Space Planning Procedure

Space Planning is a process that coordinates UCI Health with physical space over a specific period of time. UC Irvine Medical Center's goal is to achieve the best use and organization of space to meet the needs of:

• Patient care
• Medical education
• Research

The medical center must determine its long-term space objectives regarding strategic positioning and highest and best use of physical space.

Program

Planning, Design, and Construction includes under its purview the allocation of space throughout the medical center, oversees the space planning process and advises the Space Planning Committee (SPC) regarding current and future use of the medical center's space resources. 

Planning, Design, and Construction will survey and compile detailed space utilization data for each building. A staff member has been assigned to walk every building in order to classify and document the use of each room for the evaluation of the current development. 

The results and findings will provide: 

• A valuable tool for evaluating each department's or unit's use of space 
• Allocated vs. actual utilization of space by users 
• Space availability update 
• Additional studies to support or modify the plan of action, such as utility 
• Threshold analysis of whether the highest priority departments/units are allocated with adequate space (part of master planning) 
• Assessment of present and future parking needs (part of master planning) 

The Process

1. The unit head requests space reassignment or additional space by submitting a Capital Planning Space Request: Planning Administration - Request Form to Planning, Design, and Construction with approval by the Department Chair or Director.  
2. For requests that are limited to the reconfiguration of furniture, a Physical Alteration Request should be submitted. 
3. Planning, Design, and Construction will log the request into the database system and assign it for investigation. 
4. An assessment of the request and potential solution(s) will be presented to the Space Planning Subcommittees for either further assessment or recommendation to the Space Planning Committee for action. 

Space Policy Guidelines

Please review ~UCIH - Space Policy (2024.03) for detailed understanding of the allocation and evaluation of space, procedures, assignment and proximity guidelines.