TCF Center Receives 2020 USGBC Leadership Award for Sustainability Achievements

November 24, 2020
TCF Center

It isn’t easy being green, but convention centers that remain steadfast in their commitment to sustainability can certainly reap the rewards from time to time. Case in point: Detroit’s TCF Center, which received a 2020 U.S. Green Building Council Leadership Award during the closing event of the annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, held Nov. 10-12 in a virtual format this year. Awarded annually, the USGBC Leadership Award recognizes exceptional work advancing sustainable, healthy, resilient and equitable buildings, cities and communities.

According to USGBC officials, the 2020 award recipients represent leaders who are driving the adoption of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) across business portfolios, higher education and green affordable housing, as well as helping to advance environmental, social and governance performance, resilience planning and innovative waste management solutions. 

“USGBC’s Leadership Award recipients are a model for how LEED and other sustainability practices can be used to improve communities, support business and contribute to a better future for all,” said USGBC officials in a statement.

TCF Center is the only U.S. convention center to receive the award among the 10 companies, projects and individuals recognized this year, according to TCF officials.

“We realize that the TCF Center is an economic engine for the Detroit community,” said Claude Molinari, general manager of ASM Global/TCF Center. “We take this responsibility seriously and do everything we can to include the local and event communities in our efforts to hit as many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals as we can each year, reducing our carbon footprint and enriching the lives of residents and visitors.”

Molinari added that TCF Center has been growing its green initiatives for a decade, and that by organizing its green event program and sustainable operations protocols, the venue works to continually adapt to global facility and event sustainability advancements.

The convention center achieved LEED Gold certification in October 2019 under LEED v4.1 Operations +Maintenance and is one of only a few convention centers in the world to certify under that rating system. Not only is TCF a high-performing green building, with a team dedicated to ongoing performance measurement, it also invests in educating employees, vendors, customers, partners and visitors on its efforts and the importance of sustainable practices. 

Additionally, the center is also a steward of human health. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility was designated an alternate care site where it remains prepared to provide medical care space for the overflow of local Detroit hospitals. Meanwhile, it continues to clean and sterilize PPE for local hospitals, has distributed 2.5 million pounds of food to the local Detroit community from its docks in partnership with Food Rescue US and is periodically a site for Red Cross blood drives as needed.

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact