I am currently involved on a project in its early stages of conceptual design and
will shortly move into the SD phase. We are working on designing a 64,000 SF four story addition with uses from lab space, classrooms, conference rooms, offices to lecture halls. This addition is attaching to a 1936 existing 22,000 SF building that was actually the old power
plant of the city. That said, it is a dated facility with brick exterior walls, old BUR, single pane windows all over with most of the SF of the envelope, etc. The use of this existing building and addition is for a University research facility. They house large test engines, etc. to conduct such research that is located in the existing building.

I am in charge of the LEED aspects of this project. At this time, the ADDITION only is striving for LEED Platinum certification. But, the client is asking me what will it take to include the existing building to treat the whole site as Platinum. To date, my experience lies in new construction, certifying two projects at LEED Gold. (180,000 SF total) I wanted to see if
anyone could shed some light into my investigation of the two scenarios below:

Scenario One – LEED 2009 New Construction and Major Renovation Platinum Certification of
the 64,000 SF ADDITION ONLY:
After research, I understand that USGBC gives some leeway to the term “party wall” and will allow an existing building and addition to be used as common space. Meaning walkways between are acceptable and are acknowledged to go against the no penetration as stated in the party wall definition. Is this correct?

As long as my MEP is separate from the addition and existing building, or metered as such, this complies with the MPR’s. Is this correct?

My LEED site boundary can consist of my site and simply show the existing building as not included. Is this a correct assumption? Follow all other MPR requirements such as separate name, signage, etc. and certification of the addition only can occur. (Assuming we get all the points required) Any other odd requirements I am overlooking with this scenario?

Scenario Two – LEED 2009 New Construction and Major Renovation Platinum Certification of
the addition AND existing building together:

To complete this, it looks like I can include this dated existing building as part of the certification, but recognize that there are obstacles that come with doing this. For instance, EAc1 ASHRAE and Energy modeling criteria. In looking at ASHRAE 2007 90.1, you can include the existing building with the addition, but if no upgrades are made to the existing building, then it will only hurt us for the EAc1 credit points. Any improvements for energy use we capture for the addition will simply be wiped out by the existing building. Has anyone encountered this scenario before with additions and existing buildings?

What dictates the mandatory upgrades to the existing facility? (Aside from code/life
safety) It looks like my team can strategize what options we can pursue for upgrades to assist with improving the energy efficiency for the existing building. Is it safe to assume ASHRAE will tell us what needs to happen in the existing building?

It seems that some of these credits get tricky with a new building (addition) and existing building and how they interplay- Thermal Comfort, Increased Ventilation, Controllability of Systems- Lighting, Thermal Comfort- Daylight and views, Optimize Energy performance. Does anyone have any feedback on trying to earn these credits while including an addition with an existing building?

To keep the project moving forward, I have issued a scorecard for the addition only and recommend to the client that we register the project at this time, regardless of the clarification pertaining to the existing building being in or out. I have also entertained two rating systems, LEED 2009 New Construction and Major Renovation for the addition and looking at the existing independently for LEED 2009 O&M EB. Is this a smarter route?

I apologize for being everywhere in my requests for feedback, this is kind of how the project is to date.

Best regards,
Sergio