Building Footprint - Overhanging eaves

Gaston, building footprint is defined as the perimeter of the building plan. I interpret this to mean at grade, i.e. ground level.

What about a project with a Podium? We have a project that has 1 level of retail and then 20 levels of speculative space. Everything is applying for LEED-CS (retail and speculative spaces). The retail is at ground level and exceds the perimeter of the speculative space levels. How will the building footprint be calculated?

I would calculate the footprint based on the ground level.

Thank you April. It makes sense that the ground level will be the building footprint. But in case the level 2 is bigger than ground level, that's where I would superimpose the two shapes and get a final count. Would you agree? Thanks

Yes, this does seem like the best approach, especially considering it from the plan view. Thank you.

Dear April, my project as Michael project, the ground level shape is not the same as the upper levels but is the one with the biggest area. Upper levels are over the hardscape in groundlevel as cantilivers, should I do what Michel would do as superimpose the two or three shapes?. Thank you!

Hi Rosamaria, Yes, I believe that it's appropriate to calculate the building footprint to include the cantilevers as shown in the plan perspective. Michael, did you get any feedback from the reviewers on your interpretation?

Hi All, My project is a student residence that consists of 4 connected towers with a large podium on level 3 (with transit facilities below this). The podium is a landscaped element that is public space for the campus. I've been assuming I would calculate my building footprint from a bird's eye view, so on level one the footprint line is where the building meets the sidewalk and on level three it's where the building meets the landscaped podium. Do you think this is the correct methodology? If it calculated the building footprint from just the ground level, the footprint would be much smaller.