Research Facility Changes and Enhancements
- Service available to: Faculty, Researchers
- Themes: Buying Goods and Services, Consulting, Equipment, Infrastructure, Research, Safety, Spaces
- Service Category: Research Facilities
- Service Areas: Research Facility Renovations, Alterations, and Changes of Use
- Fees May Apply:
Description of Service
This service provides faculty and researchers with access to and support for research facility changes (e.g. renovations, alterations) and enhancements (e.g. changes in use, intensification) relating to research facilities located in university buildings, on university lands, and in university leased spaces.
This service applies to any facility changes and enhancements requiring renovation, design, and/or construction, such as:
- Changing the use of space (e.g. converting office space into a lab).
- Intensifying the research in the facility (e.g. adding more equipment to an existing facility).
- Installing equipment with utility needs, such as electrical outlets, network outlets, gas hook ups, vacuum hook ups.
- Making modifications to an existing research spaces (e.g. adding or removing modular/cubical walls).
- Installing wall mounted fixtures, such as whiteboards, tack boards, TVs, monitor hanging, pictures, desks, shelves, window treatments (blinds, curtains).
- Changes to indoor, outdoor, and off-campus spaces including signage, fencing, farm buildings, storage units, utilities, and other installations.
This service includes:
- Providing grant application support (e.g. CFI grants).
- Assessing requests for complexity, risk, space constraints and alternatives, infrastructure feasibility, and financial feasibility.
- Conducting an assessment electrical, HVAC, air flow, and other utility needs to prevent future problems in the space.
- Assessing safety issues (e.g. asbestos) and code requirements.
- Identifying areas of concern.
- Providing a rough order of magnitude estimate for the cost of the changes and enhancements.
- Checking to see if the space is already slated for renovations/renewal or otherwise committed to prevent unnecessary work.
Access
Please submit requests in advance for research facility changes and enhancements to improve scheduling and prompt service/reduce wait times.
Facilities Strategic Business Advisors (SBAs) (login required) are the primary contact for research facility changes and enhancements. If a college or unit does not have a Facilities SBA, then the first point of contact should be Facilities Support Services.
Researchers can request research facility changes and enhancements from Facilities Support Services using the following method:
- Submit an Online Facilities Request through PAWS (Apps and Services -> Administrative -> Facilities Request) : Log in to PAWS to Submit a Facilities Request
Availability of Support
Core Hours: 8:00 am–4:30 pm Monday to Friday
After Hours: N/A
Service Standards
- Repair and maintenance needs will be prioritized ahead of discretionary services.
- Depending on the nature of the work, scheduling and lead time will vary.
- Requests for renovations are high-volume, and are also subject to seasonal demand. Advance notice will help improve scheduling and reduce wait times.
- Risks are borne by the university, therefore renovations, alterations, and changes in use must be completed according to university standards.
- Before any contractors, employees of contractors, sub-contractors, service and maintenance providers, Project Managers or Contract Authority to perform work on University of Saskatchewan owned and leased property, they must attend the University’s Contractor Health and Safety Orientation.
- Anyone performing work on University of Saskatchewan owned and leased property must adhere to the Contractor Health and Safety Code of Practice.
Service Exclusions, Limitations, and Restrictions
- Research Facility Changes and Enhancements can be requested ONLY by college deans and unit heads.
- Support for renovations and alterations for non-research spaces is provided as part of a different service.
- Support for space requests and changes of use is provided as part of a different service.
- Facilities is responsible for attaching all wall fixtures (i.e. pictures, degrees, shelving). Members of the university community should never put a hole in a wall.
- Research facility changes and enhancements may require a development permit.
- Major Capital Projects follow a different process.
Service Charges
- Fees will be charged for work beyond the initial assessment.
- Fees will apply in cases of negligence and intentionally damaging activities (i.e. vandalism).
- “Hard” costs (e.g. materials, supplies, etc.) are the responsibility of the unit.
Additional Resources