We are modeling a new building in a previously developed site, with some remains of the previous building. One of the project strategies is to step aside the building façade (2 m, approx) and maintain one of the existing façades, conforming a covered patio that will act as a double skin façade. In your opinion, should we model the previous external façade in both, baseline and proposed buildings? As a bioclimatic project strategy, could we model it only in the “proposed” building? Thanks in advance

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Marcus Sheffer

LEED Fellow

7group / Energy Opportunities

LEEDuser Expert

4454 thumbs up

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 15:28

Very hard to say specifically what you should do with the limited information. I would always do a double facade as an exceptional calculation. There are several areas of the modeling protocols that are potentially violated (i.e. identical building area, identical vertical fenestration area, ventilation rates, etc.). For a true double facade the space between the glazing should be unoccupied space and separately ventilated. We did a new building double facade that was approved for LEED. The baseline was without the double facade and the proposed was with it included. Since we did it as an exceptional calculation we had to create two different proposed models, one with and one without the double facade. Your situation is somewhat further complicated by the fact that it is an existing building. I am not sure what you mean by "some remains of the previous building", but you can sometimes claim the existing conditions in the baseline under Table G3.1-5 Baseline (f). Very hard to answer your questions without seeing the specific situation.

Alex Parella

Architect_LEED AP

LEEDuser Basic Member

6 thumbs up

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 19:19

I know it is difficult to assess about a complex solution with so little information. I appreciate your advices. The existing perimeter wall acts as a mask, because of the project decision of spacing the real façade and creating a buffer area. I guess that might be equivalent to a new building with a double skin. Perhaps the existing wall (the so called "remains of the previous building") can be modeled only as solar mask in the "baseline" and as a part of a complex double skin in the "proposed". In any case, thanks for your feedback.

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