So my engineer somehow did not realize we were utilizing 4.1. He did the entire project calculations based on version 4. We submitted for design review and of course we got dinged on the incorrect modeling standards.
Does anyone have any experience swapping an already submitted project from one version of LEED to another? Going from a submitted 4.1 to 4. Can we change mid stream, post design submittal, or would we need to start from scratch.
Thanks
AAron
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
532 thumbs up
September 8, 2021 - 4:22 pm
You can ask LEED Coach, but my guess is that they will make you re-register as a v4 project and pay the registration / review fees again.
They may allow you to re-use the v4.1 application for the next LEED project with the same owner. But my guess is that the design review application fee will not be refunded.
If you were swapping from v4 up into v4.1 then you could do this 'mid-stream'.
Camille Croll
Sustainable Design SpecialistHMC Architects
November 15, 2023 - 4:10 pm
Hi Aaron,
What did your team end up doing here? My project team is facing a similar issue and I'm curious if you found a solution.
Aaron Kennedy
Robert Rollings Architects2 thumbs up
November 16, 2023 - 1:34 pm
It has been a while, and I am remembering as I type, but I think we were going to have to submit the whole thing again. I belive LEED was going to let us get away without paying the application fee again... I think. We were only doing LEED because the tenant required it, but the tenant did not understand the associated costs and time in design and construction associated with LEED. Because of this, we were not able to have the LEED design approved prior to construction starting. Additionally back in 2022 the modeling tech was not updated to v4.1. or would be ridiculously time consuming and expensive on our end to redo, or some other big issue with the modeling technology. In the end the tenant accepted the building was much more efficient than a standard building and did not pursue LEED. Part of the issue was there were significant performance differences between the two versions, and since the building was complete we might not even have been able to meet the different requirements. It would have been much easier to make the change if the project followed the recommended method of getting design approval done before starting construction, but the timeline did not allow. Sorry this is not much help.
Aaron Kennedy
Robert Rollings Architects2 thumbs up
November 16, 2023 - 1:36 pm
If we had been able to submit the design before construction, or caught the issue after registration, but before submission, we would have been able to work it out. I think. Since the project was built, it was a killer.
Stephanie Graham
Sustainability ManagerBurns & McDonnell
26 thumbs up
November 16, 2023 - 4:18 pm
Aaron, so sorry for your experience. I don't know your project and project team specifics or dynamics, which can vary, especially on complex projects. I try to use a proactive approach no matter the complexity or team size. The upfront team strategy, integrated design and on-going coordination can make all the difference. Update the whole team if something changes. I still register under v4, but work with the team to agree on select certain credits to submit using v4.1 ACP, as well as the pathway to achieve each credit--Put this into your LEED Checklist from Day 1. Also establish the building usage and number of occupants and visitors, total building SF, total Site SF and LEED Boundary up front. Include a space SF summary and determine which areas are regularly occupied, non-regularly occupied and unoccupied. This is basic information that must be consistent for all credits and that needs to be recorded somewhere it can be found by the whole team, as needed. If site boundary or building plans change, be sure to update these record summaries.
We build into the sustainability process milestone reviews to continually verify the design is still on track to meet credits. And before we submit for GBCI review, I will review everything for consistency and for meeting credit requirements. Now I won't tell you that we havent had some issues with this approach, but it can minimalize the "show stoppers" and even the number and complexity of review comments that are based on simple inconsistencies. In the end, it minimizes risk for the owner, designers and builders.
Aaron Kennedy
Robert Rollings Architects2 thumbs up
November 17, 2023 - 9:44 am
Thanks, but it happens, the big issue was the owner having to sign a contract without being able to see the final version (they did not know LEED would be required), as well as the owner and tenant not understanding the implications and process of becoming LEED certified. The LEED process itself was just extra work and we had a great team for it. Besides the big hiccup a the end, it was actually pretty smooth.