open space
sTeP 3. ProGraM siTe
identify and designate open space features early in the planning and programming of the site to optimize building placement and landscape design. Ensure that open and vegetated spaces meet or exceed the minimum required areas. consider the following strategies to optimize open space use:
· coordinate open space features early in the planning and programming phase to optimize building placement and landscape design. Master planning occurs well before the conceptual design phase of the building development. facilitating a charrette with the future building occupants, design team, and community members may help in planning for open space that meets the needs of the users.
· Design a compact parking and road footprint layout to preserve open land and provide connections to adjacent ecosystems.
· tighten program needs and stack floor plans to reduce the building footprint.
· Maximize floor-area ratio (faR) and accessibility for the greatest range of open space credit options, as outlined in the credit requirements (see Getting Started, Density, for an example faR calculation). sTeP 4. desiGn oPen sPaCe areas
Design each open space area to comply with one or more of the criteria listed in the credit requirements. all open space must be physically accessible and encourage use by occupants of the building and site, but it does not have to be active space (see Further Explanation, Example 2).
1. Parker, D.C., The Corporate Garden, in D. Relf (ed.), The Role of Horticulture in Human Well-Being and Social Development (Portland, Oregon: Timber Press, 1990).
SS o PE n s P a c E
turf areas, including areas of turf grass under overhead tree canopies, can be counted in total open space but do not qualify as vegetated open space.
· Extensive or intensive vegetated roofs can be used toward the minimum 25% vegetation requirement. Vegetated roof area can also be counted as open space if it is accessible to the building occupants and the project has a density of 1.5 faR or greater. Roofs can be either extensive or intensive systems. Maintenance will be needed to keep plants healthy and the structure in good condition. artificial turf is not an acceptable strategy for vegetated roofs.
· Design open spaces for the specific project location. for example, a xeriscape area might be appropriate in arid locations.
· open spaces must be usable; a small strip of turf in a parking lot does not meet the intent of the credit. artificial turf does not count as vegetation or hardscape.
· Determine where overhead vegetation (trees and shrubs), rather than ground cover, would be appropriate.
· Projects may count ponds or wetlands that occur naturally or are designed to function similarly to natural site hydrology and land cover, provided they meet the credit requirements.
· consider encouraging human interaction with wetlands and natural areas through features such as educational signage, walking trails, and observation stations.
furTher exPlanaTion
CalCulaTions
See calculations in Step-by-Step Guidance.
exaMPle 1. required sPaCe
Equations 1 and 2 (see Step-By-Step Guidance) are used to determine the required open space and vegetated area of a 100,000-square-foot (9 295-square-meter) site.
tablE 1. Example open space summary
Total site area (including building footprint) 100,000 ft2
Open space required 30,000 ft2 = 100,000 x (0.3)
Vegetated area required 7,500 ft2 = 30,000 x (0.25)
Remaining designated outdoor open space 22,500 ft2 = 30,000 – 7,500
Total building floor area 175,000 ft2 FAR 1.75
Vegetated roof counts toward
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE F OR b UILDING DE s IGN AND C ON s t RUC t ION SS
exaMPle 2. siTe desiGn
The site illustrated below includes a variety of social gathering spaces and areas that encourage interaction with the environment.
Figure 1. Example site design
ProjeCT TyPe variaTions Multitenant Projects
· A project can follow the multitenant complex approach if it is part of a master plan development, regardless of
whether the project is using the LEED Campus Program.
· If the open space is located at a nonadjacent site within the development master plan, it must be protected
from development and must be returned to a natural state (e.g., with native vegetation, close to original hydrology).
· A combination of adjacent open space and nonadjacent open space may be used. CaMPus
Group Approach
All buildings in the group may be documented as one. The open space does not have to be adjacent to the individual buildings but it must be contained within the LEED project boundary.
Campus Approach
Eligible. The open space does not have to be adjacent to the individual buildings but it must be contained within the LEED campus boundary.
