Check LEED's Minimum Program Requirements

As a school system, we are talking to USGBC about attaching a large modernization (all new construction) to a small, recently-built wing or gym and about whether we can exclude the existing-to-remain from the LEED boundary. When we get some guidance, will be happy to share what we learn.

Folks: We met with USGBC and GBCI and expressed our concerns that LEED 2009 school projects that were connecting to a recent addition (classroom wing or gym) not part of the modernization would fail to meet Minimum Program Requirements that a project be all one building. Following is the reasonable response we got:

"RE Minimum Program Requirements

a. I am happy to report that my recollection of forthcoming revisions to the Supplemental Guidance with respect to additions requiring a separate name and address was correct - a separate address will not be required for addition projects. Please continue to use a unique name for your LEED projects and provide signage to indicate the existing portions of the building that were excluded from the LEED submission.

b. I have also discussed the concern expressed regarding the relative size of the new addition with respect to the existing building with colleagues in the LEED department – again, provided the project scope is clearly communicated to the occupants there are currently no restrictions on the size of an addition.

c. As we discussed, LEED for Schools is a whole building rating system and does not permit certification of partial buildings – additions are the only exception. As such, the specific examples discussed during our meeting, discrete wings of an existing building remaining (no renovation of the existing portion) with a clear junction between the LEED building and the non-LEED spaces, will meet the MPRs. If renovation work is undertaken within the existing portion of the building as part of the construction of the new addition, then those existing spaces would need to be included within the LEED Project Boundary and the whole building addressed in all prerequisites and credits."

We are planning to post signs on the non-touched part of the school explaining that the LEED rating does not apply to this area.

Karen

We have any 51,100 sqft building that we are building a 10,900 addition onto. There will be circulation (through doors) between the two buildings, although there will be separate HVAC systems. Site work is included in the scope and in phase 1 (we are in phase 2) a large portion of the existing buidling's roof was remediated and replaced. Are we able to use LEED NC even though the addition is only 20% of the total building (includes the exisiting building)or certify just the addition? If this is not possible, is LEED EBOM our only option?

What if the addition was closer to 45-47% of the existing building? Most of the addition will have its own HVAC, though part of the addition will expand an existing space and so use the same building systems. Is this more appropriate as a major renovation or EB?