Hi,
We are working on a new construction of an office building located on a site where 3 other buildings will be also constructed. The buildings belong to different owners and the boundaries between the buildings above ground are clearly defined. However the 4 buildings share underfloor parking spaces. The parking spaces belong to another owner and are connected to all buildings but specific parking spaces are dedicated to each building users. In addition in these 3 underfloors of parking spaces under the building to be certified there are storage spaces as well as the central technical room for ventilation belonging to the owner of the building to be certified.
My question is: do we have to exclude the parking spaces from the LEED project boundary? In this case can we still use the parking spaces to earn the credit under SSc4.3 and SSc4.4 and how? or is it possible to include the parking spaces even if it belongs to another owner? In this case, we should maybe make sure that if the other buildings decide to get certified they cannot certify our parking areas with them and the parking floors must be clearly separated. is that right?
What does LEED say about multiple ownership? What does LEED say about using areas to earn credits that will not be certified with the project?
We are welcome to any comment, previous experience or advices.
Thank you!
Lauren Wallace
LEED Project Reviewer, LEED AP BD+C, Senior LEED SpecialistCertifications Department Manager, Epsten Group, Inc.
39 thumbs up
February 18, 2014 - 9:33 am
Severin,
I suggest that you read through the Supplemental Guidance to the Minimum Program Requirements (http://www.usgbc.org/Docs/Archive/General/Docs6473.pdf) to see what constitutes an appropriate LEED project boundary. If the underground parking is not within the scope of the project building undergoing certification, then these spaces (as well as any ancillary spaces) do not need to be included in the LEED project boundary. Even if the parking that is allocated for the project building undergoing certification is not within the LEED project boundary, the spaces can be used to attempt SSc4.3 and SSc4.4. Just ensure that you provide narratives that clearly explain the situation, how the spaces are allocated for the project building, and why the spaces are not included in the project boundary. Hope this helps.