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Naming of Interior Space Policy

The Administrator of General Services is authorized under 40 U.S.C. Section

3102, as amended to name and rename or otherwise designate any building or

facility that is under the jurisdiction, custody or control of the General Services

Administration (GSA). However, this law does not apply to the naming or

renaming of space or rooms (signage) in GSA buildings. Since naming or

changing the name of space or rooms in buildings is operational, the

Administrator is authorized under 40 U.S.C. Sections 121, 581, 582(b), 3101,

8101, and Reorganization Plan No. 18 of 1950, to issue guidance on naming or

renaming space or rooms inbuildingsunderGSA’sjurisdiction,custodyor

control including buildings delegated to other Federal agencies by the

Administrator of General Services.

Defining Terms

The term space for purposes of this policy describes the area in the building

assigned to the tenant agency. The term room typically describes space that is

distinguishable within a structure. Rooms are normally separated by interior

walls from other spaces or passageways and separated by an exterior wall from

the outdoor areas. Rooms in this policy are assigned to the tenant agency.

Selecting a Name

All names submitted shall be in good taste and not inflammatory. Persons’

names submitted shall memorialize (commemorate or preserve to memory) an

individual under this policy. The person would have worked in the building or

was an employee of the agency that occupies the space in the building.

Requests to memorialize the naming or renaming of space or rooms shall be

supported by a written justification. The justification shall be signed by the head

of the agency or designee and forwarded to GSA.

Steps to Name or Rename Space or Rooms: Request and Approval, Design

and Installation, and Cost

Owned Space

 Request and Approval: An agency that wants to name or rename space or

rooms in GSA-operated buildings shall submit in writing its request to the

appropriate GSA Assistant Regional Administrator (ARA) or designee for

approval.

 Design and Installation: An agency that wants to install signage, including

plaques, in GSA buildings shall make its request through the GSA
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property manager or appropriate regional designee. The GSA regional

office shall perform all installations of signage. Designs and materials

used to construct signage, and techniques employed to remove and install

signage, except in leased space, shall comply with GSA's P100 - Facilities

Standards for the Public Buildings Service. For information on the P100

contact the Office of the Chief Architect.

 Cost: An agency that requests to name or rename space or rooms in the

agency’sassignedspaceshallpaythefullcosttoremovethe old signage

and install and maintain the new signage. The agency shall pay to GSA

the cost to restore any change to signage when the agency vacates the

space.

If GSA requires a new design standard for signage in an agency’sspace,

the agency may be responsible for paying for the change. GSA will

determine these situations on a case-by-case basis.

Delegated Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Space

 Request and Approval: An agency that wants to name or rename space or

rooms in GSA buildings where O&M authorities are delegated to other

Federal agencies by the Administrator of General Services, shall submit

its request to the head of the agency or designee responsible for the

delegation. The agency shall send a copy of its request to GSA’sARA or

designee for review. GSA can deny a request if the work is not consistent

with the design standards in the P100 or with the requirements of this

policy.

 Design and Installation: An agency that wants to install signage, including

plaques, in GSA buildings where O&M authorities are delegated to other

Federal agencies by the Administrator of General Services shall make its

request through the agencies’building property manager and coordinate

such requests through the GSA property manager, realty specialist, or

appropriate regional designee. Signage installations can be performed

either by GSA on a reimbursable basis or by the delegated agency

contractor. Designs and materials used to construct signage, and

techniques employed to remove and install signage, except in leased

space, shall comply with GSA's P100.

 Cost: The cost to change, replace, and maintain signage in delegated

space is the responsibility of the Federal agency that is delegated O&M

responsibility for the building by the Administrator of General Services.

Agencies with space in delegated buildings shall pay to the agency with

O&M authority the cost to restore any change to signage when the agency

vacates the space.
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Leased Space

 Request and Approval: An agency that wants to name or rename space or

rooms in leased buildings assigned to the agency does not require the

approval of the lessor or GSA. However, the approval of the lessor or

GSA may be required if the naming or renaming of space involves the

alteration of leased space. The agency shall provide to the lessor and

GSA’sARAordesignee written notice of any change to the name of

space or rooms in the agency’sassigned space for purposes of tracking

this activity.

 Design and Installation: An agency that wants to install signage, including

plaques, in leased buildings shall coordinate its request through the lessor

and the GSA property manager, realty specialist, or appropriate regional

designee.

 Cost: An agency that requests to name or rename space or rooms in the

agency’sassigned space shall pay the full cost to remove the old signage

and install and maintain the new signage. The agency shall pay the cost

to restore any change to signage when the agency vacates the space.

If GSA requires a new design standard for signage in an agency’sspace,

the agency may be responsible for paying for the change. GSA will

determine these situations on a case-by-case basis.

