Space Planning

Campus Planning and Real Estate tracks how space is used across the university and categorizes it based on the Council of Ontario Universities space standards, with some modifications to match Queen鈥檚 University鈥檚 specific needs and goals.


University Space Standards

Categories are based on the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) "Building Blocks"

For additional information regarding COU space standards or how they are used to calculate space requirements on campus, please reach out to cpre@queensu.ca

A room primarily used for scheduled teaching purposes which does not require special equipment of a kind that makes the room unsuitable for classroom instruction (i.e. laboratory benches), and rooms directly serving such facilities.

A room used for instruction of undergraduate students that requires special purpose equipment or is so arranged that use is restricted to a particular field of study; and rooms directly serving these facilities. Activities in these facilities would include student participation, experimentation, observation or practice in a field of study.

A room used for laboratory applications, research or training in research methodology which requires special-purpose equipment for staff or graduate student experimentation or observation and preparation, service and other rooms directly serving these facilities.

A room usually assigned to one or more individuals on a permanent basis, containing office-type equipment and used by faculty, departmental administrative and support staff, and students, or a room directly serving these facilities

A room or group of rooms used for the acquisition, processing, storage, circulation, administration and management of books, periodicals, manuscripts and other media of published information under the administration of the university library system and rooms directly serving these facilities.

All indoor areas used by students, staff, or the public for athletic activities, either for recreational or competitive purposes, and rooms directly serving these facilities.

A room or group of rooms used for preparing or eating food or which directly serve these facilities including central facilities located in residences and faculty clubs, whether operated by the university or an external company. Includes coffee shops.

A room or group of rooms used to sell products or services, exclusively or primarily for the university population, and rooms directly serving these facilities.

Space associated with the operation and maintenance of university buildings, grounds, vehicles and other elements of the physical plant.

A room usually assigned to one or more individuals on a permanent basis containing office-type equipment and used by central administrative and support staff in non-academic departments/faculties/divisions, or a room directly serving these facilities.

Non-traditional space located outside the library where students meet and study (either in groups or individually). Space includes formal study space (rooms available for students for study) and informal study space (lounge and study space).

A room or group of rooms used to provide campus-wide services (including the production, distribution and storage of non-print instructional media) for both academic and non-academic sections of the university, and rooms directly serving these facilities.

A room or group of rooms intended to supply health services primarily to the general university population, and rooms directly serving these physical and wellness services facilities.

A room or group of rooms accessible to the general university population intended for recreation, rest, or relaxation, or rooms directly serving these facilities. 

Offices used for student government, publications, or clubs

or

Community building spaces that are safe, welcoming and inclusive, including but not limited to, spaces programmed or dedicated to equity-deserving individuals and groups, specific student populations (spiritual or cultural) and wellbeing - prayer and multi-faith rooms, quiet rooms.

A room or group of rooms intended to serve the general university population and to be used for dramatic, musical, or devotional activities or for exhibition purposes, and rooms directly serving these facilities.

A room or area that is not available for assignment to the occupants of a building but which is necessary for the general occupation or mechanical support of one or a number of buildings.

A room or rooms used to accommodate one or more individuals and the ancillary areas in direct support of such rooms.

Centralized animal facilities (including long term holdings) in overall support of teaching or research and not normally integrated with or under the control of academic departments.

Any room or area not included in Categories 1 through 18.

Space owned or operated by the university that is used in direct support of teaching and research related to clinical instruction, i.e. the clinical disciplines of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.