The General Services Administration (GSA) is going through massive changes these days as the new administration seeks to reduce its staffing and services — as well as its office footprint. In an effort to further streamline the use of space in its facilities, the GSA recently rolled out a tool designed to help facilities managers better oversee space management.
The GSA now is offering help to overcome shortfalls in office space with a new shared space program, Space Match, according to the Federal News Network. Its aim is to help agencies share office space by connecting those that need workspace with those that have extra seats available.
The initiative aims to help to meet increased occupancy rates required by the Office of Management and Budget and Congress. GSA says Space Match will help identify underused space for agencies in need of extra office space. The tool also is designed to help agencies reduce rent costs by having others fill the underused space.
The Air Force led a pilot to try out Space Match starting in October, and the site officially launched Feb. 18. GSA says other agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and the Executive Office for Immigration Review, are exploring Space Match’s potential to create more flexible and efficient real estate portfolios.
Dan Hounsell is senior editor for the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.?
