This may be a dumb question, but I have a project that falls under Case 3 - provide vegetated open space equal to 20% of the project's site area. I can't find any credit language that says whether the site area includes the building footprint or not. Other open space requirements in both SS5.1 and other options of SS5.2 are pretty clear about whether to include or exclude the building footprint, but this option doesn't seem to have a clear distinction. My project is on a very tight urban site that is primarily made up of pedestrian hardscape/ vegetation, but it comes nowhere close to 20% of the overall site if the footprint is included. Am I missing something?

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Nicole Michel

LEEDuser Basic Member

6 thumbs up

Mon, 04/11/2011 - 20:24

Hi Ellen, I believe the definition of site area does include the building footprint. In the glossary at the back of the Reference Guide, the definition of site area is: synonymous with property area. Under property area: is the total area within the legal property boundaries of a site; it encompasses all areas of the site, including constructed and non-constructed areas.

Manny Iglesia

LEED BD+C O+M

Carde Ten Architects

LEEDuser Basic Member

74 thumbs up

Thu, 12/15/2011 - 19:08

Hi Ellen, Site Area would mean something that you are developing under your limit of work. Say, if you are to build a multi-purpose building in a park setting, you cannot claim the whole park as your site. You draw a limit of work area you need to accomplish your task. Remember, the 'dumbest question' is a 'question' you never asked.

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Definition of Site Area?

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