3-Space Committee Standards Report Revisions 04 07 2025.pdf

Waukesha County Standards for Space Planning & Design

As prepared by the:

Waukesha County Space Committee

March 24, 2010

Rev 1 – 11/16/12

Rev 2 – 12-13-13

Rev 3 - 02/07/25

Table of Contents

Introduction

Definitions

Project Standards

Design Standards

Space Programming Standards

Facility Standards (Office & Workstation)

Site Planning Standards

Other Considerations

Space Committee Members

Introduction

The Waukesha County Space Committee (WCSC) was formed to define the project design, space programming, site standards, and facility standards for the construction of new and/or renovated buildings in Waukesha County. These standards will be applied when planning and designing space utilized by Waukesha County Departments, Divisions and/or Agencies.

These Standards are recommended and adopted by the WCSC. These standards recognize Waukesha County’s need to stay current with the best practices in space planning in order to provide functional work environments for its employees. These standards apply to all county building occupants, county employees, state employees, and tenants.

Definitions

Building Envelope The total amount of gross square footage that a building footprint occupies as defined by Department need as determined under these standards.

Circulation Space The total amount of square footage that is required for building occupants to circulate within a building. i.e. - corridors, aisles etc.

Cafeteria A dining and seating area in an institution where meals may be purchased.

Closed Workstation

An enclosed workspace with floor to ceiling panels or affixed wall partitions.

Dining Area A seating area where meals can be enjoyed without building provided kitchen Services.

Design Standards

Design guideline standards as defined by the WCSC to provide direction when advancing a new and/or renovated building project. Standards should be adhered to unless a Department Director presents an exception to the Space Committee

Enclosed Work Area A Modular Work Area with four screen or panel enclosures installed below ceiling height.

General Work Area General Work Area to accommodate general administrative work functions and does not require enclosures to perform work tasks.

Standards

Statements designed to provide direction when planning or occupying office space.

Floor Support Space

A space allowance for the support facilities that are shared by all groups on the floor. Examples include floor kitchens, break rooms, and copy areas.

Kitchen A room equipped for preparing meals.

Private Office

An Office work area with four-sided, floor to ceiling enclosures using drywall, demountable or removable partitions.

Open Workstation

A workstation with no enclosures or two to three enclosures below ceiling height using screens or panels

Project Standards Standards established by the WCSC setting forth the approach of beginning planning for a new and/or renovated County project. Communication between all parties, users/staff/consultants is primary.

Shared Spaces Spaces utilized by the public, clients, etc. for a variety of functions.

i.e.: Cafeteria/Wellness/Meeting/Storage

Site Planning Standards Standards established for selecting a site for a new project.

Space Programming Standards A tool to record space square footage needs, functionality and adjacencies in the planning of a new and/or renovated facility. Standards should be followed unless good reasons are presented to consider change.

Support Spaces

Spaces containing materials or equipment that are commonly used by divisions. i.e.:

Storage copy/fax/file cabinetry etc.

Workstation Space

Spaces provided to people to accommodate their individual furniture and equipment and allow them to perform their job functions. Workstation space may be enclosed or open depending on the confidentiality, security, visual and acoustical privacy requirements of the job.

Warming Kitchen An area where pre-prepared meals can be warmed and served in the dining area or transported to an exterior site.

Project Standards

1. Departments shall be invited and encouraged to present their space needs and functional relationships for their work environment.

Managers are given the opportunity to plan their space using the WCSC standards to result in creative, cost effective and flexible solutions for their office environment.

2. Standards should be simplified.

This guideline recognizes that simplified minimum standards written in non-technical language will result in successfully planned office space.

3. Space will be allocated to functional requirements.

This guideline recognizes that space should be allocated for the functional needs of the work performed not to the position or rank in the organizational hierarchy.

4. Space should be flexible.

This principle recognizes that fewer barriers to change, less disruption when change occurs, and lower investment in time and money can be accomplished by designing:

* Open space planning

* Reducing the number of different sizes of spaces

* Space size standardize

Design Standards

The following design standards will provide direction when considering a new building envelope or renovated space. Although adherences to the standards are not absolute, they serve as a reference for sound management decisions and should be followed unless there are justified reasons for deviation.

1. Space should be designed to promote natural light and ventilation to ensure worker comfort and the potential to increase productivity.

2. Space should be designed to guarantee flexibility in the future when business, organizational practices or technologies change.

3. Private office areas should be positioned at or near the building central core. Offices should be designed and located in a manner to maximize natural light penetration into the office space.

Corner office locations will be minimized to the greatest extent possible.

