tools
- Support alternative work settings and mobile work for eligible staff to reduce space while enhancing worker productivity
- Provide ergonomic workstations, computer keyboards, and seating and train people on proper use
- Use easily reconfigurable furniture in teaming areas to ensure flexibility and tools that support teamwork
- Provide indoor plants to enhance the visual appeal of the space and promote health
Renovate Break/Pantry
- Make sure the space is properly ventilated to deal with any food odors
- Provide ENERGY STAR labeled appliances (dishwashers, refrigerators, microwave ovens)
- Incorporate occupant sensor lighting controls to save energy on overhead and accent lights as well as vending machines
- Use high efficiency (0.5 gpm) sink aerators to conserve water
- Provide re-usable beverage containers, dishes, and utensils to reduce waste
- Include well labeled recycle and compost containers to reduce waste
Renovate Support Areas
- Centralize, separately ventilate, and negatively pressurize spaces to remove any fumes associated with high volume printers or copiers
- Consider energy-efficient products and that contain energy-efficient standby power
- Incorporate occupant sensor lighting controls to save energy
- Provide collection bins to recycle toner cartridges, batteries, cardboard, paper and other recyclable office products
- Buy office products with high recycled content and choose paper with 30% recycled content for printing and copying
- Use electronic files instead of paper forms
- Set machines to default to double-sided printing and copying
- Use signage to educate building occupants regarding sustainability
Renovate Tenant Restroom
- Look for durable, water resistant, and easily cleanable finish materials with sustainable features of recycled, recyclable, and reuse content
- Incorporate occupant sensor lighting controls to save energy
- Use high efficiency aerators on lavatories (0.5 gpm), high efficiency showerheads (2.0 gpm), and dual flush toilets (0.8/1.6 gpf) or high efficiency toilets (1.2 gpf)
- Install automatic fixture sensors on lavatories for water savings, but avoid automatic flushes on toilets because they often result in double flushing
- Consider waterless urinals to save significant amounts of water and ensure that cleaning and maintenance staff receive training in the specific maintenance regimes required
- Consider reusing durable surfaces from the old restroom as elements in the new design
Renovate Reception Lobby
- Allow for maximum access to daylight and views to the exterior with daylight strategies including layout and glazing for doors and walls
- Create a sense of place through use of occupant branding
- Size the reception area to meet its planned purpose without wasting valuable work and storage space
- Use signs and displays to highlight sustainability goals for the organization and sustainable aspects of the space, such as energy use “dashboards,” samples of green materials, etc.
- Showcase local natural materials, color and artifacts to create a workplace grounded in the regional ecology and community
- Provide indoor plants to enhance the visual appeal of the space and promote health
- Use entry mats to help stop dirt and debris from entering the office space
Convert Open Spaces to Closed Conference Rooms and Offices
- Consider your space use strategy, do all workers require dedicated individual workspace? Can desksharing, hoteling or other remote work solutions decrease the requirements for constructing new space?
- Consider the "combi office" approach. Use a small private office with an attached meeting space which can be used by others when the office occupant is away
- Select low-emitting materials and materials with recycled content that are recyclable and durable
- Consider energy-efficient products and that contain energy-efficient standby power
- Relocate and reuse light fixtures; install lighting that is energy efficient
- Incorporate occupant sensor and individual temperature and lighting controls to save energy and enhance comfort
- To ensure occupant comfort, HVAC systems need to be reconfigured and balanced to accommodate the new load
- Design HVAC systems to have multiple zones to increase thermal comfort, and consider using underfloor air to provide occupant control of diffusers
- Optimize daylighting strategies for the entire office space by placing private offices near the core of the building, leave exterior windows for open office areas and teaming areas
- Use glazing on interior offices and shared spaces to maximize access to daylight and views from all locations. Provide opaque glazing or apply polyester opaque film to glass up to 48" above the finished floor to provide privacy
- Use clerestories and glazing to maximize daylight transfer
- Reuse existing walls as appropriate to save on materials and waste
- Use modular walls versus hard walls to ensure future flexibility, and to save on waste
- Consider modular dimensions for locating lighting fixtures to ensure future flexibility
- Consider use of sound proofing around duct work to minimize transfer from one office to another
- Design flexible systems to accommodate change in employee, equipment, and storage needs over time
- Develop space standards for private offices to assure equity and minimize churn costs
- Keep views to exterior to reduce mental stress and increase visual rest
- Provide indoor plants to enhance the visual appeal of the space and promote health
- Consider subdividing large conference rooms (20 or more people) into smaller spaces with moveable wall partitions to maximize usable space, build flexibility and minimize construction costs.