Hi, we have a project where the first 4 floors are retail (shopping center, including bowling and movie theatres).
Because of the design of the shopping mall, most retail spaces do not have views to the outside, only to an interior circulation space that is closed with a dome. Has anyone been able to document the credit with spaces with views to an interior, completely daylit common space such as this dome area?
Also, the regularly occupied spaces matrix provided in the USGBC website does not mention bowling areas, would it be possible to exclude this area from calculations with a narrative?
Thanks!
Miriam
TODD REED
Energy Program SpecialistPA DMVA
LEEDuser Expert
889 thumbs up
March 11, 2016 - 8:38 am
The only possible way would be if the commercial spaces were looking into an atrium with vegetation and other natural elements.
The exclusion of the bowling alley just brought on some very interesting discussion in the office. The overall consensus was there is not anything in regards to bowling that would make having views a detriment to the activity or a safety issue. We have to come to expect bowling alleys to be cave like buildings, but what would hurt by having views. We daylight gyms and they are only excluded from views because of safety issues with glass, so what is the difference between a gym and a bowling alley. Can you really argue the glare issue in the bowling alley with the oiled lanes? I say the oiled lanes are just as reflective as wood gym floor surfaces. I say you cannot exclude from the views calcs.
If you are going to attempt a narrative to exclude them, you will need to show how having views is a detriment to the activity and there is a safety issue for having glass. I highly doubt the glass would be right next to lane or even located in a position where a bowling ball could impact them. I also don't see how having views is a detriment to the activity of bowling. Unless the PBA(Professional Bowlers Assoc.) has guidelines for how bowling alleys are to be constructed to have professional events and these guidelines exclude views, and this facility will be used for professional events, I don't see it. But this is just our opinion.
Miriam Ramirez Baumgarten
M.Sc. LEED AP BD+C, ID+C, WELL AP, EDGE AuditorBaumarch
14 thumbs up
March 11, 2016 - 10:23 am
Thanks Todd! We will try doing some more research with the PBA to see if we can justify it with a narrative