My client has asked about LEED certification for a multi-phase office renovation. They intend to renovate 100% of their space over a 5-year period, with the 60,000sf split into roughly equal portions: 12,000sf/year.
If they were doing the whole thing at once it would clearly be a CI project. But, with a construction period of 5 years can you use CI? If so, how would you do it? Just wait until year 5 and submit it as one project? Tracking all of the credits for 5 years would be a challenge. Doing it as 5 smaller CI projects doesn't make much sense either.
The other track we are considering is EBOM. However, under the Facility Alterations & Additions section it says alterations must affect less than 50% of the floor area to be eligible for EB. The project won't alter more than 50% of floor area in any one phase - but we will eventually alter 100% of the floor area.
Based on the client's desires, it really wants to be a CI project - but the 5-year construction period is what throws me. But for the 50% threshold, EB might work - but the client isn't interested in big parts of the EB program, like sustainable purchasing.
Any thoughts on which way to go? Or if this is a feasible LEED project at all?
Steve Khouw
PrincipalDNA GreenDesign
169 thumbs up
July 24, 2012 - 3:34 am
Joe, if 100 per cent of the space constitutes entire GFA of the building then you may not go for CI certification. You will have to consider whole-building certification - NC, notwithstanding the duration of the project. You see, if 90% of the building is owner occupied and more than 40% of the building facade and/or building systems are under renovation, CI is not an eligible scheme. As for EBOM, you might consider the intent of this system, it really is for certifying the operations and maintenance of an existing building, not renovation.