Anaheim Convention Center Scores LEED Gold Certification for Sustainability

July 21, 2016

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.

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Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started. Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind. “Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for." What’s New – AT&T Discovery District Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall. Hotels Coming Soon Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond. JW Marriott This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar. InterContinental Dallas  Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.   Hotel Swexan Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.