Please advise whether you think LEED-CS is the appropriate rating system
for the project, giving the following:
- The project involves converting an existing 2-story warehouse
into condos. We're renovating the core and shell, and fitting out only
the elevator lobbies and 1 model unit.
- The other condos will be built as they are sold. So, we do
not have control of the design of those units.
- Less than 40% of the gross floor area will have finishes or
MEP.
- So, the building has only 2 stories, both above grade. There
will also been an occupied roof garden (without walls).
It sounds like it would be eligible for LEED-CS, except for the fact that it's under 2 stories.
Or, would it fit into LEED for Homes? And if so, can a LEED Accredited Architect register the project, or does it have to be a Green Rater?
Lauren Wallace
LEED Project Reviewer, LEED AP BD+C, Senior LEED SpecialistCertifications Department Manager, Epsten Group, Inc.
39 thumbs up
February 3, 2014 - 3:53 pm
Beth,
CS sounds like your best bet.
Beth Nelson
Senior Project Manager / Project ArchitectNoll & Tam Architects
February 3, 2014 - 3:57 pm
Coincidentally, right after I posted this, I got this email from USGBC:
" If the building you wish to certify is 60% or more residential (including the spaces that support the residential use such as common corridors, main lobby, etc.) and it is NOT a dorm or assisted living facility, then this project is eligible for neither NC nor CS. It would be a low-rise residential building, which per the RSS Guidance are only eligible for LEED-Homes (see Residential Applications Table pop-up at bottom of this page: http://www.usgbc.org/leed/certification/guidance/space-usage-type).
"However, in Homes only 'gut-renovations' (down to the studs, or other structure such that insulation can be inspected, etc) are eligible to certify (see http://www.usgbc.org/resources/leed-homes-v2008-scope-and-eligibility-gu...).
"It appears that this project may not be eligible for any LEED rating system, unless you want to go for EBOM after the work is done and you have at least a year of typical physical occupancy that meets MPR 5's requirements for EBOM. "
Why wouldn't it be eligible? I don't see how the height of the building would impact the eligibility?
Lauren Wallace
LEED Project Reviewer, LEED AP BD+C, Senior LEED SpecialistCertifications Department Manager, Epsten Group, Inc.
39 thumbs up
February 3, 2014 - 4:16 pm
First, there is a likelihood that the person at the USGBC who answered your question may not know as much as you would like about the certification process and/or what qualifies you for which rating system, etc. They have a lot of people who plug in answers without reading your inquiry in-depth. Second, I have seen project types similar to yours go through certification. According to USGBC, as long as you meet the MPRs, you can pretty much choose whichever rating system you feel best suits your project when it comes to NC vs CS. Very rarely have I seen them kick back a project that has submitted under one rating system versus the other. The only thing I have ever seen them do is require a Schools project that submitted under NC to provide documentation demonstrating that the project meets the Schools prerequisites that differ from NC. Does Home apply to you? Yes. Can you not consider CS? I don't think the answer you received is accurate based on my experience... I also disagree that EBOM is your only option or that you possibly do not qualify for for LEED at all. In my opinion, I would request a conference call with someone at USGBC. Maybe you can get specifics behind why they feel their answer to your question is justified. If you do, please do share your discussion here. Best of luck!
Beth Nelson
Senior Project Manager / Project ArchitectNoll & Tam Architects
February 3, 2014 - 4:30 pm
Thank you for your feedback, Lauren! I'll see if I can get a conference call with USGBC.
Beth Nelson
Senior Project Manager / Project ArchitectNoll & Tam Architects
February 18, 2014 - 12:23 pm
We are most likely going to pursue LEED for Homes, working with a Green Rater.
We're going to register each of the units -- the model one as well as the future units -- as individual projects.