Guidance applying LEED to unusual building types

Struggling to apply LEED to your building type? While LEED was originally designed over two decades ago for the office archetype, the rating systems have expanded to respond to many building types that exist in the market today. Some of these building types have their own adaptations within LEED v4 Building Design + Construction (such as schools, healthcare, retail, etc.).

To help project teams applying LEED in various markets, the USGBC has assembled market guidance by sector, with a series of detailed FAQs. The markets currently addressed are:

• Airports
• Data centers
• Healthcare
• Higher education
• Hospitality and venue projects
• Manufacturing projects
• Multifamily
• Museums
• Retail
• Transit buildings
• Warehouse and distribution centers

Within these pages you will find many resources, such as lists of pilot credits or Interpretations that will assist in the unique challenges faced by these market types. To assist with client conversations, the FAQ addresses the advantages of applying LEED for these project types, as well as issues they might face. Also included are project case studies and a list of helpful external resources. While these resources are not Canadian-centric, they are directly related to Canadian markets, and helpful for project teams.

The material considers LEED BD+C as well as LEED for Interior Design + Construction (ID+C) and LEED Operations + Maintenance (O+M).

Canadian project teams have excelled under LEED v4/v4.1, achieving certification for hospitals, retail projects, as well as industrial warehouse and manufacturing projects. There are many certified higher education projects as well as mid- and high-rise residential projects. And there are more to come with 700 registered projects in just these market types.

To see the listing of all Canadian projects, check out our Project Database. New in 2023, project teams can add details and images to their project profiles using the “Edit Profile” button, located near the bottom of the individual project summary in My Projects.