4. Enclosed modular work areas should be positioned near exterior glazing and should be provided to different levels of management and support staff where meetings are conducted on a daily basis for at least 3-4 hours a day. Supervision of staff and occasional meetings are not considered sufficient cause for an enclosed office.

5. Waukesha County values allocating meeting space to maximize the number of meetings held in meeting rooms as opposed to meetings held in workspaces/offices for efficiency and to minimize disruption.

6. To create flexibility, apply a modular approach to planning and design. i.e. 4’x4’ or 5’x5’ modular grid.

7. Divisions should share support space as much as possible.

8. Enclosed modular work area furniture should be ergonomically selected and systemized to provide easy employee relocation from time to time.

9. Conference/Meeting and/or Training Room(s) room shall be provided to meet the needs of the approved Space Program

10. Future/projected space needs should be included in the Space Program. (minimum 10 years in advance)

Space Programming Standards

Private Offices Director: Approx. 12’ x 16’: sized for desk, two visitors at desk chairs & conference table and chairs for a meeting of six people, files.

Deputy Director: Approx 12’ x 14’ sized for desk, two visitors at desk chairs & conference table and chairs for a meeting of four people, files.

Senior Managers: Approx 10’ x 12’: sized for desk, two visitors at desk, files.

Supervisor Offices: Approx 8’ x 10’: sized for desk, two visitors at desk, files.

Enclosed Work Areas Provide Modular Workstations for Administrative Support Staff (Professional Staff, Support Staff, etc.) Approx 6’ x 8’, 8’ x 8’ or 8’ x 10’ in dimension. Size to be selected to accommodate position functionality.

Conference/Meeting/Training Rooms Provide a hierarchy of meeting/ conference rooms to meet the needs of the approved Space Program.

- Conference Room(s)

- Public Meeting Room(s)

- Department and/or Division Meeting Room(s)

- Training Room(s)

- Provide Audio Visual Equipment where appropriate

Coat Storage

Coat storage area(s) are to be provided in Public Conference Room(s), Training Room(s)and Meeting Room(s) and Departments.

Service Alcove One Service Alcove to be provided to meet the needs of the approved Space Program.

Alcove to be equipped with refrigerator, microwave, sink and two misc. duplex outlets.

A) After the useful life for the refrigerator or microwave has expired, County will purchase replacement “like for like “appliances for the Service Alcove.

or

B) After the useful life for the refrigerator or microwave has expired, the department will be responsible for the purchase of replacement appliances for the Service Alcove.

Entrance Lobby

Lobby Area - Since these areas are highly utilized and is the first exposure to the building by the public, a higher level of finish should be provided. Layout & size of this space to be determined by the approved Space Program.

Children’s Play Area Provide Children’s Play Area to meet the needs of the approved Space Program.

Secondary Reception/Waiting Area(s) Provide a Secondary Reception/Waiting Area(s) to meet the needs of the approved Space Program.

Support Spaces Combine Division Lockable Storage Areas where possible.

Central Receiving Area to be provided based on building type and program.

Public Bathrooms Provide Public Bathroom facilities based on the approved Space Program, as well as business, safety and sanitary needs.

- Provide nursing-pumping and changing area.

- Provide one Family Bathroom per Public Lobby or as required with certain program functions.

Staff Bathrooms Provide Staff Bathroom facilities based on the approved Space Program, as well as business, safety and sanitary needs.

Private Bathrooms

Private Bathrooms shall be avoided to the greatest extent possible.

Food Services Cafeteria - Provide a cafeteria in new buildings where the building size is a minimum 150,000 SF and/or a minimum of 250 users within the building.

Vending Area - to be provided in buildings with a smaller area or number of employees.

Kitchen – Area to prepare meals. To be provided based on building type, occupancy and program.

Employees Eating Area - Area for dinning without cafeteria functions.

Housekeeping Janitor Closet - Provide minimum one Janitor’s Closet per floor.

Wellness Room Provide a Wellness Room in new or remodeled buildings that have a minimum of 150,000 SF area and/or a minimum of 300 employees. Proximity to other wellness facilities should be evaluated.

Provide Men’s Bathroom w/ minimum two showers w/ clothing storage.

Provide Woman’s Bathroom w/ minimum two showers w/ clothing storage.

Exercise equipment to be donated.

Information Technology

Provide a MDF -Main Distribution Frame for IT services to enter the building.

Provide one IDF-Intermediate Distribution Frame per floor (distance limitations), centrally located in a building.

Adequate wireless coverage across the building envelope.

Waukesha County values the most current technology.

Site Planning Standards

Waukesha County values high quality, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing outdoor spaces. This would include a visible, welcoming public entrance; ease of access to building for visitors and employees; and safe, well planned vehicular and pedestrian circulation. Waukesha County values opportunities for outdoor seating in an environmentally comfortable and visually pleasing space.

