Teaming spaces are flexible areas designed to foster collaboration and innovation. They should include easily to reconfigurable work surfaces, where groups can spread out and vertical surfaces for making work visible. Seating should be agile and passively ergonomic; occupants should be able to move around the space easily and comfortably. Configure space with privacy screens or room dividers to surround team members and allow them to brainstorm freely, without disrupting others. Energy savings are maximized through the 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. View Planning Strategies

• Recycling

• Recycling

  • Ensure recycling containers are labeled consistently, with pictures, to help occupants sort materials in the appropriate containers. Coordinate with the recycling hauler to develop the appropriate signage (tenants in leased facilities should coordinate with the landlord or facility manager).
  • Provide ongoing education and training to occupants and janitorial staff about the recycling hauler’s requirements, what items are acceptable and unacceptable for recycling, proper disposal methods, and the importance of eliminating contamination.
  • Target paper and cardboard which typically make up the greatest percentage (by weight) of the total solid waste stream.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

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  • Federal Requirements
• HVAC

• HVAC

  • Install occupant control thermostats that have prescribed temperature range limits to promote occupant comfort.
  • Ensure the air supplied by the HVAC system is properly conditioned - providing comfortable temperature ranges, removing moisture and air contaminants such as odors, dust, and carbon dioxide. Proximity to an exterior wall should be evaluated to minimize ductwork.
  • Ensure the minimum level, or higher, of outside air is circulated within occupied spaces to increase indoor air quality.

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  • Federal Requirements
• Ceiling

• Ceiling

  • Use acoustical ceiling tiles with high Noise Reduction Coefficients (NRC) to reduce noise pollution and allow for ease of access to the plenum space for maintenance.
  • Use light-colored ceiling tiles to reflect daylight to allow natural light to effectively move throughout the space.
  • Evaluate sustainable attributes such as regional manufacturing, recycled content, and low VOC to determine the most appropriate materials to use for a sustainable ceiling.

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  • Design Guidance
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  • Federal Requirements
• Furniture / Furnishings

• Furniture / Furnishings

  • Use moveable, re-configurable furniture to maximizes functionality of space such as rolling/locking casters and moveable white boards.
  • Select ergonomically-designed furniture to provide maximum comfort and convenience for the occupants.
  • Use low-emitting furniture to protect indoor air quality.

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  • Design Guidance
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  • Federal Requirements
• Walls

• Walls

  • Consider dry erase wall panels to transform any smooth surface into a high-performance dry-erase writing surface.
  • Consider demountable walls or partitions that can be moved and altered to create different types of spaces to meet the needs of the occupants.
  • Select easy to clean wall surfaces for ease of maintenance.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
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  • Federal Requirements
• Flooring

• Flooring

  • Dry vacuum regularly and follow with a wet vacuum water extraction machine when necessary to protect indoor air quality.
  • Keep extra carpet tiles on hand to replace stained or damaged tiles.
  • Evaluate sustainable attributes such as high recycled content and low VOC's to determine the most appropriate sustainable product for the space. Remember that adhesives may be required for flooring, and these may add VOC's even if the finish flooring does not.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Lighting

• Lighting

  • Use daylight sensor controls that turn off electric lighting in response to natural light levels to reduce energy consumption. When used in combination with occupant sensors, a sustainable lighting control program can have significant benefits.
  • Limit the use of accent lighting to specific artwork, menu boards, and educational items to reduce energy consumption.
  • Use sustainable lighting practices such as occupant sensors to decrease utility costs. For open areas, sensors must be carefully placed to avoid overlap with neighboring areas.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements

• Flooring

• Flooring

  • Dry vacuum regularly and follow with a wet vacuum water extraction machine when necessary to protect indoor air quality.
  • Keep extra carpet tiles on hand to replace stained or damaged tiles.
  • Evaluate sustainable attributes such as high recycled content and low VOC's to determine the most appropriate sustainable product for the space. Remember that adhesives may be required for flooring, and these may add VOC's even if the finish flooring does not.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Walls

• Walls

  • Consider dry erase wall panels to transform any smooth surface into a high-performance dry-erase writing surface.
  • Consider demountable walls or partitions that can be moved and altered to create different types of spaces to meet the needs of the occupants.
  • Select easy to clean wall surfaces for ease of maintenance.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Ceiling

