General use facilities are characterized by a broader availability to faculty, students, staff, or the public than are Special Use Facilities (500 series), which are typically limited to a small group or special population. General use facilities comprise a campus general service or functional support system (e.g., assembly, exhibition, dining, relaxation, merchandising, recreation, general meetings, day care) for the institutional and participant community populations.
610 Assembly
Definition: A space designed and equipped for the assembly of many persons for such events as dramatic, musical, devotional, livestock judging, or commencement activities.
Description: Includes theaters, auditoria, concert halls, arenas, chapels, and livestock judging pavilions that are used primarily for general presentations (speakers), performances (dramatic, musical, dance), and devotional services. Seating areas, orchestra pits, chancels, aisles, and stages (if not used primarily for instruction) are included in and usually aggregated into the assembly space. This category also includes chapels located in health care, residential, or other facilities. Institutions may wish to separate the seating area from the stage and other specially configured areas through the use of additional codes.
Limitations: Stage areas used primarily for instruction or practice (dance, music, drama) are typically coded separately as laboratory space (see Codes 210, 220). Assembly facilities that are used primarily as instructional lecture halls are classified as Classroom (110) space.
615 Assembly Service
Definition: A room or area that directly serves an assembly facility as an extension of the activities in that facility.
Description: Includes check rooms, coat rooms, ticket booths, dressing rooms, projection booths, property storage, make-up rooms, costume and scenery shops and storage, green rooms, multimedia and telecommunications control rooms, etc.
Limitations: Entrance lobbies and other circulation areas outside of the primary assembly room are classified as nonassignable Lobby (W05). A concession stand in an assembly facility is classified as Merchandising (660). Lounge areas that are remote from the assembly area within an assembly facility are classified by the appropriate service code or the Lounge (650) code.
620 Exhibition
Definition: A room or area used for exhibition of materials, works of art, artifacts, etc., and intended for general use by faculty, students, staff, and the public.
Description: Includes both departmental and institution-wide museums, galleries, and similar exhibition areas that are used to display materials and items for viewing by the institutional population and the public. Planetariums used primarily for exhibition are also included in this category. Planetariums used primarily for research should be classified in the Laboratory Facilities (Code 200) series.
Limitations: Displays that are intended only for instructional purposes and not for general exhibitions (e.g., departmental instructional displays of anthropological, botanical, or geological specimens) should be classified as laboratory or laboratory service (see Laboratory Facilities-200 series). Does not include bulletin boards and similar temporary or incidental displays in hallways, student centers, etc. Also does not include collections of educational materials, regardless of form or type (e.g., books, tapes, soils collections), that are study resources (see Stack-420) as opposed to exhibition use.
625 Exhibition Service
Definition: A space that directly serves an exhibition facility as an extension of the activities in that facility.
Description: Includes preparation workrooms, storage rooms, vaults, etc., that serve general exhibition areas (see Exhibition-620).
Limitations: Research areas in museums are classified as Research/Nonclass Laboratory (250) or Research/Nonclass Laboratory Service (255). Service areas for displays that are part of an instructional program are classified as Classroom Service (115) or Laboratory Facilities service areas (see Code 200 series).
630 Food Facility
Definition: A space used for eating.
Description: Includes dining halls, cafeterias, snack bars, restaurants, and similar eating areas, including such areas in residence halls, faculty clubs, etc. This category includes facilities open to students, faculty, staff, or the public at large. The primary distinction of a Food Facility (630) area is the availability of some form of accommodation (seating, counters, tables) for eating or drinking. This is, therefore, an area intended for the actual consumption of food and drink. Vending areas with seating, counters, or tables and sit-down lunch or vending spaces that serve a shop facility are included in this category.
Limitations: Vending areas not provided with seating, counters, or tables are classified as Merchandising (660) or with the appropriate service code if the vending directly supports or is adjacent to a specific space for consuming the products (e.g., a Code 635 vending space serving a Code 630 dining hall).
Limitations: Lounges (650) with vending machines that are incidental to the primary use of the space (i.e., relaxation) are coded as part of the lounge, if within the space, or as Lounge Service (655) if separate from and directly supporting the main lounge facility (see Lounge-650). Break rooms serving specific office areas are classified as Office Service (315). Eating areas for children in demonstration or day care facilities are classified as primary activity categories within these respective areas (see Demonstration-550 and Day Care-640); staff-only eating or break rooms in these facilities are classified as service areas (see Demonstration Service-555 and Day Care Service-645).