When appropriate, the following site design elements will be taken into consideration to determine specific design approaches. At the appropriate time, selected consultants will meet with the Departments of: Parks & Land Use and the Department of Public Works to review recommendations.

Sustainability

All County buildings to be designed with “LEED” concepts.

Stormwater Management Natural Irrigation Indigenous Landscaping Outdoor Lighting Outdoor Patio Outdoor patio/seating to be incorporated in site design.

Natural Lighting Geothermal Acoustic Management HVAC Systems/Indoor Air Quality/Outdoor Air Quality Bike storage Bike storage area to be incorporated in the site design.

Number of bike storage units to be determined.

Facility Standards

The Waukesha County Space Committee has established the Facility Standards to be used in buildings and facilities owned and operated by Waukesha County. These standards are meant to be used in current workstation spaces (open or closed) as well as the preparation process for any office space creation, movement, planning or rearranging.

The Facility Standards apply to all county building occupants, county employees, state employees, and tenants.

1.1 Objectives

It is Waukesha County’s objective to provide a safe, healthy, and friendly work environment while maintaining efficient and effective use of space, utilities, and equipment. The objectives of the Workstation & Office Space Standards are as follows:

• Provide a safe, comfortable and productive environment for all employees and visitors.

• Ensure efficient use of building HVAC, electrical and mechanical systems.

• Maintain building flexibility to accommodate organizational change.

• Distribute adequate fresh air and natural light to all employees

• Ensure that workstation space does not exceed the building’s HVAC and electrical capacity.

1.2 Workstation & Office Space Standards

The workstation space includes individual furniture and equipment that allows them to perform their job functions in open and closed workstations. The statements are designed to provide direction when planning or occupying office space. The standards will be followed unless the Department Director submits a request for an exception to the Facilities Management Division for approval.

• In open workstations all items attached to the fabric panels to remain 2 to 4 inches below the top of panels.

• Items attached to open workstation panels shall be attached by the approved products only (push pins).

The following items will NOT be permitted in private offices, open and closed workstation spaces:

• Items will not be affixed on the outside of panels. (unless work related and/or approved by Facilities Management)

• Push Pins, tape or glue on painted walls, doors, and modular furniture.

• Items placed on top of panels as they can be a danger to you and your neighbors.

• Items to be placed on top of hutches (Open Workstations Only).

• Personal refrigerators or microwaves at your workspace. Employees will refer to the floor common support spaces for use of refrigerators and microwaves.

• Hot Plates & Mug Warmers

• Ice makers

• Air fryers and toaster ovens

• Coffee makers (including Keurig)

• Fish tanks and water fountains

• Candles

• Heated blankets

• Diffusers, scented plugins, air fresheners

• Dirty dishes and open food containers (no unsealed food shall be left in open and closed workstations as this promotes pest problem such as mice, roaches, insects, etc.)

• Personal waste bins or trash cans

• Shower curtains/curtains

• Surge protectors and power strip daisy chaining

• Nothing to be hung from ceilings

The use of personal appliances such as, but not limited to, refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, mug warmers, hot plates, fish tanks, heated blankets, plant lighting, and holiday lighting create additional HVAC loads resulting in HOT and COLD spots. These items reduce the lifecycle of the mechanical equipment, exceed electrical capacity, and increase utility costs.

The following items ARE permitted in private offices, open and closed workstations:

• Small radios, wireless speakers are permitted so long as the volume does not disrupt your neighbors.

• Personal space heaters and/or fans are permitted when building temperatures are below 65 degrees or over 75 degrees. Space heaters must have tip over and temperature safe auto shut-off and be approved by Facilities Management.

• Plants are permitted. All plants shall be properly maintained by their owners. Facilities Management will recommend removing plants that visually have mold, bugs, or are not being maintained. No special lighting is permitted for plants other than natural lighting and office lighting during normal operating hours.

• Holiday decorations and lighting (string lights, rope lights) is permitted for 6 weeks a year inside and outside workstations and the department head shall select specific dates.

Other Considerations

Public Art County Art Committee to be formed to address Art in all County buildings.

Safety & Security

Selected design consultants to meet with Sherriff’s Department, Risk Management, Judiciary, Parks & Land Use, and Facilities to determine design approach and make recommendations for new design and renovations.

Space Committee Members:

Rhiannon Cupkie

Allison Bussler

Ronda Baxter

Erik Weidig

Steve Brunner

Monica Paz

Rick McMillin

Cheyenne MacKenzie

Shane Waeghe - Chair

Bill Duckwitz

Waukesha County Standards for Space Planning & Design