We are currently working in the design of an iconic building that has 2 layers of facade. The exterior shell is just fins that runs around the main environmental envelope but away "10 Meters" from it creating outdoor external semi shaded spaces all around the building with a separate exterior structure.
The question is: when i calculate the building footprint, shall i include theses outdoor areas covered with the outer shell "which will increase the footprint drastically and will gave false impression as these covered areas are just shaded outdoor gardens and not part of the building" Or just the internal building environmental envelope?
Please Advice
Louise Schlatter
ArchitectSSOE Group
86 thumbs up
July 31, 2013 - 3:17 pm
Ahmed,
Building Footprint is a building code idea whose definition is different from the LEED defined Gross Floor Area.
The concept also known as Building Footprint, “AREA, BUILDING. The area included within surrounding exterior walls (or exterior walls and fire walls) exclusive of vent shafts and courts. Areas of the building not provided with surrounding walls shall be included in the building area if such areas are included within the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above.” 2012 International Building Code, 502.1.
“Gross Floor Area: (based on ASHRAE definition) Sum of the floor areas of the spaces within the building, including basements, mezzanine and intermediate-floored tiers, and penthouses with headroom height of 7.5 ft (2.2 meters) or greater. Measurements must be taken from the exterior faces of exterior walls OR from the centerline of walls separating buildings, OR (for LEED-CI certifying spaces) from the centerline of walls separating spaces. Excludes non-enclosed (or nonenclosable) roofed-over areas such as exterior covered walkways, porches, terraces or steps, roof overhangs, and similar features. Excludes air shafts, pipe trenches, chimneys and floor area dedicated to the parking and circulation of motor vehicles.
NOTE: while excluded features may not be part of the gross floor area, and therefore technically not part of the LEED project building, they may still be required to be part of the overall LEED project and subject to MPRs, prerequisites, and credits.” LEED Minimum Program Requirements Supplemental Guidance revision 2 (Sep 2011), page 41-42.
If I caught your meaning correctly, no. Just include the enclosed building portions in your gross floor area numbers.