08. Site Assets and Amenities - Common Break Areas

Provide occupants access to a common break area

Rationale: An on-site common break area that provides space to take a meal break and to prepare homemade food accommodates lunchtime activity, which can decrease fatigue, encourage socialization, and promote healthy eating habits.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

Option 1 - Accessible Common Break Area (Full Credit):

Provide a common break area that meets all the following requirements:

1. Include a common break area(s) that is accessible and free of charge to all occupants within each regularly occupied building within the project.

Regularly occupied buildings are buildings where occupants work, including:

• commercial buildings
• industrial buildings
• retail buildings.

2. Provide all of the following features within the identified common break area:

• a refrigerator
• a sink
• a microwave
• seating and tables.

3. Ensure that the common break area is designed to accommodate all project occupants throughout different hours of the day.

Option 2 - Common Break Area for 51% of Buildings (Partial Credit):

The project may achieve partial credit by demonstrating compliance with the following requirements:

1. Demonstrate that a minimum of 51% of all regularly occupied buildings within the project include a break area open to their occupants only.

Regularly occupied buildings are buildings where occupants work, including:

• commercial buildings
• industrial buildings
• retail buildings.

2. Provide all of the following features within the identified common break area:

• a refrigerator
• a sink
• a microwave
• seating and tables

3. Ensure that the common break area is designed to accommodate all occupants within the project throughout different hours of the day.

Compliance Documentation

One document type may be used to demonstrate compliance with more than one requirement and documentation may be uploaded separately or as one file.

Provide the below to demonstrate compliance with each requirement:

Design Pathway

Option 1 - Accessible Common Break Area (Full Credit):

Requirement 1

• Select here to certify that the common break area will be accessible and free of charge to all occupants within the project.
• Upload an annotated plan showing the planned location of the break area within the project.

Requirement 2

• Select here to certify that all of the required features will be provided in the common break area.

Requirement 3 

• Upload an annotated plan or design drawing showing how the common break area will be designed to accommodate all project occupants throughout different hours of the day.

Option 2 - Accessible Common Break Area (Partial Credit):

Requirement 1

• Upload an annotated plan identifying the location of all buildings that will include break areas within the project.

Requirement 2

• Select here to certify that all of the required features will be provided in the common break area.

Requirement 3

• Upload an annotated plan or design drawing showing how each common break area will be designed to accommodate all relevant occupants throughout different hours of the day.