SS21 SSc Site Development - Open Space USGBC LEED Guide Illustrations
©2012 RTKL Associates Inc. All Rights Reserved. NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
LEED PROJECT BOUNDARY
Total site area = 450,00 sq ft (10 ac) = 41,806 sq m (4 ha) Open space A = 78,500 sq ft (7,293 sq m) Open space B = 32,400 sq ft (3,010 sq m) Open space C = 112,600 sq ft (10,461 sq m) Open space D = 7,840 sq ft (728 sq m) Open space E = 6,700 sq ft (623 sq m) Fence Lawn
Open space A: Tot Lot
Open space C: Plaza and gardens
Open space D: Vegetated roof and hardscape Open space E: Vegetated roof and hardscape
Parking Lawn
Open space B: Athletic Field
SS o PE n s P a c E
required doCuMenTaTion
documentation all Projects vegetated roofsProjects with
Site plan that indicates project boundary and campus or master plan boundary (if applicable), highlighting location and size of any open spaces, vegetated areas, plant species, wetlands or naturalistic man-made ponds (with side slopes noted), and vegetated roofs
X
Open space and vegetated area calculations X
Description of how open space is physically accessible and meets area
type criteria X
Floor-area ratio X
relaTed CrediT TiPs
SS Credit Site Development—Protect or Restore Habitat. Preserved or created habitat, including vegetated
roofs, that meets the criteria of the related credit and includes elements of human interaction can also count towards this credit.
SS Credit Rainwater Management. Wetlands or naturalistic ponds designed for rainwater collection may count as
open space for this credit.
SS Credit Heat Island Reduction. Vegetated roofs and high reflectance paving on roof decks and terraces can
contribute to requirements for the related credit. Vegetated roofs can also be counted as open space if the roof areas are accessible and the project has a density of 1.5 FAR or greater.
SS Credit Site Assessment. A site assessment can identify open space opportunities and vegetated areas to
preserve, which will support achievement of this credit.
ChanGes froM leed 2009
· The credit is no longer tied to presence of a local zoning code; the same open space requirement applies to all
projects.
· The credit has been revised to emphasize the quality of the open space in addition to the quantity.
· The intent of the credit has been modified to encourage physical connection to open space and to reduce the
focus on biodiversity (which is covered in SS Credit Site Development—Protect or Restore Habitat).
referenCed sTandards
None.
exeMPlary PerforManCe
LEED REFERENCE GUIDE F OR b UILDING DE s IGN AND C ON s t RUC t ION SS
definiTions
extensive vegetated roof a roof that is covered with plants and typically not designed for general access. Usually an
extensive system is a rugged green roof that requires little maintenance once established. The planting medium in extensive vegetated roofs ranges from 1 to 6 inches in depth. (Adapted from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
floor-area ratio (FAR) the density of nonresidential land use, exclusive of parking, measured as the total
nonresidential building floor area divided by the total buildable land area available for nonresidential structures. For example, on a site with 10,000 square feet (930 square meters) of buildable land area, an FAR of 1.0 would be 10,000 square feet (930 square meters) of building floor area. On the same site, an FAR of 1.5 would be 15,000 square feet (1395 square meters), an FAR of 2.0 would be 20,000 square feet (1860 square meters), and an FAR of 0.5 would be 5,000 square feet (465 square meters).
greenfield area that is not previously developed, graded or disturbed, and could support open space, habitat, or
natural hydrology
intensive vegetated roof a roof that, compared with an extensive vegetated roof, has greater soil volume, supports
a wider variety of plants (including shrubs and trees), and allows a wider variety of uses (including human access). The depth of the growing medium is an important factor in determining habitat value. The native or adapted plants selected for the roof should support the site’s endemic wildlife populations. (Adapted from Green Roofs for Healthy Cities)
multitenant complex a site that was master-planned for the development of stores, restaurants and other
businesses. Retailers may share some services and common areas.
site master plan an overall design or development concept for the project and associated (or potentially associated)
buildings and sites. The plan considers future sustainable use, expansion, and contraction. The site master plan is typically illustrated, with building plans (if applicable), site drawings of planned phased development, and narrative descriptions.
SS R ainw a t ER M ana GEME nt