855773520-LEED-v5-ID-C-Reference-Guide-Launch-Edition-1 - Page 334
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Project-specific strategies that do not fit within the three categories but meet the intent of Option 2 to create diverse sensory spaces, may be submitted for compliance. This may include spatial character, degree of stimulation, or other strategies to enable people to manage their own sensory needs. [132]
Quiet zones Quiet zones are required for all projects pursuing this option. Quiet zones are crucial for neurologically inclusive spaces because many neurodivergent individuals, including people with autism, experience hypersensitivity, or sensory processing differences that make them more sensitive to environmental stimuli, particularly sound. For these individuals, everyday sounds that some individuals might easily filter out - like HVAC systems, conversations, or equipment noise - can trigger sensory overload, leading to increased stress, decreased focus, and difficulty communicating effectively. [133] Quiet zones must be accessible to all occupants and comfortable for extended use. Restrooms are not applicable for compliance.
Adaptability strategies There is a menu of adaptability strategies intended to increase the number of people who can not only successfully utilize the space but enjoy it. Findings from IPp2: Human Impact Assessment must be used to better understand unique occupant needs to inform strategy selection. An alternative strategy may be acceptable in place of the provided strategies if it meets this intent.
Option 3. Thermal Environment
More closely aligning indoor conditions with outdoor environments by adjusting temperature setpoints to correspond with exterior conditions can positively impact thermal comfort, as research indicates that occupants’ thermal comfort preferences and expectations vary seasonally in relation to climate conditions. [134,135] Designing in connection with natural patterns
132 HOK, Designing a neurodiverse workplace, (2019), Downloaded from https://www.hok.com/ideas/publications/hok-designing-aneurodiverse-workplace, Accessed October 26, 2021. 133 Gonçalves, A.M., Monteiro, P. Autism Spectrum Disorder and auditory sensory alterations: a systematic review on the integrity of cognitive and neuronal functions related to auditory processing, J Neural Transm 130, 325–408 (2023), https://www.doi.org/10.1007/s00702-023-02595-9. 134 Lyu Yue, Chen Zhongqing, Seasonal thermal comfort and adaptive behaviours for the occupants of residential buildings: Shaoxing as a case study, Energy and Buildings, Volume 292, 2023, 113165, ISSN 0378-7788, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113165, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037877882300395X. 135 Munonye, C, (2020) The Influence of Seasonal Variation of Thermal Variables on Comfort Temperature in Schools in a Warm and Humid Climate, Open Access Library Journal, 7: e6753. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1106753.
U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Interior Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 323
