Our client is going to lease the whole building (which is being renovated right now) and he is considering LEED certification for his office. He will be responsible for fit-out preparation. Can an office which occupies the whole building apply for LEED CI certification?
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Charalampos Giannikopoulos
Senior Sustainability ConsultantDCarbon
80 thumbs up
July 10, 2015 - 3:14 am
If the project scope totals 40% or more of the building gross floor area, then LEED for Commercial Interiors is not the appropriate choice for this project, and certification should be pursued under one of the BD+C whole building rating systems (Rating System Selection Guidance, page 8).
If you are considering using LEED v2009, please review the 40/60 rule of thumb on page 7 of the LEED Rating System Selection Guidance (http://www.usgbc.org/Docs/Archive/General/Docs6667.pdf) for detailed guidance on selecting the most appropriate rating system for your project.
Agata Mozer
GO4IT SP Z OO SP K25 thumbs up
July 10, 2015 - 4:29 am
We wanted to use LEED 2009 for Commercial Interiors because our client doesn't own the building so he won't be responsible for its renovation. He will only lease it and that means that he will have control over fitout works.
I was checking LEED Rating Secelction Guidance and it's still not entirely clear. According to section "Additional Aplications and Guidance" on page 8 it seems that we could use LEED CI because the client leases more than 90% of the building but he is not the entity that will conduct major renovation of the core and shell building. Please let me know if my interpretation is wrong.
If in this case LEED CI is not appplicable it seems to me that the clients are penalized only because they lease a whole building and they can't use any type of certification at this moment. They can't use LEED NC because they don't own the building and they can't use LEED EBOM because this system is for existing buildings (they would have to wait at least one year).
Charalampos Giannikopoulos
Senior Sustainability ConsultantDCarbon
80 thumbs up
July 13, 2015 - 3:20 am
I have had a similar case and we were instructed by the USGBC customer service to use LEED NC. However, since your client will only have control over fit-out works and lease their space, I suggest that you contact directly the USGBC customer service describing the situation and asking for instructions in order to confirm the use of LEED ID+C.