Certification process

Hi, You can refer to the following website (https://www.usgbc.org/tools/leed-certification/commercial). There is info on the deadline for submitting for review. For LEED BD+C and LEED ID+C rating systems, you will need to submit for your construction phase review (preliminary standard review or preliminary construction review) no later than two years after your project is substantially completed (the date on which your building receives a certificate of occupancy or similar official indication that it is fit and ready for use). LEED O+M:

• Initial certifications and all recertifications required to submit for review within 60 days of the end of their performance period.
• Initial certifications and all recertifications must also submit for Final Review within 60 days of receiving the preliminary review results in order to ensure that the certification reflects recent performance.
• Initial certification and recertifications submitting for Final Review more than 60 days after receiving the preliminary review results must update the application's performance period to end within the 60 days prior to the date of submission for final review.

Hello, Thanks for your answer.  How do you determine when the project is substantially complete if, for example, if I have the following construction program with periods varying between 6-12 months in between the phases: Phase 1: renovate half of the facade, MEP and internal layout of a building (50% GFA) so that people can start using this part of the building Phase 2: renovate the other half of the facade and complete the MEP but not complete the fit out until he finds potential tenants Phase 3: have the future tenant complete the fit-out for remaining 50% of GFA  Lastly, throughout this process the owner might consider developing another building next to the existing one and within the site boundary. Could I approach certification as follow: 1. Register the project with the original plan of having one building 2. Obtain precertification as core&shell considering the arrival point after Construction Phase 2, i.e. full MEP and facade design and fit-out only for the portion of building where fit-out be completed 3. Start design review before the start of Phase 1 4. Verify whether the owner has decided to add extra buildings on the Site and if so resubmit in the construction phase credits that are impacted by the additional building 4. Proceed with construction review for BD+C C&S after Phase 2 after having  Does that seem reasonable? Is there a maximum time frame to obtain certification after having registered a project? thanks in advance for your help Luisa

Hi Luisa, how was your project? One year had passed, has your project gained certification? Our project had an almost similar scenario. Appreciate your guidance on the result of your project.

Hi Andrea, unfortunately the project has been paused and just started picking up pace again recently so I cannot offer much advice. Since my comment, the owner has decided to refurbish the entire facade and 50% of the internal floor area while leaving 50% at C&S for future tenants to complete. We will therefore be pursuing a regular C&S certification. I would still be very interested in knowing how you approached the matter in any case, if you are willing to share. KR L