Facilities Management Campus Planning oversees the process for naming new buildings / facilities and renaming existing buildings / facilities. This includes names for buildings, green spaces and other structures. 

If a facility (buildings, structures, streets, green spaces, etc.) is requested to be named after a person, contact University Advancement, who oversees that naming review and approval process.

For naming / renaming facilities not related to a person, street addresses, and/or building number requests: Start by completing the Facility Profile Request Form and then contact Facilities Management Environmental Graphic Designer (Jessica Kramer).  

New Facility Profile (Building Name, Address, and Number) Process Workflow

  1. ACTION: The process starts with the OSA Representative or Project Initiator who completes the “New Facility Profile” form located on the FM “Building Name and Address Request” Webpage.
  2. ACTION: The Space Data Manager and Environmental Graphic Designer will review the form that is submitted to them via the website.
  3. DECISION: Is the form complete?
    • ACTION: If the form is NOT complete, the Space Data Manager or Environmental Graphic Designer will reroute the form back to requestor for updates.
    • ACTION: If the form is complete, they will give it to the GIS Specialist.
  4. ACTION: The GIS Specialist assigns a building address, located in an Excel spreadsheet.
  5. ACTION: The GIS Specialist notifies the Space Data Manager and Environmental Graphic Designer of the building address via email. The GIS Specialist also reaches out to PFA and LETA via email. This is the end of Phase 1 for the GIS Specialist.
  6. ACTION: Next, the Space Data Manager will create or assign a building number in an Excel spreadsheet.
  7. ACTION: The Space Data Manager and Environmental Graphic Designer will create and verify the building name in AiM.
  8. ACTION: The Space Data Manager and Environmental Graphic Designer will draft a property profile and send it via email to Capital Construction for their records.
  9. DECISION: Is the project partially funded?
    • ACTION: If there is partial or full funding, the Space Data Manager will record the new property profile in AiM and then the Environmental Graphic Designer will notify stakeholders via email. This is the end of Phase 1.
      • Stakeholders include: the Vice President for University Operations (who sends the information through the DDD email list to Deans, Department heads, and Directors), PDC, Space Committee, CSU Police Dispatch, FM leadership team (direct reports to AVPs), FM Project Managers, FM Asset Manager, CSU Building Department, and the FM Campus Planning team.
    • If there is no funding yet, the Space Data Manager holds the Property Profile until further notice in the Excel spreadsheet. This is the end of Phase 1.

General facility naming/renaming guidelines:

  • Preference that building names are chosen to last into the future and do not change often.
    • Building occupants are responsible for the cost to update any signage update due to a building name change.
  • Placeholder names may be used until donors come along.
  • Preference from previous building naming has been mixed on naming or not naming buildings for the function inside. If the function of the building could easily change, then naming needs careful consideration.
    • Example: Biology was specifically built with labs. The function won’t change regarding what it was built for. However, Clark’s function could change; therefore, it doesn’t make sense to name that building for Liberal Arts because of its possibility of changing.
  • Use of “building” in the name is not recommended. Proposals for new building names or name changes will include the reason or intent for why they’re including “building” on the name.
  • Use of “Center” or “Institute” on name – not recommended unless it is a unique center or institute with no overlap from other departments doing similar work. The “Center” needs to take most or all of the space within the building; it would need to be a large function.
  • Use universally understood descriptor (e.g. lab).
  • With large additions on buildings, the building name should stay the same, unless the donor is donating to change the building name.
  • Keep the name short, so it doesn’t get a nickname.
  • If building name is long, then careful consideration is needed for the abbreviation. Do not use humorous or cute abbreviations. Try to stay away from building names as abbreviations.
    • Foothills Campus is an exception for abbreviations.
  • Choose names not similar to building names already in use.
    • Remote facilities sometimes are an exception.
  • Do not use a building name as a substitute for wayfinding or branding