The UW Real Estate is responsible for all aspects of leasing off-campus space for University departments.

Please use the Request for Leased Space Form to start the leasing process.

To help meet your requirements for leased space, the UW Real Estate Asset Manager assigned to your lease will request the following information from you:

• Name of contact person for your department who can make business decisions about the lease terms
• Critical dates: start and end of desired lease period
• Budget restrictions
• Preferred location
• Number of staff
• Use and design (e.g., private offices, cubicles, laboratories, conference rooms, storage, lunch room, fax/copy space, etc.)
• Telecommunication needs
• Parking needs
• Names of other UW departments that will share space (if any)
• Campus mailbox requirements (not all off-campus sites receive UW mail delivery)

For estimating purposes you will need about 270sf per person for a typical office suite with a mix of cubicles and private offices. If you plan a more open office with most staff working in cubicles you will need less space, about 220sf per person. This will give you your estimated rentable square feet (RSF).

Space is measured by assignable square feet, usable square feet, rentable square feet, and gross square feet. Below is a comparison:

Assignable square feet (ASF) is the measurement within the interior walls of a room or area and does not include interior circulation and common areas (kitchen, copy area, file storage, etc.).

Usable square feet (USF) is the assignable area (ASF) plus interior circulation and common areas. For estimating purposes, multiply ASF by a factor of 1.40 to get USF.

Rentable square feet (RSF) is the area for which rent is typically charged and is therefore the number to pay attention to for budgeting purposes. It is the usable area (USF) plus the tenant's percentage share of the building's common areas (lobby space, corridors, restrooms, etc.). For estimating purposes multiply USF by a factor of 1.16 to get RSF.

Gross square feet (GSF) is the total area, measuring from the outside of the exterior walls and including all vertical penetrations, such as elevator shafts. It also includes basement space.

Leasing costs depend on market forces, location, amount of space required, type of use (office, lab or clinic) and tenant improvements required/desired. To help estimate lease costs, please contact the UW Real Estate Asset Manager assigned to your project . There are other costs to consider including, but not limited to, parking, telecommunications, furniture, moving expenses, equipment insurance, and UW Mailing Services. See Tenant Responsibilities for more information.

Monthly staff commuter parking is the responsibility of the individual or the department to arrange and is not arranged or paid through UW Real Estate. Only business-related parking (parking for visitors, patients and vendors) can be addressed in the lease and charged as rent. This is typically limited to 1-2 stalls per 1000 square feet of rented space. Please see Commuter Services for alternative transportation information.

Gross Lease (same as Fully Serviced Lease) is the most common lease. Under a gross lease, the stated rent includes the tenant's share of the building's operating expenses. This is the preferred lease because it makes budgeting for rent more predictable for grant-funded tenants.

Triple Net Lease (NNN) requires the tenant to pay base rent plus a share of the Operating Expenses (OE) for the leased property. Such expenses typically are itemized within the following categories: Taxes; Insurance; Utilities; and CAM (Common Area Maintenance) charges. Lease costs are less predictable for a NNN lease because the landlord provides an estimate of OE each lease year and adjusts for actual expenses at the end of each year. If expenses are greater than estimated, the tenant pays the difference; if expenses are less than estimated, the tenant receives a credit. REO performs CAM reconciliation for NNN leases annually.

An Occupancy Agreement (OA) is the document used instead of a lease when a UW tenant occupies off-campus space that is owned or master-leased by the University (space at Sand Point, Roosevelt Commons or 4225 Roosevelt, for example). The Occupancy Agreement is signed by the tenant and REO.

A master lease is a lease controlling subsequent leases. The University leases an entire building and then provides space within the building to UW Departments.

The process on average takes three to six months. Unique department requirements, market forces, type of use and amount/complexity of tenant improvements can impact the length of time before occupancy. For details, please see our Sample Timeline. The UW Real Estate Asset Manager assigned to your project will develop a customized timeline for your particular project and update it regularly.

• Sends Welcome letter to Tenant within 24 hours of receiving a request to lease space off-campus.
• Confirms all necessary approvals to lease off campus space have been obtained.
• Finds space to meet Department needs.
• Negotiates lease.
• Works with Department and Landlord and any consultants to develop space plan, construction schedule, and budget for tenant improvements.
• Signs final lease after Department approval and sends to Landlord for signature.
• Sends copy of fully executed lease to Department.
• Coordinates the process for tenant improvements.
• Pays rent to Landlord and recharges Department's budget.
• Notifies Department prior to lease expiration date or option to renew lease date.
• Administers lease and acts as Department's representative to Landlord.

The UW Real Estate Tenant Services Manager is ready to assist you with coordinating any of the following:

• Complete Request for Leased Space Form and obtain all necessary approvals on form.

• Determine lab safety requirements if applicable
• Contact Environmental, Health and Safety for more information
• Arrange telecommunications (computer and telephone) services.
• Contact UW Technology Service Center to begin planning and budgeting for telecommunications (computer and telephone) services . See under "off-campus locations" section.
• Coordinate procurement of new office furniture and surplus of old furniture
• Contact Purchasing Department to purchase furniture .
• Coordinate the move
• Schedule movers by contacting Property and Transport Services. Also arrange move with the Property Manager to comply with building hours, policies and restrictions.
• Arrange for campus mail services
• Contact Mailing Services to determine nearest established mailstop or inquire about cost to add your building to their route.
• Procure equipment insurance
• Contact Equipment Insurance.
• Arrange for private security system, if desired
• Contact Purchasing Department for details about the University's state contract with ADT for security system installation and monitoring. Installation must be coordinated with the Property Manager.
• Provide budget number(s) to UW Real Estate for recharging monthly rent and other costs
• Contact UW Real Estate Accounting. Budget numbers are assigned by UW Grants and Contracts.
• Develop an Emergency Evacuation and Operation Plan
• Develop an emergency plan. This is the department's responsibility. Use Environmental Health &Safety's Emergency Evacuation and Operation Plan template as a guide.
• Arrange Staff commuter parking
• Arrange monthly staff commuter parking. This is the responsibility of the employee or the department, not UW Real Estate. Nor is it paid thru UW Real Estate. Rates in the University District range from $75 to $125 per month. See Commuter Services for alternative transportation information.