Joint Use Space

 Request and Approval: An agency that wants to name or rename space or

rooms in joint use space (conference rooms, auditoriums, cafeterias,

credit unions, libraries, child care centers, health units, fitness centers,

etc.) shall require written concurrence from the heads of all agencies, or

their designees, that occupy the building before pursuing a request to

name or rename space under this policy. The processing of a request to

name or rename space shall include submitting copies of these

concurrences to the GSA ARA or regional designee for approval. In

leased buildings, the agency shall contact its local GSA regional office

before asking the lessor to initiate a name request.

 Design and Installation: An agency that wants to install signage, including

plaques, in joint use space shall coordinate its request through the

property manager, realty specialist, or appropriate regional designee.

Designs and materials used to construct signage, and techniques

employed to remove and install signage, except in leased space, shall

comply with GSA's P100.

 Cost: BasedonGSA’spricingpolicythe cost to change, replace, and

maintain signage in joint use space is GSA’sresponsibility. GSA shall pay
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the cost to restore any change to signage in joint use space. GSA shall

pay to implement a new design standard for signage in joint use space.

GSA shall pay for changes to building directory boards or other signage to

reflect updated information relevant to agency titles or personnel or to help

directtheflowoftrafficinthebuildingtoanagency’sspace.

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Space

 Request and Approval: An agency that wants to name or rename space or

rooms in historic buildings under the jurisdiction, custody or control of GSA

is subject to the review and consultation requirements of Section 106 of

the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. Signs

installed in spaces designated asrestorationzonesinthebuilding’s

Historic Structure Report (HSR) or Building Preservation Plan (BPP) shall

be approved by the GSA regional historic preservation officer (RHPO)

prior to commitment of Federal funds for sign fabrication and installation.

If a building HSR or BPP is not yet completed, the RHPO shall determine

thebuilding’spreservationzonesbasedonGSAzoningguidelinesandthe

Department of the Interior preservation planning standards. The RHPO

will coordinate required 106 compliance reviews and provide guidance on

Section 106 submission requirements.

Spaces named by Acts of Congress can only be renamed by superseding

legislation.

 Design and Installation: An agency that wants to place signage, including

plaques, in a historic building shall make its request to the RHPO through

the GSA property manager or appropriate regional designee. The GSA

regional office shall install the signage. Signage that is installed in

restoration zones or rehabilitation zone circulation spaces shall require

the agency to submit to the RHPO a report describing the proposed

signage design, including anchoring locations and means of support, with

captioned photographs indicating planned signage locations and detail

drawings showing proposed signage materials and detailing. Care shall

be taken to avoid damaging the buildings historic materials and finishes.

Anchors installed in stone walls shall be placed in mortar joints only.

Anchors shall not be installed in the face or finished surface of historic

masonry units or unpainted architectural surfaces such as stained wood,

finished metal, or architecturally finished concrete.

Designs for signage shall conformtotheSecretaryoftheInterior’s

Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and GSA signage

design guidelines for historic buildings, available at

www.gsa.gov/historicpreservation (click on “Technical Resources”then

“GSA Technical Preservation Guidelines”).New signage shall be

designed to be compatible in scale, finish, anddetailingwiththebuilding’s
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original materials and design. New signage within restoration zones shall

beofcomparablequalitytothespace’soriginalhistoricmaterials.

In historic buildings where O&M authorities are delegated to other Federal

agencies, the request for changes to signage shall be submitted to the

RHPO, as outlined above, through the GSA property manager, realty

specialist, or appropriate regional designee. Signage installations can be

performed by GSA on a reimbursable basis or by the delegated agency

contractor. Designs and materials used to construct signage, and

techniques employed to remove and install signage, except in leased

space, shall comply with GSA's P100.

 Cost: An agency requesting to name or rename space or rooms in the

agency’sassignedspaceshallpaythefullcosttoremovethe old signage

and install and maintain the new signage. The agency shall pay to GSA

the cost to restore any change to signage in historic buildings when the

agency vacates the space. This also applies to agencies that occupy

GSA-delegated buildings. In these circumstances the agency with space

in a delegated building shall pay the agency with O&M authority the cost

to restore any change to signage when the agency vacates the space.

Maintenance of Signage

All signs to name or rename space or rooms in GSA-controlled space shall be

maintainable and adjustable for agency moves and other changes to ensure their

long-term durability and value as specified in the P100. Installation, materials,

and detailing shall integrate well with the architecture of the building to ensure

that signage does not become dated or otherwise adversely affect the building.

Where possible, installations shall combine multiple signs in the same vicinity to

minimize clutter.

Accessibility Requirement for Signage

Agencies that name or rename space or rooms in space (except leased space)

shall work with GSA’sregions to ensure compliance with applicable accessibility

requirements in the P100. For policy on signage at leased buildings consult the

Americans with Disabilities Act. Design and installation shall also comply with

other requirements and standards cited in this directive.