100 – GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

100.1 – Application:

A. The CSU Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Standards provide a foundation for architectural and engineering decisions and products of service throughout the design and construction process of any building or portion thereof, structure, utility, site or landscape improvement at Colorado State University’s (CSU) Fort Collins Campuses.

1. Part IV of the CSU Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Standards applies to all Colorado State University Land under the authority of the CSU System’s Board of Governors.

2. Remote campuses shall follow the Standards as required per the Project Representative.

3. Refer to Project–specific Agreement for applicability of the Standards.  

B. The Standards supplement the requirements of the contractual Agreement(s) of each Project Team.

1. Each Project shall be issued a Project–specific set of the Standards that shall apply to all Agreements.

2. Project Team is responsible for confirming the applicable Standards with Project Representative.

C. Prior to submitting a professional services fee proposal, the Project Team shall review the Standards and discuss with the Project Representative any abbreviation, variance or suspension of the Standards that it considers appropriate for the Project.

1. The changes so determined shall be appended to the fee proposal for inclusion in the Agreement for each Project.

D. The Project Team is responsible for assuring that the Work of its Subconsultants and Subcontractors complies with the Standards.

E. The Project Team shall incorporate all applicable Standards and other criteria accepted by the Project Representative into the Design and Construction Documents for the Project.

F. The Standards are not all–inclusive.

1. The Project Team shall use industry best practices and their professional judgment and expertise to design complete Systems within the Scope of Work.

G. All projects shall be designed and executed in full compliance with the CSU Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Standards in effect at the time of design.

1. Designers are required to always adhere to all applicable standards, regardless of project size, funding source, or delivery method.

2. Limited exceptions are permitted for a like-for-like replacement of existing equipment or systems on small-scale projects, where full compliance with current standards would require disproportionate scope expansion, cost, or system modification.

a. A like-for-like replacement is defined as the replacement of existing equipment with equipment of similar type, function, capacity, and performance, without introducing new systems or altering existing infrastructure.

b. Such replacements:

i. Shall not reduce safety, performance, energy efficiency, maintainability, or code compliance.

ii. Shall not introduce new non-standard materials or systems.

iii. Shall be limited to the minimum scope necessary to replace failed or end-of-life equipment.

100.2 – Building Numbering:

A. The Project Team shall coordinate with Project Representative to obtain a building number.

100.3 – Building Addressing:

A. The Project Team shall coordinate with Project Representative to obtain and/or confirm a building address.

B. New buildings, additions, and exterior improvements including but not limited to plazas, courtyards, bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicular movement require modifications to the online interactive map – maps.colostate.edu.  

1. The Project Team shall coordinate with the Project Representative to provide graphics.

2. The Project Representative is responsible for all fees associated with updates to the interactive maps.

100.4 – Code Compliance:

A. The Project Team is responsible for compliance of the design product with current Office of the State Architect (OSA) adopted editions of relevant codes.

B. The CSU Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Standards may contain requirements that are more stringent.

C. The Project Team shall comply with the more stringent requirement unless the Standard conflicts with relevant codes or regulations.

100.5 – Technology:

A. The CSU Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Standards may not contain the newest developments in technology.

B. Except for specific research Projects, University construction is not a venue for experimenting with new, untested Systems.

1. The Project Team has the right to present any beneficial developments in System technologies that may provide a benefit to the University.

100.6 – Variances:

A. All variances from the CSU Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Standards must be reviewed and approved in advance by the CSU Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Standards Administrators.

1. Approval of variance does not constitute a precedent for future projects or broader non-compliance with the Design Standards.

B. During Design Development, the Project Representative shall determine if a Project warrants a variance from the CSU Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Standards.

1. Variance Requests to Part IV shall not be accepted.

C.  Rationale for a Variance Request may include but is not limited to lack of scale or complexity, alternate or unique accommodations, matching existing Systems, proving technology advancements, etc.

1. The Project Representative and the Project Team shall justify and document such Variances.

2. The Project Team may request a Variance based on at least one of the following criteria:

a. Improvement to design

b. Improvement to public safety

c. Improvement to construction schedule

d. Construction cost savings

e. Operation and maintenance cost savings

f. Conflict of established Standards

g. Design condition not covered by the Standards

h. Life cycle cost benefit

i. Maintenance and Operations considerations

j. Sustainability benefit

D. If the Project Team finds that a variance from any of the Standards may be appropriate, a timely written Variance Request shall be submitted on the approved form, accompanied by written, technical and graphic information as needed for review and/or acceptance by the CSU Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Standards Administrators.

1. All Variance Requests shall be submitted with the support of the Project Representative.

2. Contact Project Representative for current Variance Request form.

3. Submit completed Variance Request forms to the Standards Administrators.

4. Allow for ten business days from date of delivery for review and response from the Standards Administrators.

5. All approved Standards Variances shall be included in the Record Documents at Project closeout.

a. Refer to Chapter 04 – Drawing and Document Administration for full Record Document requirements.