Hello
Looking for some clarification when it comes to the campus approach for credit SSc2.
- The project site itself does not meet the density requirment, however, the project is on a campus. Can we then use the campus approach to include the entire campus site for denisty calculations? Does the density of the project site still need to be calculated as well as the campus denisty? Or will just the campus density suffice?
- This is the only credit we want to use the campus approach for, is that allowed, or do we have use the campus approach for all applicable credits if we do it for one?
- Once we select campus approach for this credit, are we required to create a master site plan? Would that just mean the campus site area is the master site plan?
Thank you for your time
Chad
Allison Smith
Sustainable Design LeaderHKS, Inc.
42 thumbs up
November 28, 2017 - 3:46 pm
Chad -
I recommend you review the LEED Campus Guidance document (https://www.usgbc.org/resources/leed-campus-guidance). LEED Campus allows for multiple LEED projects within the same campus boundary to earn credits without resubmitting those credits (within the same LEED version). You don't need to pursue all available campus credits as campus credits, but it would be unusual to only pursue one credit as a campus credit. There are separate fees and review process for campus credits.
SSc2 has two options and you only need to meet one to earn the credit. Are you referring to Option 1 (Development Denisty)? If you're looking at option 1, you might want to consider option 2 (commuity connectivity). There is a required residential component for option 2, but for most projects this option is easier to achieve and to document.
Eric Anderson
26 thumbs up
November 30, 2017 - 4:02 pm
Hi Chad, I would second all of Allison's comments. I would just like to clarify that although the Calculations section of the reference guide may imply otherwise, when pursuing Option 1,the project site (aka the LEED Project Boundary, or LPB) itself does not need to meet the minimum density threshold of 60,000 sf/acre, individually. That minimum density threshold just has to be met as an average across all properties within (or intersected by) the density radius, which itself is calculated based upon the size of the LPB. Thus, if your density radius does not extend outside the Campus's property boundaries, then the average density of the entire campus property (if it's all one property) would be an appropriate figure to evaluate for credit compliance, even if you are not using a Master Site (i.e. the 'campus approach' explained in the Campus Guidance). If buildings within the campus have their own, individual property boundaries, then only the subset of properties campus properties that are entirely within (or intersected by) the density radius would need to be factored into the calculation. Please refer to the LEED 2009 Reference Guide for Green Building Design & Construction for additional details.