The established project standards for New Construction and Addition projects are as follows:
  (1) Space Need--The project shall not create a campus space surplus, or add to an existing surplus, as determined by the Board's space projection model report, required by §17.100 of this title (relating to Board Reports).
  (2) Cost--The construction building cost per gross square foot shall not exceed one standard deviation above the mean of similar projects received by the Board within the last seven years, adjusted for inflation as described in the Board's Construction Cost report, §17.100 of this title.
  (3) Building Efficiency--The ratio of NASF to GSF for the space in projects for classrooms and general-purpose facilities shall be 0.60 or greater. Where the following specialized space is predominant in the project, the ratios of NASF to GSF shall be as follows:
    (A) Office space: 0.65 or greater;
    (B) Clinical facility; 0.50 or greater;
    (C) Diagnostic support laboratories: 0.50 or greater;
    (D) Technical research buildings: 0.50 or greater; and
    (E) For mixed-use facilities, the ratio of NASF to GSF shall be calculated for each space type and considered separately.
  (4) Space Usage Efficiency--The use of existing classroom and class laboratory facilities will be considered when the project includes Education & General (E&G) square footage.
    (A) Classroom space usage efficiency--
      (i) A score of 75 points or higher is considered as meeting the standard; and
      (ii) The classroom score will determine compliance for projects involving the following facility types: classroom, general; auditorium/theater; other facility types that appear to contain classrooms or similar space.
    (B) Class laboratory space usage efficiency--
      (i) A score of 75 points or higher is considered as meeting the standard; and
      (ii) The class laboratory score will determine compliance for projects involving facility type laboratory, general and other facility types that appear, as determined by the THECB staff, to contain class laboratories or similar space.
    (C) Overall space usage efficiency--
      (i) Overall score is a function of the classroom and class laboratory scores. A combined score of 150 or higher, as determined by summing the classroom and class laboratory scores, is considered as meeting the overall standard; and
      (ii) The overall score is applicable for projects involving the following facility types: athletic; office, general; office, high rise; student center; other; and projects that cannot clearly be classified in a single category of facility type.

Source Note: The provisions of this §17.30 adopted to be effective November 11, 2021, 46 TexReg 7604