The Anaheim Convention Center, the largest convention center on the West Coast, was awarded LEED Gold certification, a designation for sustainable-rated buildings.

The Anaheim Convention Center is the largest U.S. convention center to achieve LEED Gold certification. The honor follows the center’s earning of LEED certification in 2010.

“The Anaheim Convention Center is the West Coast’s premier gathering place with world-class facilities and neighboring attractions to match in the Anaheim Resort District,” said Tom Morton, executive director of Convention, Sports and Entertainment for the city of Anaheim.

He added, “When groups come here, they have peace of mind in knowing they are in one of the industry’s most sustainable convention centers.”

LEED, short for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and administered by the Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council, is the benchmark for buildings, homes and communities designed, built, maintained and operated for optimal environmental and human health.

The Anaheim Convention Center attained LEED Gold by scoring high in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, indoor environmental quality and environmentally friendly practices. 

Opened in 1967, the Anaheim Convention Center has a history of environmentally sustainable practices, including the installation of more than 7,900 solar panels covering 300,000 square feet of the center’s roof and generating an estimated 3.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.

Here are some other sustainable features:

·       A Green Zone recycling and composting area that turns kitchen food scraps into nutrient-rich compost used throughout the Anaheim Resort District.

·       A water and energy conservation program including low-flow equipment, compact fluorescents, LEDs and energy-efficient materials throughout the facility.

·       Use of non-toxic cleaners and environmentally friendly products.

·       Nearly 75 percent of waste generated is diverted from landfills each year.

The Anaheim Convention Center also plans to add another 200,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, set to complete in 2017.  

The expansion, which also will have a 10,000 sq. ft. terrace, will overlook Katella Avenue and the Disneyland Resort, including nightly fireworks at Disneyland Park.

Other features include 25 ft. ceilings, 1,350 parking spaces, a climate-controlled pedestrian bridge connection to the center’s existing exhibit halls, new loading docks and improved vehicle flow.