635 Food Facility Service
Definition: A space that directly serves a food facility as an extension of the activities in that facility.
Description: Includes kitchens and other preparation areas, cold storage and freezer refrigeration rooms, dishwashing rooms, food serving areas, cleaning areas, etc. Includes first aid and vending areas directly serving food facilities, or adjacent to an eating area.
Limitations: Does not include any type of food preparation space that does not serve a food facility or eating area (see Food Facility-630). Kitchenettes in residence facilities that do not serve a dining area are classified as Sleep/Study Service (935). Service areas for vending spaces are classified as Merchandising Service (665). Kitchens and food preparation areas in demonstration or day care facilities are classified as service areas for those facilities (see Demonstration Service-555 and Day Care Service-645).
640 Day Care
Definition: A space used to provide day or night, child or elderly adult care as a nonmedical service to members of the institutional community.
Description: Includes all primary activity spaces that provide oversight, supervision, developmental training, and general personal care for assigned children or adults (e.g., play areas, nonstaff eating areas, and child training spaces). This type of facility serves as a central service center for faculty, staff, and students, with members of the community being served as needed. This is not a medical care facility (i.e., medical attention is strictly limited to maintaining prescribed medication schedules and providing first aid).
Limitations: Does not include those support spaces (e.g., storage rooms, closets, and pantries) typically used as service spaces (see Day Care Service-645). This category also does not include demonstration houses, laboratory schools, or other facilities with a primary function of providing practice for postsecondary students as part of the instructional process (see Demonstration-550). Also excluded from this category are those service areas classified as Central Service (750), and Laboratory Facilities (Code 200 series) that directly support instruction (e.g., vocational training programs for parent education and early childhood education).
645 Day Care Service
Definition: A space that directly serves a primary activity space in a day care facility as an extension of the activities in that space.
Description: Includes storage rooms, closets, kitchens or food preparation areas, pantries, private or staff-only eating areas and rest rooms, and other typical service spaces that support a primary activity area.
Limitations: Does not include those spaces (e.g., child training spaces, playrooms—see Day Care-640) where primary day care activities are conducted. Rest rooms designed for child training should be coded Day Care (640). Eating or training areas for children are classified as primary Day Care (640) activity space. Staff office areas should be coded as Office (310).
650 Lounge
Definition: A space used for rest and relaxation that is not restricted to a specific group of people, unit, or area.
Description: A lounge facility is typically equipped with upholstered furniture, draperies, and carpeting, and may include vending machines. This general use lounge differs from an office area or break room lounge (see Office Service-315) by virtue of its public availability. If a space is equipped with more than one or two seats for a seating area and intended for use by people visiting or passing through a building or area, it is coded as a Lounge (650). Such a space may have vending machines even though the primary use of the space is rest, relaxation, or informal socializing, not eating.
Limitations: A lounge facility is distinguished from a Conference Room (350) and a Meeting Room (680), both of which are intended for formal meetings, by its more informal function of rest, relaxation, or casual interaction and its public availability. A lounge area associated with a public rest room is included with the rest room as nonassignable (building service area) space. A space devoted to vending machines without accommodation (seating, counters, or tables) for local food or drink consumption is classified as Merchandising (660). A lounge that directly serves a specific or restricted area is classified by the appropriate corresponding service code (e.g., a lounge serving an assembly facility is classified Assembly Service-615). A lounge differs from a nonassignable lobby in placement, use, and intent. A Lobby (W05) is generally located at a major entrance with openings to either hallways on more than one side or in front of elevator banks; and although it may have seating furniture, it is designed more for passing through (or having standing conversations) than for sitting and relaxing. Separate waiting rooms in other than health care facilities are classified with the appropriate service code according to the room or area they serve. A receptionist room that includes a waiting area should be classified as Office (310). Public waiting areas in health care facilities are coded as Public Waiting (880).
655 Lounge Service
Definition: A space that directly serves a general use lounge facility.
Description: Includes kitchenettes, storage areas, and vending spaces that directly serve a general use Lounge (650).
Limitations: This category does not include kitchenettes, storage rooms, and small vending areas that directly serve other space use types (e.g., a small vending area serving a dining hall eating area should be classified as Food Facility Service-635).
660 Merchandising
Definition: A space used to sell products or services.
Description: Includes product and service sales areas such as bookstores, student supply stores, barber or beauty shops, post offices, campus food stores, walk-away vending machine spaces, and central ticket outlets servicing multiple facilities or activities.
