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LEED®-DoD Antiterrorism Standards Tool

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Introduction

In this time of enhanced security risk and awareness, facility owners and occupants demand that security be an important consideration in facility design and construction. At the same time, as a society, we desire to have functional, efficient and environmentally friendly buildings. Hence, the challenge: how do we make the right balance?

The LEED®-DoD Antiterrorism Standards Tool addresses the security implications of strategies used to achieve each LEED credit with regard to their inter-relationship (i.e., potential conflicts and synergies), from the Department of Defense (DoD) perspective. Information is presented within a color-coded matrix based on the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System (LEED-NC Version 2.1) cross-referenced with the applicable standards in Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) 4-010-01, DoD Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings. As such, critical areas are easily identified, prompting the project team to work collaboratively, using a 'whole building' approach, to develop successful, efficient solutions for a high performance, secure building.

How to Use This Tool

This Tool is presented as a matrix that links LEED credits with related DoD Antiterrorism Standards. Across the top are the Antiterrorism Standards based on UFC 4-010-01. The left column is a listing of the LEED credits based on LEED-NC Version 2.1. Matrix intercepts are color coded to explain their relationship:

greencomplementary requirements
yellowConflicting and complementary requirements
redConflicting requirements
blueNot conflicting or complementary, but have related considerations

Go across a row to view the potential antiterrorism issues related to a LEED credit. Go down a column to view potential LEED issues related to an Antiterrorism Standard. Click on a LEED credit number to go to another screen that provides an analysis of the antiterrorism issues for that credit. Click on a LEED category (e.g., Sustainable Sites) to access information for all credits within that category.

General issues, representative examples, relevant codes and standards, and additional resources related to achieving LEED and Antiterrorism are detailed below.

Note that this Tool does not consider the potential synergies and conflicts with other building design objectives. Refer to other sections of the WBDG for discussions of the following: Aesthetics, Accessible, Cost-Effective, Functional, Historic Preservation, and Productive. Standards other than those of the DoD are also not considered explicitly, although their basic premises are applicable to non-DoD projects.

Note that antiterrorism requirements for expeditionary and temporary structures are not addressed in this Tool since LEED certification is not generally sought for these types of DoD structures.

General Issues

While DoD projects must comply with the Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) 4-010-01, DoD Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings to minimize the likelihood of mass casualties from terrorist attacks, it is important to understand that the level of required security varies from project to project. In order to facilitate the appropriate level of protection and countermeasures to meet the security challenges, a comprehensive threat assessment, vulnerability assessment, and risk analysis should be conducted to identify the appropriate level of security for the building. This will help ensure that project funds are directed at real needs in a focused manner, thus allowing other project aspects such as architectural expression and other amenities to be developed.

In the same vein, while the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System (LEED®) is used to help measure the sustainability of DoD projects, some LEED credits are not applicable or feasible for some projects. As such, discussion of sustainable design/LEED issues should be included in a requirements-gathering charrette conducted during the planning and/or concept design phase. The charrette includes a credit by credit discussion of all the LEED credits. At the same time, goals and initial strategies for each applicable credit are developed. Conclusions and recommendations from the threat and vulnerability assessments and risk analysis should be taken into consideration during the charrette so potential conflicting or synergistic approaches can be identified and addressed early.

It should be noted that the UFC 4-010-01 details twenty-two required minimum antiterrorism standards for DoD buildings. These standards, as stated, are mandatory and cannot be waived to meet other requirements. However, there are seventeen additional recommended antiterrorism measures in Appendix C of the standard. These may be relaxed in order to increase sustainable design efforts.

Application

Representative Example

Defense Intelligence Analysis Center (DIAC), Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, DC
Architect: Smith Group Architects       Size: 450,000 sf

Illustration of the front face of the Defense Intelligence Analysis Center

Compatible with the existing building design, the North side uses far less glass than the South side.
Courtesy of Smith Group Architects and NAVFAC-Washington.

The approximately $100 million project is a first-class, six story 450,000 sf office building designed to consolidate uniquely skilled intelligence personnel currently working in lease spaces throughout the region. Connected to an existing building via a corridor, the project successfully integrates security and sustainability features within the design, creating an energy-efficient, comfortable, yet very secure facility.

Sustainable development strategies include:

The project has been submitted to the US Green Building Council for LEED® certification. More information...

Illustration of the front face of the Defense Intelligence Analysis CenterIllustration of the front face of the Defense Intelligence Analysis Center showing bioretention pond

Left: The design of the facility takes advantage of the earth berm behind so it would be able to withstand impact by a truck traveling at 40 MPH. In addition, a one meter high Force Protection wall will be built using loose stack local stone (no mortar). And Right: The bioretention pond is designed to serve double duty. As a sustainable strategy, it will help reduce stormwater runoff; as anti-terrorism/force protection feature, it is designed to protect the facility from bomb-loaded vehicles, which would sink in the pond and the water would absorb the bomb blast. Courtesy of Smith Group Architects and NAVFAC-Washington.

Relevant Codes and Standards

Government

Additional Resources

WBDG

Sustainable; Secure/Safe; Aesthetics—Engage the Integrated Design Process; Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA); Balancing Security/Safety & Sustainability Objectives; Psychosocial Value of Space

Associations & Organizations

Publications

Points of Contact

Design & Analysis Tools

Training

Others

WBDG Services Construction Criteria Base