The Net Zero Space Growth Policy started in FY10, but it was not fully in effect until FY15. According to this policy, when buildings are demolished or leases are vacated, their gross square footage is added to a “square footage bank” held by the provost’s office. As of the end of FY16, the square footage bank and the total square footage on campus has been quite stable.  

A proposed project needs to be reviewed and approved by the Chancellor’s Capital Review Committee (CCRC). If the proposed project would add square footage, then it needs to reduce square footage elsewhere on campus or request the use of space in the provost’s square footage bank.  Facilities & Services (F&S) has a list of facilities on a demolition plan, identified as buildings without ADA compliance and with low energy efficiency.  

Modern building standards typically require more square footage for accessibility and mechanical needs. To prevent the needs for increases in square footage, our campus F&S examines the existing and new space requirements at a departmental level. The Associate Director for Space Utilization Jill Maxey is responsible for identifying underutilized spaces and reassigning them for other purposes. In addition, the campus has updated its software system for the comprehensive space audit, which will have the record for the whole campus square footage updated once a year.