Limitations: Does not include dining rooms, restaurants, snack bars, and similar Food Facilities (630). A vending machine space that directly serves a dining, lounge, or other primary activity area is classified with the appropriate service code; a vending machine area within a general use lounge is included in the Lounge (650) space. Vending areas that include accommodations (seating, counters, or tables) for consuming the products are classified as Food Facility (630). Meeting and conference rooms in hotels or motels are classified as Meeting Rooms (680). Sleeping rooms in hotels or motels are classified in the appropriate category of Residential Facilities (Code 900 series). Cashiers’ desks that serve a specific recreational facility or area are classified as service space for that area (see Codes 670 and 675). Day care centers used for practice within an instructional program are classified as Demonstration (550). Day care centers that are not part of such a program are classified under Day Care (640).
665 Merchandising Service
Definition: A space that directly serves a merchandising facility as an extension of the activities in that facility.
Description: Includes storage rooms and closets, sorting rooms, private rest rooms, and other support spaces if they directly serve a Merchandising (660) facility.
Limitations: Storage rooms, sorting rooms, and private rest rooms that do not serve a merchandising area should be classified using the appropriate service code for the corresponding space use type.
670 Recreation
Definition: A space used by students, staff, or the public for recreational purposes.
Description: Includes exercise and general fitness rooms, billiards rooms, game and arcade rooms, table tennis rooms, chess rooms, card playing rooms, hobby rooms, TV rooms, reading (nonstudy) rooms, and music listening rooms that are used for recreation and amusement and not for instructional purposes. Recreation rooms and areas are used for relaxation, amusement-type activities, whereas athletic facilities are typically used for the more vigorous pursuits within physical education, intercollegiate athletics, and intramural programs that typically require specialized configuration.
Limitations: Does not include gymnasia, basketball courts, weight rooms, racquetball courts, handball courts, squash courts, wrestling rooms, indoor swimming pools, indoor ice rinks, indoor tracks, indoor stadium fields, indoor golf and other areas primarily used for physical education, and intramural or intercollegiate athletic activities (see Code 520). Outdoor athletic and physical education fields, courts, and other nonenclosed areas are also excluded because they are not building space. This category also does not include bowling alleys, dance rooms, or any other activity areas that are primarily used for instruction. Reading or media use rooms that are designed and intended as study spaces are also excluded from this category (see Code 410).
675 Recreation Service
Definition: A space that directly serves a recreation facility as an extension of the activities in that facility.
Description: Includes storage rooms, closets, equipment issue rooms, cashiers’ desks, first aid, and other support areas that directly serve a Recreation (670) facility.
Limitations: Does not include kitchens, snack bars, or other Food Facilities (630) and Food Facility Service (635) areas. Locker rooms, shower rooms, ticket booths, dressing rooms, equipment rooms, and other areas directly serving Athletic or Physical Education (520) facilities are classified as Athletic or Physical Education Service (525) rooms. Central ticket outlets serving multiple facilities or services are classified as Merchandising (660).
680 Meeting Room
Definition: A room that is used by the institution or the public for a variety of nonclass meetings.
Description: The key concept here is public availability. Conference Rooms (350) are often confused with meeting spaces because they are both primarily used for nonclass meetings. However, conference spaces are restricted service components of an office complex or used by office occupants of a specific area and are generally limited to staff meetings or other departmental nonclass activities. Although it may be assigned to a specific organizational unit, a meeting space is more available and open to study groups, boards, governing groups, community groups, various student groups, nonemployees of the institution, and various combinations of institutional and community members. Meeting spaces in institutional hotels or motels and other for-fee meeting spaces are included in this category.
Meeting spaces may be configured like classrooms (i.e., with participant focus to the front of the room), or may be equipped with a variety of furniture types (e.g., tables and chairs, lounge-type furniture, tablet armchairs, or a large table) in various combinations and arrangements.
Limitations: Spaces serving an office complex and used primarily for staff meetings are classified as Conference Room (350). Seminar and lecture rooms used primarily for scheduled classes are classified as Classroom (110). Spaces designed and equipped for the assembly of many persons for such events as dramatic, musical or devotional activities, etc., should be classified as Assembly (610).
685 Meeting Room Service
Definition: A space that serves a meeting space as an extension of the activities in that space.
Description: Includes kitchenettes, multimedia storage and control rooms, furniture storage rooms, and other support spaces that directly serve a meeting space.
Limitations: Does not include kitchenettes, storage rooms, and other support areas that serve a Conference Room (350) or an Assembly (610) facility.