Check this page in the Help file. It may contain the answer to your situation:
http://help.graphisoft.com/ac16_help_INT/Files/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm#href=03_Virtual%20B...
After some testing here is what I see:
If you bring up the Renovation Palette you can set the Reno Filter for the Zone element to be created. Then when placing the Zone, the following apply:
If the Zone is set to "Existing" only elements with "Existing" status will be recognized as Zone Bundaries.
If the Zone is set to "To be Demolished" only elements with "Existing" or "To be Demolished" status will be recognized as Zone Bundaries.
If the Zone is set to "New" only elements with "Existing" or "New" status will be recognized as Zone Bundaries.
If the above conditions are not met so elements form a closed Zone boundary, a warning is displayed.
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