Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED BD+C: Schools

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.2, v2 - Schools 2007

Inquiry

This project is a 110,000 SF university dormitory for 320 residents. It was originally designed in 2003, and obtained building permits in 2004, but was then shelved. It was reactivated in 2007, and in that same year the university adopted a policy of having all new buildings obtain a minimum certification level of LEED silver. The design team therefore redesigned the building in late 2007 and early 2008, keeping most of the same program and size, but significantly revising HVAC, electrical, plumbing and building insulation systems. Currently, the revised construction documents have been completed and submitted for permits, and the project is in the middle of the city plan review process. When the project was reactivated in 2007, basic commissioning was incorporated into the project but it was assumed that the Enhanced Commissioning Credit would not be attempted, since the project had already been completely designed once, it was too late for a commissioning agent to review construction documents prior to completion, and few changes were anticipated to the commissioned systems. As the redesign developed, however, a number of systems were revised significantly. These subsequent major revisions to building systems led us to regret that the enhanced commissioning credit could not be obtained. A credit ruling of 9/18/07 indicated in a similar situation that one could still obtain the Enhanced Commissioning credit, with the design review out of sequence, if the independent commissioning agent reviewed the design in comparison to the OPR and BOD, and if the owner committed to implementing any changes that the commissioning agent might advise were needed to meet the criteria of these documents. We propose to follow the same approach, carrying out the enhanced commissioning tasks as required in the Reference Guide with the sole exception that the independent commissioning agent will review the OPR, BOD and construction documents now. The owner and design team will commit to incorporating any changes recommended by the independent commissioning agent. As the project is still in permitting, there is still time to get any required changes incorporated into the construction documents prior to the installation of the affected systems.