Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.0

Inquiry

Proposed Innovation Credit: Community and Building Integration Introduction: As we understand and interpret the LEED Green Building Rating System categories, credits, and points the system does not specifically address or reward projects or project components that contribute to the buildings impact and relationship to the surround community. It is our understanding that in addition to the 5 sustainable categories the rating system does address, that integration of an individual building into the community and smart or sustainable growth master plans is a key element to sustainable buildings. Background: The 30/50 Hudson Street project is a 1.6 million square foot project on the banks of the Hudson River in Jersey City, New Jersey. The placement of the buildings, the connection between the two buildings, lower floor design elements on the buildings exteriors, and the river pedestrian way access and development are all elements of a community integration aspect that has been an overarching design goal and objective for the entire development process. Advance Innovation Credit Interpretation Request: The enclosure connecting the two buildings creates a community meeting place and includes shops, restaurants, and services to support the urban population needs locally to where the occupants work and in some cases live. This connection is enclosed and protected from the weather so that it can provide the community focus function year round in foul or fair weather. The building connector not only acts as a connection with community purpose between the buildings, but also creates a connection and passage (both physical and visual) from the street to the river pedestrian way along the Hudson River. Elements included in the site work for the project will make a physical, pedestrian-friendly, connection from the buildings and building connector to the Hudson River pedestrian way. The site work will make the site connection to the pedestrian way, and complete the development of the way along the riverbank for the length of the site frontage on the river. These project site elements contribute building blocks necessary to make the river front area development, community development and pedestrian way master plan implementation complete and successful. Also included in the project site development work and an integral part of the community benefit and access plan is the redevelopment of an existing river pier and addition of a new pier that will provide a terminal for ferry access for site and community occupants. The ferry will operate between Jersey City and Manhattan and will contribute to increased use of alternative transportation. Finally, canopies will hang from the lower floors of both buildings to create pedestrian friendly, weather protected walkways to surround the areas of the building not covered by the building connector, completing a protected conveyance system encouraging use of the pedestrian way and ferry system. Because the LEED Green Building Rating System does not address project integration with community, we are intending to submit our activity regarding project and community integration as an innovation credit as allowed by the rating system. We would like the USGBC to accept and approve this green building strategy as an innovation credit in advance on the grounds that the intent is in line with accepted sustainable development practices, but community and building integration is not specifically addressed or rewarded in the rating system. Intent/Requirements/Documentation: The intent of our Community and Building Integration innovation credit is to encourage development that is coordinated and beneficial to local community and contributes to smart growth initiatives and strategies The requirements we will impose on ourselves will be that the building and site will contain attributes/facilities that provide for community and occupant integration and services, and that contribute to local smart growth, or sustainable planning, or pedestrian/green way integration master plans. The documentation we will compile and submit will be a copy of the local smart growth, or sustainable planning, or pedestrian/greenway integration master plan governing the project. A narrative of how specific project attributes meet the plan requirements and provide for community and occupant integration and services. Provide captures of drawings and specification that document building components that satisfy the stated requirements.