GiGarenents
BY DIANE BAIR AND PAMELA WRIGHT
At one time, they were some of the biggest energy hogs
on the planet: huge, sprawling convention centers, chock-full of consuming conventioneers.
Consider that a typical four-day meeting of 3,000 or so people
can generate some 90,000 cans or bottles, 75,000 cups,
87,000 napkins and 62,000 plates. Then there’s the water consumption, the kilowatts of energy, the generated air pollutants,
and the sheer cost of operating expansive buildings. But that
was yesterday. Today, convention centers — energy gobblers of
the past – are now some of the greenest buildings on the planet;
using cutting-edge technology and embracing environmentally
friendly practices, they’re leading the way to more sustainable
building design and operation.
The landmark expansion of the Vancouver Convention and
Exhibition Centre, for example, will be a showcase for sustainable buildings worldwide. The waterfront center, expected to be
completed in 2009 in time for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games,
will feature a host of innovative building systems and techniques. A six-acre living roof, one of the largest of its kind in
the world, will be planted with more than 400,000 indigenous
plants and contain drainage and recovery systems that collect
and use rainwater as irrigation. An on-site treatment plant will
provide irrigation for the roof as well as water for the bathroom
plumbing fixtures, and seawater will be processed through heat
exchange units, providing a natural source for climate control.
The 1. 1 million square-foot expansion will also feature a
one-of-a-kind, concrete marine habitat built into the foundation. A series of habitat “skirts” will extend from the high
water level to the low water level, providing a home for marine
plants and animals.
The construction project team is aiming for at least 15 percent of the building materials to contain recycled content, and
at least 20 percent of the materials to be locally manufactured
and harvested; 75 percent of the construction waste will be recycled and reused.
The Vancouver project will cost more than $883 million
(Canadian). But contrary to popular belief, building green
doesn’t have to bust the budget. A variety of studies have
shown that green buildings cost only nominally or nothing
more to build than traditionally constructed buildings. Today,
with new technology and materials, it’s easier — and economically more feasible —to be green. For example, when the Virginia Beach Convention Center began designing its new
building in 2002, its architects were citing increased costs for
a “green” building, or proposing a much smaller building to
stay within the budget. “At the time, building green was fairly
expensive,” says Courtney Dyer, general manager at the Virginia
Beach Convention Center. She agrees that architects and
builders have come a long way since then.
“Reports vary, but industry experts today generally agree
that building green is no more than 3 to 5 percent more in cost,”
Dyer says. “And much of this is due to the LEED documentation costs — where products came from, how the site was treated
during construction, composition of materials — the list is long.”
Similar to a Good Housekeeping stamp for green buildings,
LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification
that a building project meets the highest green building and
performance measures. Dyer estimates that it could cost more
than $150,000 to pursue LEED certification. “This figure isn’t
out of line based on discussions I’ve had with other convention
center managers who have recently or are now pursuing LEED
certification,” she says.
Taking the LEED
But going green, and having the LEED certification to prove it,
can be a powerful marketing tool. “The convention center’s
commitment to the environment is a well sought-after amenity
by meeting planners looking to book their conventions,” says
James B. Ricketts, director of the Virginia Beach Convention
and Visitors Bureau. “Recent trends in the tourism and hospitality industry indicate that clients are more interested in
doing business with environmentally conscious organizations.”
Catherine Wong, vice president of operations for the Vancouver Convention and Exposition Centre, agrees. “Our experience is that our clients are more and more interested, not only
