Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED BD+C: Schools, LEED BD+C: Schools, LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors, LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors, LEED BD+C: Core and Shell, LEED BD+C: Core and Shell

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.0, v2 - LEED 2.2, v2 - LEED 2.2, v3 - LEED 2009, v2 - Schools 2007, v3 - LEED 2009, v2 - LEED 2.0, v3 - LEED 2009, v2 - LEED 2.0, v3 - LEED 2009

Inquiry

The project is a new federal courthouse building located in downtown Richmond, Virginia. We are seeking the parking capacity credit under option 4: provide no new parking. The credit\'s stated intent is to reduce pollution and land development impacts from single occupant vehicle use. The project provides no parking for courthouse general staff. The building is located at a central node of greater Richmond\'s public transportation system, and is also near existing public pay parking lots for those who may choose to drive to the courthouse. There are, however, 65 vehicle spaces located in a secure area under the building; two in a sallyport area for transporting prisoners, 13 for federal judges and other staff with security concerns related to their work at the courthouse, and 50 spaces leased by the tenant agencies for official vehicles used in courthouse business. Government regulations prohibit the tenant agencies or GSA to lease parking spaces for vehicles except for mission essential business. Three layers of security protect this underground vehicle area, and the federal judge spaces are protected by a fourth layer of security within that secure area. During the design process, the number of secure sallyport spaces, tenant agency official vehicle spaces, and secure federal judges/staff spaces was set at the minimum required to support the courthouse\'s functions. It is an unfortunate fact that since 1970 seven state and federal judges have been killed in incidents related to their job duties; we trust providing the 13 secure parking spaces to provide a safe means of travel for public servants does not disqualify the project from pursuing this credit. The balance of the secure spaces provided on site are necessary to house vehicles that allow the courthouse to conduct its business. We seek confirmation that the decision not to provide visitor or general staff parking and the decision to locate the building at the center of downtown Richmond\'s public transportation network satisfy this credit\'s requirements and intent. With the above considerations, is the project eligible for the credit under the Option 4 "provide no new parking" compliance path?