I. Scope:
This policy, and its associated procedures, applies to all George Mason University units, departments, employees, volunteers, contractors, Tenants, and any affiliated parties who wish to undertake Modification or Decoration within University Facilities.
II. Policy Statement:
All Modifications or Decorations occurring in University Facilities must comply with this policy and to procedures established by Facilities Administration as well as all state and federal building codes and university Design Standards Manual.
A. Modifications to University-Owned Facilities
Occupied by George Mason Employees: All Modifications to University‑Owned Facilities occupied by university employees must be planned and executed under the direct oversight of Facilities & Campus Operations. All requests for Modification to University‑Owned Facilities must be initiated through the Facilities Project Request process: https://facilities.gmu.edu/project-requests/
Occupied by Tenants: All Modifications to University‑Owned Facilities occupied by Tenants must be initiated through the External Tenant Permit Portal and require approval by Facilities & Campus Operations and Real Estate Services.
B. Modification to University-Leased Facilities
Occupants of University-Leased Facilities leased to George Mason (i.e., not on University‑owned property) are required to negotiate space Modification and Decorations with the lease space owner/landlord. All Modifications to spaces leased to the university must be initiated through the Facilities Project Request process: https://facilities.gmu.edu/project-requests/
C. Decoration
Decoration of an individual’s Work Area with personal items is permitted without prior approval so long as such Decoration adheres to the restrictions below and does not affect permanent infrastructure or safety systems. Employees are responsible for the personal property they introduce into the workplace and are responsible for any damage caused by personal property in the workplace, except for minor drywall damage caused by the proper application of mounting hardware designed for drywall applications. The university is not responsible for personal property or damages resulting from the use of personal property.
Personal items (including but not limited to art, pictures, diplomas, etc.) hung on walls must meet the following:
- Be affixed with removable non-damaging adhesive hangers or hooks or mounting hardware designed for dry-wall applications.
- May not extend more than four inches from the wall.
- May not impede or obstruct egress or the operation of building and life safety systems.
- Items hung on walls may not exceed the rating of the non-damaging adhesive hangers or hooks and may not weigh more than one pound.
Notification to, and approval from, Facilities & Campus Operations is required whenever:
- Decorations will be hung in communal areas (g., suites, hallways).
- Items weighing more than one pound are affixed to a wall or other vertical surface.
- Shelving is required, excluding shelving for bookcases that are already affixed to the wall to prevent tipping over.
- University property (g., furniture, equipment, contents of an office or university space) must be moved to a new location outside of the current space.
D. New Furniture and Equipment
All new furniture and/or equipment purchases exceeding $1,000 or that have installations that require power, plumbing, infrastructure, or modification to a space must be reviewed and approved by Facilities & Campus Operations to ensure compatibility with building infrastructure, compliance with applicable codes, accessibility standards, and alignment with university design guidelines.
III. Definitions:
Decoration: means placing in a Work Area any item, including decor, that does not improve the functionality or utility of the space.
Modification: means any change to a University Facility including, but not limited to, the following: structural, electrical, mechanical, or plumbing systems such as walls, wall penetrations, ceilings, electrical systems, plumbing systems, mechanical systems, information technology systems, life safety systems, floors, cabling, installation of equipment or materials that are connected to the building infrastructure, building exterior, and landscaping. Examples of Modifications include, but are not limited to:
- Paint or surface treat walls, doors, or other surfaces
- Install, modify, or remove local or networked security and information technology systems (e.g., cameras, alarms, panic buttons, access controls)
- Make structural modifications or alter building hardware (e.g., door fixtures, locks, windows, appliances, walls, ceiling, floor, or equipment)
- Install equipment that is temporarily or permanently wired to the building electrical systems
- Build permanent or temporary structures that impact occupancy, obstruct egress, or interfere with building systems or operations
Tenant: means an external entity leasing a University‑Owned Facility within a building owned and operated by George Mason University.
University Facility: means all University-Leased Facilities and University-Owned Facilities.
University-Leased Facility: means any portion of a building, structure, or area that is not owned by the university but is utilized by the university through an executed contractual agreement.
University-Owned Facility: means buildings and spaces owned by the university
Work Area: means the space allocated to a university employee for the purpose of conducting university business, such as individual offices or shared spaces.
IV. Responsibilities:
A. Vice President of Facilities & Campus Operations
The Vice President for Facilities & Campus Operations shall work with other university departments and regulatory agencies as necessary to develop and implement procedures to ensure full compliance of the design and execution of the work with applicable codes, permitting requirements, and other university concerns.
V. Compliance:
Units or employees found to be in violation of this policy may be subject to corrective or disciplinary actions, up to and including loss of space privileges and personnel actions in accordance with applicable university policies and procedures.
VI. Timetable for Review:
This policy, and its related procedures, shall be reviewed every three years.
VII. Amendments:
Amendments must be approved by the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and the Provost and Executive Vice President.
VIII. Dates:
Approved and effective on April 27, 2026.
Page created: April 27, 2026