We are designing a new 116,000 SF, 8 story University building to house distinct academic departments. This new building will be attached (but it is not an addition to the existing building) to an adjacent 4 story 81,000 SF non-LEED certified University building at 3 levels (basement, first floor and second floor) via corridor doors seperating the new building from the existing building. As part of the new building project we will renovate a total of 5,900 SF of the existing 81,000 SF building (representing 7% of the existing buiding space).

We have reviewed MPR2 and MPR3 but still are unclear on some matters as our project is not an "addition" to the existing building though it is "attached", and the renovated area of 5900 SF is "minor" in our opinion. Our question is: must we include the entire 81,000 SF existing building as part of the LEED Project or only the 5,900 SF of renovated area? Alternatively, should the 5,900 SF renovated area (and the entire existing building) be excluded from the LEED project? In discussing attached buildings, MPR2 does state that "Generally, construction work or space that serves buildings other than the one certifying should be excluded from the LEED project boundary. Note that construction work extending into non-certifying area must be consistently excluded from the certification process." Other language in the MPR Guidance documents appears to require that the entire 81,000 SF existing building needs to be included.

We would appreciate LEED Users help on this issue; thank you.