• Ceiling

  • Use acoustical ceiling tiles with high Noise Reduction Coefficients (NRC) to reduce noise pollution and allow for ease of access to the plenum space for maintenance.
  • Use light-colored ceiling tiles to reflect daylight to allow natural light to effectively move throughout the space.
  • Evaluate sustainable attributes such as regional manufacturing, recycled content, and low VOC to determine the most appropriate materials to use for a sustainable ceiling.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Furniture / Furnishings

• Furniture / Furnishings

  • Use moveable, re-configurable furniture to maximizes functionality of space such as rolling/locking casters and moveable white boards.
  • Select ergonomically-designed furniture to provide maximum comfort and convenience for the occupants.
  • Use low-emitting furniture to protect indoor air quality.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Lighting

• Lighting

  • Use daylight sensor controls that turn off electric lighting in response to natural light levels to reduce energy consumption. When used in combination with occupant sensors, a sustainable lighting control program can have significant benefits.
  • Limit the use of accent lighting to specific artwork, menu boards, and educational items to reduce energy consumption.
  • Use sustainable lighting practices such as occupant sensors to decrease utility costs. For open areas, sensors must be carefully placed to avoid overlap with neighboring areas.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Recycling

• Recycling

  • Ensure recycling containers are labeled consistently, with pictures, to help occupants sort materials in the appropriate containers. Coordinate with the recycling hauler to develop the appropriate signage (tenants in leased facilities should coordinate with the landlord or facility manager).
  • Provide ongoing education and training to occupants and janitorial staff about the recycling hauler’s requirements, what items are acceptable and unacceptable for recycling, proper disposal methods, and the importance of eliminating contamination.
  • Target paper and cardboard which typically make up the greatest percentage (by weight) of the total solid waste stream.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• HVAC

• HVAC

  • Install occupant control thermostats that have prescribed temperature range limits to promote occupant comfort.
  • Ensure the air supplied by the HVAC system is properly conditioned - providing comfortable temperature ranges, removing moisture and air contaminants such as odors, dust, and carbon dioxide. Proximity to an exterior wall should be evaluated to minimize ductwork.
  • Ensure the minimum level, or higher, of outside air is circulated within occupied spaces to increase indoor air quality.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements

• Furniture / Furnishings

• Furniture / Furnishings

  • Use moveable, re-configurable furniture to maximizes functionality of space such as rolling/locking casters and moveable white boards.
  • Select ergonomically-designed furniture to provide maximum comfort and convenience for the occupants.
  • Use low-emitting furniture to protect indoor air quality.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Flooring

• Flooring

  • Dry vacuum regularly and follow with a wet vacuum water extraction machine when necessary to protect indoor air quality.
  • Keep extra carpet tiles on hand to replace stained or damaged tiles.
  • Evaluate sustainable attributes such as high recycled content and low VOC's to determine the most appropriate sustainable product for the space. Remember that adhesives may be required for flooring, and these may add VOC's even if the finish flooring does not.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Recycling

• Recycling

  • Ensure recycling containers are labeled consistently, with pictures, to help occupants sort materials in the appropriate containers. Coordinate with the recycling hauler to develop the appropriate signage (tenants in leased facilities should coordinate with the landlord or facility manager).
  • Provide ongoing education and training to occupants and janitorial staff about the recycling hauler’s requirements, what items are acceptable and unacceptable for recycling, proper disposal methods, and the importance of eliminating contamination.
  • Target paper and cardboard which typically make up the greatest percentage (by weight) of the total solid waste stream.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Windows and Daylighting

• Windows and Daylighting

  • Install double or triple paned glass to increase efficiency and reduce energy consumption.
  • Use interior light shelves to effectively distribute the natural light throughout a space.
  • Consider installing solar powered window shades or blinds to reduce glare and allow control of the daylight entering a space.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• HVAC

• HVAC

  • Install occupant control thermostats that have prescribed temperature range limits to promote occupant comfort.
  • Ensure the air supplied by the HVAC system is properly conditioned - providing comfortable temperature ranges, removing moisture and air contaminants such as odors, dust, and carbon dioxide. Proximity to an exterior wall should be evaluated to minimize ductwork.
  • Ensure the minimum level, or higher, of outside air is circulated within occupied spaces to increase indoor air quality.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Walls

• Walls

  • Consider dry erase wall panels to transform any smooth surface into a high-performance dry-erase writing surface.
  • Consider demountable walls or partitions that can be moved and altered to create different types of spaces to meet the needs of the occupants.
  • Select easy to clean wall surfaces for ease of maintenance.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements