The project requires the demolition of existing buildings prior to any groundwork for new construction of the library. The owner is planning on contracting the demolition work separately from the construction work and there may be up to three months after demolition before construction will begin on the library. The question is: In seeking LEED certification for the construction of the new library building, that is only 25% of a larger development, can the Sustainable Sites prerequisite be met without regard to the manner in which the site is cleared under the separate demolition contract, or does the process of demolition need to meet the prerequisite for the project, as a whole, to qualify for certification?
The demolition work is being undertaken to prepare the building site for the construction of the new library. Any work done must comply with the prerequisite requirements, irrespective of the fact that only 25% of the overall area is related to the library. A sediment and erosion control plan, specific to the site, must be adopted with measures taken to control erosion to reduce negative impacts on water and air quality. This is also a federal (USEPA) requirement if the site is greater than one acre. Applicable internationally.