According to the LEEDuser glossary, «building footprint is the area on a project site used by the building structure, defined by the perimeter of the building plan». Taking this in consideration, a building’s footprint is the horizontal projected area of the built structure from the roof down to ground level? Or is it only the area covered by the structure at ground level or at grade? In other words, do we have to consider the projections from the upper floors and/or roof? Regards.

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Tristan Roberts

Representative

Vermont House of Representatives

LEEDuser Expert

7780 thumbs up

Fri, 12/14/2012 - 18:01

Pedro, you have two options, either of which is defensible in my opinion—use the perimenter of the plan view at grade, or use the perimeter of the plan view when viewed from above the whole building. The grade-level option is usually simpler, but with large overhangs or terraces the other option might make more sense.

Ricardo Sá

Director of Sustainability

Edifícios Saudáveis Consultores (503 910 767)

LEEDuser Basic Member

79 thumbs up

Fri, 12/14/2012 - 18:51

Thank you Tristan. In the case I'm currently working the building is comprised of two volumes crossed by a road at grade level, and this volumes are connected at first floor level. Taking into account that the area of the building is larger at 1st floor level and that the ground area covered by the building's first floor is impermeable I thought that it would make more sense to consider the area of the first floor as the building footprint. By the way, do you have any idea if LEED reviewers are usually picky with area definitions such as LEED site boundary and building footprint? The project that I refered above is located inside an industrial campus, and the building that is being intervened has some vegetated areas associated that will also suffer alterations. The question is that these vegetated areas go beyond the parcel that will be altered. Do you think that I can include the altered part of these vegetated areas in the site boundary or will I be accused of gerrymandering? Regards.

Tristan Roberts

Representative

Vermont House of Representatives

LEEDuser Expert

7780 thumbs up

Fri, 12/14/2012 - 19:08

Pedro, given your situation I would consider the first floor area as the footprint.If a reviewer sees something in these figures that seems off, and that may impact credit achievement, then they might question it. It may be a good idea to include a brief narrative explaining the situation and how you are interpreting it.If the vegetated areas are adjacent to the building then I don't see why you can't include them, but it's possible that I'm not understanding your question.

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