We have some rooms in our buildings that were originally intended to be office spaces, but due to downsizing or new tenant configurations tenants have made them (very) small conference rooms by throwing in two chairs and small round table. I have two questions regarding these small multi-occupant spaces.
1. You mention in your "bird's eye view" and Checklists sections that multi-occupant spaces should have at least two switches, however, in the reference guide (pg 399, under calculations) it states that "no specific types or numbers of controls are required." I understand that one switch may not be the flexible in large conference rooms, but these smaller conference rooms, one lighting switch appears to very flexible and it appears LEED does not have an actual standard, so they should comply with the credit?
2. At any moment one of our tenants could decide to turn these spaces back into an office, their intended use. Therefore complying the credit. Do we even need to count these as actual conference rooms?
Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thank you!
Natalie Bodenhamer
AssociateAltura Associates, Inc.
96 thumbs up
September 14, 2010 - 1:08 pm
Hi Wendy, good questions.
1. You are correct. As the Reference Guide states, “no specific types or numbers of lighting controls are required.”
2. I advise treating the rooms based on their current function. As they are being used for groups of two or more to meet, they should be considered as multioccupant spaces for the calculation.