Rating System Selection Policy (PDF)

Thank you for the link! I came across this document a month ago but had trouble finding it on the USGBC and GBCI sites. It is exactly what I need.

Tristan, I've been trying to figure out what system to use and happened to run across that document prior to finding this thread. It's helpful but not "exactly" of course. We have a project which is a warehouse. The owner will be renovating it specifically for two manufacturers who will each also have offices, and a spec office area which will be finished out with basic finishes. They'll be doing some sitework, new mechanical/electrical/plumbing, moving a couple of interior walls, and adding an elevator. The elevator is currently the only work planned for the envelope. My problem is I can't figure out if LEED-CI is what I should be using or not! This project doesn't seem to cleanly enough fit in any category. Perhaps it would be considered a "major renovation" and therefore under LEED-NC? Can you help?

Tristan, I think you're right. I suppose I just needed someone elses opinion! Thanks :-)

We are working on a 10 story mixed use project; 45% residential and 55% office and retail and would prefer to register the project under LEED NC. Greater than 50% of the project will be complete at the time of certification. I see references in previous posts to a requirement to provide a TI manual for future tenant fit outs but am having trouble finding specific reference to and direction for this in the 2009 BD&C reference guide or on the USGBC website.

I am looking for guidance regarding which rating system to use. Our project is a three story, 40,000 sq ft commercial office building in the final stages of construction. We had approached the design using LEED-NC v2009. Since then, we sold the majority of the first floor, resulting in 9,500 sq ft of area (approx. 24% of the gross building area) belonging to a separate owner. We own 30,500 sq ft and will occupy 26,500 sq ft (66% of the gross building area), with the remaining 4,000 sq ft of our property having an unfinished interior for future tenants. According to the Rating System Selection Guide V4 updated September 1, 2011, we should use Core and Shell then could do Commercial Interiors for our finished spaces. But LEED Interpretation ID# 10102 (dated 11/1/2011) says “No more than 40% of the certifying gross floor area of a LEED project may consist of incomplete space, unless the project is using the LEED for Core and Shell rating system.” So which rating system or systems can we fit under? Selfishly, we would prefer to use NC, since we have done most of the documentation and registered under that system. Are there any options to stay under NC? If using NC, would the Letter of Compliance from the owner and non-binding Tenant Design and Construction Guidelines satisfy the requirements, when having incomplete spaces?

If your company is occupying and controling the buildout of 66% of the gross building area you should be fine pursuing LEED NC. Having TI guidelines for the incomplete spaces should also be fine.

Hello, All: I am working on a project in China, intend to apply for LEED 2009 Platinum. On the site, all together we have 5 buildings, current usage type are all manufactures. Owner only want to apply for #1 building which is going to be in phase 1 construction, also because only #1 building has certain percentage of office function, about 80%. According to the permitting process in China, the owner needs to apply for two permits: first for base building including all the major structure and mechanical system; second permit is for the interior fit-out, office portion. However this is only relate permitting process, when the team design and build the project they are going to treat the building as a whole. My question: should I apply for core and shell or new construction? If I can choose anyone of the two systems, which is one has more advantage?