SS Credit: Site Assessment
The best design decisions are made before design even begins.
What is the Intent of this Credit?
The goal is to:
👉 assess site conditions early (pre-design)
👉 inform sustainable site design decisions
🎯 Big Picture
This credit is about:
👉 “Understand the site before you design the site.”
🌍 Why This Matters
Developing without understanding the site can lead to:
- loss of prime farmland
- destruction of habitats
- poor stormwater management
- inefficient building orientation
💡 Key Insight
👉 A good site assessment helps:
- avoid inappropriate sites
- reduce environmental impact
- make smarter design decisions
🔗 Connection to Integrative Process (Important)
👉 Site Assessment is part of:
👉 Integrative Design Process
🎯 Exam Insight
“Site assessment” is often linked to
👉 early analysis + integrative process
🧩 What Must Be Assessed? (VERY IMPORTANT)
Projects must evaluate:
👥 Human Factors
- human health impacts
- human use of the site
🌱 Soils
- soil type
- fertility
- contamination potential
🌿 Vegetation
- existing plants
- trees
- ecological value
🌤️ Climate
- temperature
- solar exposure
- prevailing winds
💧 Hydrology
- water flow
- drainage patterns
- flood risks
⛰️ Topography
- slopes
- elevation
- landform
🎯 Memory Tip
Human + Soil + Plants + Climate + Water + Land
🏗️ When Does This Happen?
👉 Must begin:
👉 as early as pre-design
🎯 Exam Insight
If you see:
- “early phase”
- “pre-design”
👉 Think Site Assessment / Integrative Process
⚙️ How It Is Implemented
Step 1: Assemble Team
👉 Identify:
- professionals responsible for assessment
Step 2: Collect Data
From sources such as:
- climate data
- topographical maps
- soil surveys
- surrounding development
Step 3: Analyze Relationships
👉 This is critical:
- how site conditions affect design
- how design responds to site
Step 4: Document Decisions
👉 Must show:
- how site features influenced design
- OR explain why certain factors were not addressed
📄 Use of Existing Assessments
👉 Allowed if:
- assessment is recent and accurate
- reflects current site conditions
💡 Example:
- campus-wide site assessment can be used
🌍 Examples of Good Design Decisions (From Assessment)
- locating gardens in fertile soil
- placing gathering spaces near trees/water
- orienting building for solar/wind
- optimizing stormwater strategies
🎯 Key Idea
Assessment → Informs Design
🧠 Where People Get Confused
❌ Misconception 1:
“Site assessment is optional analysis”
👉 No
👉 It is a required structured evaluation
❌ Misconception 2:
“Only environmental factors matter”
👉 No
👉 Must include:
- human use
- human health
❌ Misconception 3:
“Assessment is done during design”
👉 No
👉 Must be done before design (pre-design)
❌ Misconception 4:
“Collecting data is enough”
👉 No
👉 Must show:
- relationships + influence on design
Official FAQs
What is the purpose of the Site Assessment credit?
When must site assessment be conducted?
A project collects soil and climate data but does not show how it influenced design decisions. Does it comply?
👉 Must demonstrate:
• relationship between site features and design
Can a project use an existing site assessment?
👉 If it accurately reflects current conditions
Why is site assessment considered part of the integrative process?
• it occurs early
• involves multiple disciplines
• informs key design decisions
👉 It supports systems thinking
Why does LEED require evaluation of both environmental and human factors?
• sustainability includes ecological + social aspects
• site design must support both environment and users
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