The LEED Green Building Rating System for Core and Shell Development (LEED-CS) is for designers, builders, developers and new building owners who address sustainable design for new core and shell construction. Broadly defined, core and shell construction covers base building elements, such as the structure, envelope and building-level systems, such as central HVAC, etc.  The CS product recognizes that the division between owner and tenant responsibility for certain elements of the building varies between markets. 

LEED Core and Shell will be used to evaluate building projects where the owner does not control the interior design and fit-out.  It is not available for use as an option for those owners who wish to achieve exemplary performance in the Core and Shell while failing to meet LEED standards in the building interiors fit out.  Those owners who have control over both the core and shell and interiors elements will need to apply under LEED for New Construction.

Please note that LEED-CS is still in its pilot phase. For more information on what this means, go to www.usgbc.org.

To download LEED-CS, please follow this link.