Site Boundary
Feb 25 2010
I have a question regarding the site boundary in a project that will be registered for LEED-NC. The building is existing and the entire northern half is corporate office space that will be totally renovated including new HVAC system. The southern half of the building is the company's warehouse which is connected by two corridors to a separate manufacturing building. Could there be any problem with drawing the site boundary line directly through the
building where the office is separated from the warehouse? The office space can be completely closed off by locking doors from the warehouse and there is no overlap in occupancy.
Thanks
9 Comments
Site Boundary Through Existing Building
I would appreciate any input from anyone on this subject as I have had no luck getting clarification from USGBC.
Thanks
Shannon Gray replied Consultant, YRG sustainability Mar 03 2010
Phoebe,
Below are the Minimum Program Requirements from the USGBC. This should help to answer your question. Let us know if you have more specific questions after reading this.
LEED projects must include the new, ground-up design and construction, or major renovation, of at least one building in its entirety.
Specific Allowed Exceptions:
Horizontally attached buildings (including additions).
Horizontally attached buildings may be certified independently provided that the following two conditions are met:
a) they are physically distinct (see definition in Glossary)
b) they have unique addresses or names.
If these conditions are not met, the structure is considered a single building and must be ertified as such.
Physically Distinct: The condition in which a building has both of the following:
a) exterior walls that are party walls or are separate from adjoining buildings by air space
b) lighting, HVAC, plumbing, and other mechanical systems that are separate from the systems of adjoining buildings. LEED project boundary lines that “slice” through party walls must not pass through any mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) service infrastructure. Exceptions include buildings served by a common or shared chiller plant or heating water, or steam supply pipes (i.e., not air ducts), and only if the thermal energy serving the structure to be separated is sub‐metered.
Thanks,
Shannon
Which rating system: LEED-NC or LEED-CI?
In the "LEED 2009 Supplemental MPR Guidance" document we found that there is an exception that may allow an owner occupied building to qualify under LEED-CI rather than NC (page 10). It seems we are in a bit of grey area as to which rating system to use for this project and even if either will result in an acceptable boundary line.
The building is an existing building, 100% owner occupied & managed, with horizontal separation by a party wall that separates “National Corporate Offices” from “NJ Distribution Warehouse”. Much of the warehouse is a recent addition and is largely unconditioned space and there are no plans to renovate any part of the warehouse. Renovations to the Corporate Offices will include gut interior renovation and new mechanicals.
Per checklist/scorecard, the project stands to earn approximately the same number of points under either rating system. Is there any benefit to the pursuit of LEED-NC over LEED-CI and if for some reason the requirements are interpreted as not being met after project registration for LEED-CI, may we attempt to switch to LEED-NC?
From a theme point of view it
From a theme point of view it fits the CI better. NC has many aspects associated with what goes on outside the building, on the roof, hardscapes, stormwater, etc. CI is aimed at people who don't have much influence over things like if the roof is painted white and the hardscape is pourous. If CS was used when the building was built and assumed the tenant would build out his own HVAC distributions, then CI would be the perfect follow up. How much of the existing HVAC will be used?
Phoebe Kincaid replied Mar 04 2010
I really appreciate your input. I agree CI seems like it will be a better fit for the project. We excluded it originally because of the owner occupancy issue. The entire HVAC system and plumbing fixtures will be replaced for the Corp Office Renovation. Mechanicals are not shared between the Corp Office and the Warehouse.
The building is fairly old and definitely NOT build to LEED-CS. We do qualify for several Site Selection credits though and are not unduly penalized under the NC system even though we are not planning to pursue any of the credits as they pertain to roof or landscaping other than lighting.
Contiguous LEED Boundary with parking
My current project is an addition to an existing building in a campus setting. The addition is on the southwest side of the existing building. Only the newq addition will be certified. Currently the LEED boundary is drawn through the where the addition will be the existing building. However, additional parking is required per the project and will be located to the North of the new addition on the other side of existing parking. The new parking is no where near the addition. It is unclear to me how to draw a LEED boundary to include this parking area without hurting our chances for credits such as SSC7.1 Heat Island EffectHeat island effect refers to the absorption of heat by hardscapes, such as dark, nonreflective pavement and buildings, and its radiation to surrounding areas. Particularly in urban areas, other sources may include vehicle exhaust, air-conditioners, and street equipment; reduced airflow from tall buildings and narrow streets exacerbates the effect. - Non-roof. Is it possible to separate the LEED boundary or must I include everything?
Thanks,
Mara Baum replied Sustainability Coordinator, Anshen + Allen Architects May 12 2010
I would consider the parking to be a separate project and exclude the parking from the site boundary. Given that LEED prohibits you from gerrymandering or otherwise creating strange site boundaries, I think this is reasonable. However, if you are trying to achieve either SSc4.2 or 4.3 you may be forced into campus-wide parking calculations -- I'm not sure. You may want to review the LEED NC Application Guide for Multiple Buildings and On-Campus Building Projects.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC May 14 2010
I would also suggest that you check the SSc4.4 forum for a discussion on a related topic.
Jean Marais replied b.i.g. Bechtold INGENIEURGESELLSCHAFT MBH May 17 2010
I would include the parking as part of the project if it is an integral part of normal building operation. The fact that the parking addition was required says to me that it is.
"1. The LEED project boundary must include all contiguous land that is associated with and supports normal building operations for the LEED project building, including all land that was or will be disturbed for the purpose of undertaking the LEED project
2. The LEED project boundary may not include land that is owned by a party other than that which owns the LEED project unless that land is associated with and supports normal building operations for the LEED project building.." - MPR 3
http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=6715
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