Department of Veterans Affairs
Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 290)
Washington, DC 20420
February 2007
C. Volunteer Areas
1. Workstations, VAVS Organization (XXXXX) ..................... 240 NSF (22.3 NSM)
Minimum NSF and if up to nineteen VAVS Organizations are represented in the
VAVS Hospital Advisory Committee. Provide an additional 110 NSF for each
increment of ten VAVS Organizations. Maximum 680 NSF.
The workstations accommodate desk space used by one or more organizations
as well as secured storage lockers for items distributed to veterans. Depending
on the number of organizations involved and the frequency Reps/Deps occupy
the area, the space may be planned as separate offices (private and/or shared),
as an open office shared by several organizations with movable partitions creating
cubicles for each organization or a combination of both.
Note: Escort / Messenger Service Area In some medical centers, Voluntary
Service or a VAVS Organization supervises and administrates the hospital-wide
transportation of patients and delivery of messages, lab specimens, etc. Space
for an Escort/Messenger Service Area is provided in Chapter 262, Ambulatory
Care.
2. Multipurpose Workroom (XXXXX) ...................................... 150 NSF (13.9 NSM)
Minimum NSF. Provide an additional 50 NSF if total number of projected annual
volunteer hours is between fifty and one hundred thousand. Provide an additional
150 NSF if total number of projected annual volunteers hours is greater than one
hundred thousand. Provide an additional 25 NSF if Voluntary Service will not be
located next to Recreation Service.
This area is used by Voluntary Service staff, volunteers and service organizations
for volunteer activities such as receiving, sorting and distributing donated items;
assembling / collating materials for hospital services; special projects; bagging
comfort items for distribution; volunteer clerical assistance, etc; meetings such as
volunteer orientation, VAVS Executive Committee, conferences with hospital
services, etc.
3. Volunteer Lounge (XXXXX) ................................................... 100 NSF (9.3 NSM)
Provide one per Voluntary Service.
D. Support Areas
1. Storage (XXXXX) ...................................................................... 50 NSF (4.7 NSM)
Provide one per each increment of twenty five thousand projected annual
volunteer hours. Provide an additional 25 NSF per each increment of fifteen
VAVS Organizations. Provide an additional 25 NSF if Voluntary Service is
responsible for Public Relations for the facility. Provide an additional 25 NSF is
"coffee program" is provided.
Voluntary Service (Chapter 290): Page 6 of 9
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