We are studying the feasibility of acheiving LEED certification for a series of floors in an office building.
Can the proejct still acheive the Integrative process credit even if the sites are pre-selected, hence there is no need to go through the site selection analysis which is part of the credit requirements?
Bipin Karki
Project Manager - Sustainability Division84 thumbs up
June 21, 2021 - 11:11 am
Hello Nermin,
Yes, the project can attempt this credit for pre-selected sites. I think you are asking about this in terms of the ID+C project. The project must assess at least two potential locations or base building options, even if the site was pre-selected. You can refer to the LEED Interpretation 10471 (https://www.usgbc.org/leedaddenda/10471) for more information on this. The LI does not specifically address pre-selected sites but for the project, teams renovating their own space. Since project renovating their own space within base building are required to do site selection analysis, the pre-selected site must perform the site selection analysis. Hope this helps!
Nermin Hegazy
June 23, 2021 - 1:41 am
Hello Bipin,
Thank you for your quick feedback. It is very helpful.
Yes it is for a rennovation project to earn the LEED ID+C certification. The owner has offices (multiple floors) in two base buildings.
The owner is not cosndiering any other alternative locations so not sure what would the site analysis compare to in that case, would it be a hypothetical site in that case? or could it be just a site analysis on the two base buildings selected to outline the key characteritcs of each building?
Best,
Nermin
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
495 thumbs up
June 23, 2021 - 5:48 am
I experienced this same situation on a LEED CI within an existing factory. GBCI's review comment was:
"The worksheet does not confirm that the project fully assessed at least two potential locations or base building options. Per LI 10471, project teams in an existing space should identify at least one viable alternative location, undertake the comparison outlined in the Site Selection requirements, and complete all associated documentation. Per the Rating System requirements, "Before site selection, analyze project goals to identify and select the building site that will provide the most opportunities and fewest barriers for the tenant improvement project. Assess at least two potential locations or base building options, taking into consideration at least the attributes listed in the rating system." "
My project was located within one of the biggest candy factories in the world that has been on that site since the 1950's. Odd that USGBC / GBCI would make a small internal CI project evaluate other locations, as opposed to understanding the special circumstances of the project.
We were awarded the IP credit but had to explain how the existing site had multiple LEED buildings, is connected to a huge PV array, has an established quality transportation network, etc..
echoing Bipin's comment, i believe this post should be tagged CI as opposed to NC.
v4 CI requires Energy & Site be addressed within IP.
v4 NC requires Energy & Water be addressed within IP.
Bipin Karki
Project Manager - Sustainability Division84 thumbs up
June 23, 2021 - 12:40 pm
As suggested by Dvaid above, I would include a comparative site (could be nearby other site) analysis and also a site analysis on the two base buildings selected to outline the key characteritcs of each building. This should be enough to document site analysis for IPc.