The project is a new Public Utility Operations Center, accessible via a public bike path, containing multiple buildings, as well as several smaller structures and vehicle canopies. The team has been using the LEED-NC Application Guide for Multiple Buildings and On-Campus Projects. We intend to certify the entire project and not just an individual building.Although the LEED-NC AGMBC (October 2005) states that the requirements for this credit are applicable to each building in a multiple-building project, there are circumstances for the project which require a unique approach.The Utility Operations Center contains a utility yard enclosed by a secure perimeter fence. A main building on the boundary of the utility yard fence serves as the single, primary entrance to all the buildings and users of the project. All employees (281 FTE) & visitors, regardless of final destination at the Center, must enter through this point. They cannot park personal vehicles or bicycles within the utility yard. This is a matter of employee safety, as the secure yard contains large truck traffic and heavy equipment usage.The project provides all users with secure bicycle parking, within 200 yards of their building entrance, and showering/changing facilities within 200 yards of their building entrance, with one exception. The vehicle maintenance building (Fleet Building), with an FTE of 11, does not sit within the required distance. The industrial nature of its program requires it to be located in a more remote corner of the site, within the secure utility yard. The users of the Fleet Building will not be permitted, for safety reasons, to park personal vehicles or bicycles adjacent to the Fleet Building and must enter through the primary Operations Center entrance (along with every project user) and utilize the bike parking and showering facilities there. These facilities are sized to accommodate the additional 11 FTE and Fleet Building peak period users.The distance from bike parking to Fleet entrance is 355 yards. The distance from the shower and changing facility to the Fleet building entrance is 236 yards.We are requesting a ruling that bicycle parking & showers are not required at the Fleet Building, due to its restricted access. The project still has the potential to meet the intent of the credit by providing ample, conveniently located facilities which encourage bicycle transportation for employees and visitors.Please confirm that our solution meets the intent and requirements of this credit.
The project is requesting that an exception be granted to allow bicycle parking and shower facilities to be located farther than 200 yards from one of the building entrances in a multiple building complex. The TAG commends the project for providing bicycle facilities for all employees. However, this is not an acceptable compliance path unless the project team can provide a specific rationale as to why providing infrastructure for bicycle parking within 200 yards of the referenced building presents a safety and security hazard. The TAG notes the presence of large truck traffic and heavy equipment usage, but also notes given the presence of pedestrians in those areas, that there may be a variety of policy and/or design responses that could potentially accommodate bicycles in a safe manner. Similarly, a specific rational must be provided for why shower and changing facilities cannot be safely provided within 200 yards of all building entrances as well.Update April 15, 2011: Please note that all 2009 projects in multiple building situations must follow the 2010 Application Guide for Multiple Buildings and On-Campus Building Projects, located here: https://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=7987. 2009 project teams should check this document for up to date guidance on all multiple building issues. Applicable Internationally.