Separate Demolition Package from Construction Package

Great question, and Valerie Walsh took a crack at it on the LEED-CI MRc2 page:In my opinion, the date the project is registered with the GBCI determines when your project formally declares its’ intent to pursue LEED certification and all requirements are in play. Having separate packages and/or contracts for the demo and construction work is insignificant.

If the project is registered after the demo work, it seems to me it then becomes more of an issue of how committed the team is to sustainability. This also represents an opportunity to be an environmental steward and leader in the community, provide deconstruction experience for a team, and create favorable public relations and branding opportunities for the project owner. You might also check to see if there are tax incentives in your area for deconstruction to support your business case. Run some numbers for the financial pros and cons of each scenario. Depending on the type and age of your building, there may be some real interest in the community for that salvage.