Hello,
The NC project I'm working on has a paved plaza in front of the building. The building has a third-floor terrace that extends off the end of the building and covers a portion of the plaza below. My question is how to account for the total site paving area. Should I exclude the hardscape underneath the terrace, as it would be shaded by the building from above?
On the one hand, the guide says to "On a site plan, determine the total hardscape area and the total applicable roof area within the project boundary...Hardscape area includes all paved roads, sidewalks, courtyards, and parking lots." Then later says, "Calculate the area of each nonroof measure in plan view. Count each hardscape surface only once, even if it is addressed through multiple strategies (e.g., permeable paving that is also shaded)". Now in plan view, wouldn't the plaza area below the terrace be obscured?
It's likely that this plaza will end up using high-reflectance pavers that met the (SR) requirements. The terrace above may also use the same pavers. Would the standards be different for the two surfaces to qualify as high-reflectance? For an above-ground terrace, would the high-reflectance roof requirements apply (SRI: 82+), and couldn't be considered an "architectural device"?
Thank you!