Deadline for hiring CxA

Those design phases are fluid anyway so I would think that as long as you are close it would not be hard to justify.

Just to be clear, the credit language clearly states that the CxA shall be hired before the end of DD. In fact, it says "By the end of the design development phase, engage a commissioning authority..." So, it is no longer a recommendation, it is a requirement. But I agree with Marcus that the date of moving from DD to CD is very often fluid, and as long as you can be close it should not be a problem. However, the days of engaging a CxA during bidding or construction are finally over.

Also, as someone who provided Cx and is its biggest cheerleader, please hire the CxA in pre-design. Hire the envelope CxA in pre-design. Both can help guide the formation of the OPR and then review the BOD in more real time instead of only at the design review. The benefit to the project will be huge with only a modest increase in fee to attend a few more meetings.

"However, the days of engaging a CxA during bidding or construction are finally over." Scott Bowman. Does this apply to v.3? We are doing a project that was intended to be not more 20,000SF because it was limited by the City Zoning Compliance. There was no hired CxA but instead, the Project Architect took all the responsibilities reporting to the Owner. There was no formal OPR and BOD but only design scope or scoping documents plus email communications with the Owner during the course of the design. The project took more than 5 years to complete the construction documents because of some back and forth with the City's Council members. Now, I am taking charge of the LEED documentation and I am finding out the building area has grown to 24,000. Now, my questions are: Is the Project Architect limited to 20,000SF or 50,000SF? Does the Owner need to hire a 3rd party CxA in order to qualify for the EAc3 v.3 and will he be signing as well the EAp1? The Construction has not started yet. What roles does the new CxA have? Will he be involved in formalizing the OPR and BOD with the Owner?  Thanks. 

Sorry, newbie mistake. Instead of a reply, I posted more specific questions.

We have completed 50% DD and just noticed the "fine print" for Enhanced Cx for buildings over 2,000,000 SF needing to have a design review BEFORE starting DD. The owner is just about to hire the CxA now. On the other hand, the previous HVAC system was just changed drastically, so that might be said to be still in SD.  The MEP and architect on the project are top flight and have already prepared a BOD. We are counting on performing the full menu of Enhanced Cx options/paths. Will the USGBC work with us on this? 

At the bottom of the credit requirements, it says that for projects with peak cooling loads 2,000,000 Btu/h or more, or a total computer room peak cooling load 600,000 Btu/h or more, the CxA must conduct at least three verification reviews of the basis of design & design documents:

• before start of design development
• before midconstruction documents; and
• based on 100% complete design documents...

Does this requirement for 3 design reviews apply to Data Centers (even though it's outside of the green box), Building Enclosure Cx, and/or MEP Cx?  Since it requires a design review before the start of Design Development, this could affect the timing of the hiring of the CxA.

I believe this only applies to Data Centers since the Required Documentation section states "data centers only".  and i also think this only applies to the MEP systems since it states "Projects that select Option 1"...which is referring to the Enhanced Commissioning option, not the Envelope Commissioning option.