If an existing building plays a starring role in your project, it’s a good candidate for this credit, which rewards the reuse of buildings and their structural components. In this way you can reduce the energy- and resource-intensive manufacturing of new materials, while prolonging the enjoyment of a building’s character and history. If the existing building plays only a small role, on the other hand, it is less likely to qualify for this credit, although it may contribute to materials reuse credits.

If a project includes new construction in addition to building restoration, the project is only eligible for the credit if the floor area of the new construction is no more than two times the floor area of the retained existing structure. A LEED for Schools project can earn up to two points for reusing 75% or 95% of existing building, as well as being eligible for MRc1.2: Building Reuse—Maintain Interior Nonstructural Elements.

Intensive calculations

Evaluate credit eligibility and targets using the eligibility and building reuse calculators available in the documentation toolkit. The process of documenting this credit by accurately measuring the area of building elements and tabulating them in the Building Reuse calculator can be fairly time-intensive. When measuring, be sure to consistently follow the credit rules and not double-count elements. In addition, a structural survey must generally be performed  to confirm the integrity of the structures and identify any load restrictions. Non-structural elements may also require study by a qualified professional.

Assess building reuse with these questions

• Conduct a survey of existing building for current condition. What are the likely costs of structural reinforcements, building restoration, and demolition of unusable areas?
• What is cost of new construction if whole building is demolished and replaced?
• Is the project eligible to pursue this credit, with the new construction being less than two times the floor area of the retained existing structure?
• Are there local incentives, or requirements, for restoration? Are there local restrictions on new construction that could be better negotiated with a renovation? Are there height limitations and historic standards affecting the façade?
• What procedures may be involved in seeking approval of local historic authorities?
• Is it likely that maintaining the existing building could mean remediating hazardous materials?  At what cost?