The project is registered under LEED for Core & Shell version 2.0, the project size is as follows: Total Project Size (Gross sf) 846.113,72 sqft, Commercial Office 402.969,90 sqft, Retail 50.407,39 sqft, and Parking 392.736,43 sqft. It is located in Insurgentes avenue, one of Mexico City’s main streets, and the longest in the city. The project’s retail zone will include restaurants and a food court, both with open spaces where smoking is to be permitted according to local law. Mexico City Nonsmoker’s Health Protection Act (under chapter 2nd, section 14) states that “In the buildings, commercial establishments (restaurants and bars), hospitals, industrial and education facilities, as well as in Mexico City’s independent and government agencies, which include open areas, smoking is permitted in such areas without any restrictions, provided that the smoke derived from tobacco does not invade any closed public spaces. Notwithstanding version 2.0 of LEED for Core & Shell does not mention the possibility for applying local smoking laws in a building project, according to LEED for Core & Shell version 3.0 it is possible to establish a smoker’s program specific to a project according to local laws.
Retail (restaurants and food court):
1. Restaurant 1, located in level 1, has a total surface area of 3.035,423 sqft., distributed in 2 levels. In the upper area (level 2) there is an open terrace with tables both under and over 25 ft away from the entrance, where, according to Mexico City law, smoking is permitted.
2. Restaurant 2, located in level 1, has a total surface area of 1603,823 sqft. The restaurant has both a closed area, and an open terrace. People attending this restaurant will be able to smoke in the terrace according to local law. However, there is an emergency exit door located less than 25 ft away from the restaurant’s smoking area.
3. Also located in level 1, the food court has a total surface area of 3595,146 sqft. Next to the food court entrance, but at a distance of 25ft, there is also a smoking area, with some tables available.
Regarding points 1 and 2, Mexico City Nonsmoker’s Health Protection act allows people to smoke in the restaurant’s open spaces, as indicated above. Is this valid to comply with LEED for Core & Shell version 2.0 for this particular project? And regarding to point 2 as well, is it possible to locate a smoking area less than 25ft away from an emergency exit door (since it is only for emergency and service use only)?