As highlighted in my May 22 column and in the article just posted this past week, the Austin Convention Center is one of the most fascinating current green building projects in the United States. I interviewed Riley Triggs about the project. Triggs is Lead Project Manager, City of Austin Capital Delivery Services. The mission of Austin Capital Deliver Services: “Optimize delivery of quality capital projects through partnerships to create an equitable and sustainable community.”
You will find a lot of information in my article about the new Center that will open in 2029 but here are some highlights that really got my attention and that are worth repeating:
- The Austin Convention Center will be the first Zero Carbon Certified convention center in the world. ILFI Zero Carbon Certification requires projects to address both embodied carbon from construction materials and operational carbon from building energy use. For new construction and major renovation projects, projects must demonstrate embodied carbon reductions, disclose and offset embodied carbon, meet energy efficiency requirements, and address operational energy use through renewable energy and/or approved offsets. Certification also requires a 12-month performance period after occupancy and third-party verification.
- Austin Convention Center Redevelopment is designed to achieve LEED v4 Gold with a target of LEED Platinum BD+C.
- The Center will run on 100 percent renewable energy The Austin Convention Center redevelopment will be a solar-ready building, and the project team is coordinating with a PV provider and Austin Energy’s Solar Team to evaluate an on-site rooftop photovoltaic system. The current concept includes a photovoltaic system of approximately 1,055 to 1,300 kW In addition, the project will enroll in Austin Energy’s GreenChoice Program, under which all City-owned facilities offset 100 percent of their electricity consumption with renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.
- The projected $1.6 billion investment is fully funded by Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) revenues, Convention Center revenues, and the state’s Project Financing Zone—not property taxes. The Center will result in a $285 million boost to the annual economic impact, raising the Convention Center’s yearly contribution to nearly $750 million.
- The main building is 70,000 square feet. The entire facility has conditioned air (HVAC) with an integrated UV light system (for killing airborne bacteria/viruses).
- The Center will add 1,600+ new jobs in the hospitality and tourism industry.
- A total of 69,889 tons of demolition waste has been diverted from landfill disposal for recycling or reuse, representing 79 percent of the overall demolition waste.
- The building will also include enthalpy heat recovery, which captures and reuses energy from exhaust air to reduce heating and cooling demands and improve energy efficiency.
- Onsite stormwater management and rainwater harvesting systems will reduce potable water use and help recharge Austin’s aquifer.
- Rain gardens and swales will capture, retain, and redirect stormwater in multiple locations around the massive site. In addition, a set of two below-grade water-quality ponds is designed to detain a large volume of stormwater during critical flooding events.
- The project partnered with Interface through its ReEntry recycling program to recycle approximately 146,870 pounds of carpet removed from the former facility.
- Lighting changes will result in a reduction from 1,975,539 watts to 636,662 watts—a 67 percent reduction.
“Austin is proving that growth and sustainability can move forward together,” said Tom Noonan, President & CEO of Visit Austin. “The new convention center will not only expand our ability to host world-class events, but it is being built with recycled materials, energy efficiency and community spaces in mind. This approach strengthens Austin’s position as a global destination while creating real benefits for local businesses, workers and residents.”
Kudos to the Austin community for supporting such an ambitious project and for setting the bar even higher for green convention center development.
Green Lodging News Adds Chicago Faucets to Product & Service Directory
Green Lodging News has added Chicago Faucets to its Green Product & Service Directory in the “Faucets” category. Chicago Faucets is celebrating 125 years of delivering reliable commercial plumbing products. The company is known for innovation, durability, and water-saving performance. Headquartered in Illinois, the company designs and manufactures solutions specifically for demanding commercial environments, including hospitality, food service, safety, and public facilities.
Its portfolio emphasizes sustainability, offering advanced technologies like low-flow faucets, 1.0 GPM PreRinse faucet and low-flow auto-draining showers for hygiene and reduced water consumption. With a strong focus on reliability, code compliance, and customer support, Chicago Faucets delivers products that help facilities lower operating costs while meeting green building standards and enhancing user safety and experience. Call (847) 803-5000 or e-mail customerservice.us@chicagofaucets.com. Visit www.chicagofaucets.com/products for more information.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers, and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in our Green Supplier Spotlights!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes the Wednesday Green Supplier Spotlight and Thursday Green Suppliers Spotlight. Green Supplier Spotlight features just one vendor and Green Suppliers Spotlight features multiple vendors. Click here for a Green Supplier Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Both e-blasts that reach 17,953 subscribers have been built to generate quick leads. A report is sent a week after each e-blast that includes the number of e-mails sent, number of opens, and number of click-throughs. Contact Glenn Hasek at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com for more information.
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