diff --git a/sources/mesh.F90 b/sources/mesh.F90
index fb4d570..1f5bbcd 100644
--- a/sources/mesh.F90
+++ b/sources/mesh.F90
@@ -43,27 +43,36 @@ module mesh
   integer            , save :: imi, ims, img, imu, ima, imp, imr
 #endif /* PROFILE */
 
-! file handler for the mesh statistics
+! the handler of the mesh statistics file
 !
   integer, save :: funit   = 11
 
-! flag indicating that the block structure or distribution has changed
+! the size of the common workspace
+!
+  integer, save :: nwork   = 0
+
+! the flag indicating that the workspace is in use
+!
+  logical, save :: work_in_use = .false.
+
+! the flag indicating that the block structure or distribution has changed
 !
   logical, save :: changed = .true.
 
-! dimensions of the temporary array used in the block prolongation
+! the dimensions of the temporary array used in the block prolongation
 !
   integer, dimension(3), save :: pm = 1
 
-! by default everything is private
+! the common workspace to use for local arrays
 !
+  real(kind=8), dimension(:), allocatable, target :: work
+
   private
 
-! declare public subroutines
-!
   public :: initialize_mesh, finalize_mesh
   public :: generate_mesh, update_mesh
   public :: redistribute_blocks, store_mesh_stats
+  public :: work, work_in_use
 
 !- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 !
@@ -91,8 +100,12 @@ module mesh
 !
   subroutine initialize_mesh(nrun, status)
 
-    use coordinates, only : ni => ncells, ng => nghosts, toplev
-    use mpitools   , only : master, nprocs
+    use coordinates    , only : nn => bcells, ni => ncells, ng => nghosts
+    use coordinates    , only : toplev
+    use equations      , only : nf
+    use iso_fortran_env, only : error_unit
+    use mpitools       , only : master, nprocs
+    use parameters     , only : get_parameter
 
     implicit none
 
@@ -102,6 +115,8 @@ module mesh
     character(len=64) :: fn
     integer           :: l, n
 
+    character(len=*), parameter :: loc = 'MESH::initialize_mesh()'
+
 !-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !
 #ifdef PROFILE
@@ -158,10 +173,24 @@ module mesh
 
     end if ! master
 
-! prepare dimensions of the prolongation array
+! prepare the dimensions of the prolongation array
 !
     pm(1:NDIMS) = 2 * (ni + ng)
 
+! get the requested size of the workspace
+!
+    call get_parameter('workspace_size', nwork)
+    nwork = max(nwork, (2 * NDIMS + 1) * nf * nn**NDIMS)
+
+! allocate the workspace
+!
+    allocate(work(nwork), stat=status)
+
+    if (status /= 0) then
+      write(error_unit,"('[',a,']: ',a)") trim(loc)                            &
+                      , "Cannot allocate the common workspace!"
+    end if
+
 #ifdef PROFILE
     call stop_timer(imi)
 #endif /* PROFILE */
@@ -201,6 +230,8 @@ module mesh
 
     if (master) close(funit)
 
+    if (allocated(work)) deallocate(work)
+
 #ifdef PROFILE
     call stop_timer(imi)
 #endif /* PROFILE */