June 20, 2008

Phoenix Convention Center is Awarded Green Building Status

The Phoenix Convention Center held a ceremony announcing that the convention center’s West Building has been awarded LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the USGBC’s leading rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings.

The West Building, which opened in June 2006, was designed by Leo A. Daly and HOK to achieve LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies.

Elements that helped achieve this certification include:

• High efficiency irrigation that reduces potable water consumption for irrigation by 56 percent. 
• Use of low flow toilets, urinals and water closets which has resulted in a 42 percent water use reduction. 
• The use of low VOC paints and materials. 
• The use of mechanical and electrical equipment that dramatically reduces the building’s energy consumption. 
• A recycling program that includes the collection of paper, plastic, cardboard and glass materials with receptacles throughout the facility. 
• Location next to public transportation which not only reduce traffic, but minimizes vehicle emissions in the environment. 
• Reduction in contributing to heat island effect by placing 100 percent of the building’s parking underground and using Energy Star-compliant roofing materials. 
• Materials from the demolition of the former Civic Plaza were recycled and more than 50 percent of new West Building construction materials were manufactured within 500 miles which reduces fuel usage and bolsters growth in the local economy.
  

"I am so proud of this certification, representing our commitment to protect the environment,” said Mayor Phil Gordon, a champion of sustainability initiatives for Phoenix. “This investment will bring countless benefits to Phoenix and will help us sustain our great quality of life for generations to come.”

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