Should the footprint of the project building include covered walkways, porches, etc?
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NC-2009 PIf2: Project Summary Details
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Building footprint
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Jon Clifford
LEED-AP BD+CGREENSQUARE
LEEDuser Expert
327 thumbs up
November 29, 2015 - 11:18 pm
Building footprint is the area on a project site used by the building structure, defined by the perimeter of the building plan. Parking lots, parking garages, landscapes, and other non-building facilities are not included in the building footprint.
The same building footprint must be applied consistently for SSc6.1, SSc7.1, & WEc1, but the area of the footprint figures primarily into compliance calculations for Credits SSc5.1 & SSc5.2. Since SSc5.1 & SSc5.2 address Site Development (Habitat & Open Space), use the outline of the building perimeter at the ground plane (excluding covered areas).
By contrast, the development footprint would typically include the building footprint plus hardscape, access roads, parking lots, parking garages, and non-building facilities affected by development or by project site activity. In many instances, this would include covered walkways, porches, and drives.
Heather Holdridge
Sustainability DirectorLake|Flato Architects
111 thumbs up
December 8, 2015 - 1:09 pm
In our case, the building has a second story that has a higher conditioned square footage than the first story. The first story has about 4,450 in covered walkways in porches, and the second story has the same conditioned square footage as the first story plus an additional 4,450 conditioned square footage on top of the covered walkways in porches. How do I calculate my building footprint?
Jon Clifford
LEED-AP BD+CGREENSQUARE
LEEDuser Expert
327 thumbs up
December 8, 2015 - 8:27 pm
If the second floor doesn’t touch the ground, ignore it.
Based on what you have described, you should be able to trace an outline of the first-floor building structure where its perimeter meets the ground plane. If there are columns or piers around the covered walkway, trace outlines around each of these as well (like the way that the heel of your shoe makes an impression separate from the sole).
These outlines are your building footprint. Its total area should be about the same as your first floor conditioned space, but it may be slightly larger.
For other buildings, the process may differ depending on how the building interacts with the ground plane.
Eric Bautista
Head of Energy & Environmental ManagementEB Project Management | Green Building Consultants
18 thumbs up
August 4, 2016 - 3:25 am
Hi Jon, just to share with you, I almost have the same as with Heather's project, but instead of walkways, we have on-ground parking spaces under the second floor. In the farthest corner of second floor, there is an enclosed stairway/staircase that leads to the on-ground parking space.
Do I need to include the footprint of stairway to the total building footprint of the project?