We have a project with 3 buildings located on the same plot, that are physically attached by two underground levels made up of technical rooms, parking spaces, bicycle racks, showers and garbage rooms. The three buildings have identical functions and shared MEP systems. However these buildings will have different access points and will be completely separated from the ground level and upwards. This project will be certified under Core and Shell. Can we certify the three buildings together (as one building) and receive one certification for the project? Or do we have to certify them separately?
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Ralph Bicknese
PrincipalHellmuth & Bicknese Architects
21 thumbs up
June 17, 2015 - 11:09 am
It would appear you could certify them together and may have the option to certify them separately. Please refer to "Supplemental Guidance to the Minimu Program Requirements, Rev. 2. MPR2 describes Exceptions, under Section III Buildings attached to non-LEED certified buildings, with conditions for certification. In your case you may find Section I coudld also apply.
If you wish to certify them all there is guidance for Multiple Buildings on page 22 and there is gudance on the same page for Defining 'one building' if you wish to certify them as one building. I woudld think it would make best sense to combine them as one.
Michael Smithing
Director - Green Building AdvisoryColliers International Ltd.
304 thumbs up
June 21, 2015 - 10:14 pm
If the buildings are only attached underground as indicated, they cannot be certified as a single building - you would need to certify them as a group. This would provide a single certificate, essentially treating them as a single building once they are certified.
Group certification still requires that many (but not all) of the LEED Online forms are filled out for each building and each of the buildings is assessed a separate registration and certification fee. You won't save money this way, but there are time savings. In our experience, if the owner and the market treat the buildings as a single project then it may be better to pursue group certification.
Mario S.
27 thumbs up
June 22, 2015 - 10:59 am
The main issue in our case is that documenting each building alone will be very hard as they are sharing many functions (such as garbage room, MEP systems,etc.), besides the issue of higher certification fees if we have to certify them as a group.
Did you face any similar case where you certified multiple buildings as a group or as one, and it was approved or rejected by USGBC?