Absolutely! A designer will meet with you to assess the needs. They will help to utilize the resources in Surplus or the Furnishings & Design furniture inventory. If you have existing furniture that needs a face-lift, the University has an exceptional Upholstery Department that can take a worn piece of furniture and give it a new life. E & G departments are only billed for the cost of material, which means labor is on us!
The Furnishings and Design Department was created to provide University departments with design services for furnishings and finishes (i.e. carpet, paint, etc.). An experienced staff of designers work closely with the Purchasing Department to ensure that all products purchased are of commercial quality and in compliance with the State Bid Law and University Furnishings Contract. Additionally, the Furnishings and Design Department bears the interior design responsibility of designing spaces that adhere to all building codes and meet all guidelines for the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
For smaller projects, please fill out a Design Request Form (DRF). If your project is for new construction, renovation, or has three or more trades (ex. paint, flooring, electrical, etc.) a Project Initiation Request (PIR) must be executed through Construction Administration.
The submitted form is received by the Office Associate II and then assigned to an interior designer. The designer should contact you within 48 hours after the project is assigned.
Please contact the Department of Construction Administration at 348-5950 for questions regarding the status of your PIR.
A budget is necessary to determine what specific products can be used within a certain price range. The Furnishings and Design Department has access to a multitude of products in a variety of price ranges, and we want to make sure you get what you need for a price you can afford.
There are many factors that prohibit our department from providing an estimate for our clients. Our team members are unavailable to make furniture estimates at this time due to the large volume of projects in our department and the limited knowledge of the items to be purchased prior to finding out the specifics of the project. Also, our department cannot provide an estimate of other construction and building costs, because those prices are determined by other campus departments.
Commercial furniture costs more than residential furniture due to the code requirements and industry standards it must meet. For more information on industry standards, please see the ANSI-BIFMA website.
You can, as long as documentation is provided showing that the sofa meets or exceeds CAL 133 and CAL 117. Buyer Beware….furniture purchased from a local retailer will be of residential quality and will not last as long as a commercial piece in the University’s high-use environment.
Commercial furniture is only produced on an as-needed basis. Once an order is processed from the dealer to the manufacturer, which usually takes a week, the production will begin. Typical production takes six weeks, with an additional week for transit time. This results in a typical eight-week lead time. There are quick ship options available, so please make the designer or dealer you are working with aware of any deadlines.
The Design Request Form (DRF) is used for projects that are under $5,000 and/or involve up to two trades(departments) and do not significantly change the structure of the building. The DRF is an internal document used only in Furnishings and Design. After receiving a DRF, if we believe it needs to go through the PIR system we will notify you. The Project Initiation Request (PIR) is for projects over $5,000 and/or involving multiple trades (example, flooring, painting, and furnishings). The PIR goes through the Construction Administration department.
It can be difficult to determine which form you need to fill out without seeing the space. If you would like to fill out a DRF, we can get a designer to assess if a PIR is needed based on the scope of work. If you prefer to go ahead and submit a PIR that will be fine as well. The DRF requires a Department Head/Finance Officer’s approval.