Black Meetings & Tourism - Virginia Beach Convention Center is Nation’s First Convention Center to Achieve LEED® Gold Certification for Existing Buildings

Facilities Update
Virginia Beach Convention Center is Nation’s First Convention Center to Achieve LEED® Gold Certification for Existing Buildings
Virginia Beach Convention Center is Nation’s First Convention Center to Achieve LEED® Gold Certification for Existing Buildings Building is Virginia’s largest to accomplish this designation The Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) announces that the Virginia Beach Convention Center is the first convention center in the country to achieve LEED® Gold certification for Existing Buildings. This achievement also signifies the facility as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s largest building (over 515,000 square feet) to achieve the LEED® Gold certified project for Existing Buildings. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings, which was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). There are several types of certifications but two primary ones for commercial facilities - New Construction (NC) and Existing Buildings (EB). Since this facility was opened in 2007, the Convention Center’s application was under the Existing Building category. The LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) Rating System helps building owners and operators of existing buildings measure operations, improvements and maintenance on a consistent scale, with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. “The Virginia Beach Convention Center staff has set a great example for other buildings within the industry and the resort area by working as a team to efficiently perform and operate to LEED standards,” stated James B. Ricketts, CVB Director. “We pride ourselves on being innovative and forward-thinking, and by protecting our environment, we can look ahead to a sustainable and clean future.” ”We are tremendously proud of this achievement. This certification is a clear sign of our commitment to the environment and our staff worked hard as a team to get us there,” stated Courtney Dyer, Convention Center General Manager. “By conserving energy and reducing our costs, we are better able to serve our community and meeting planners.” “Our commitment to the environment is not only a preferred amenity, but a requirement for some meeting planners looking to book their events,” stated Al Hutchinson, vice president of Convention Sales and Marketing for the CVB. “They consider LEED to be the premier third-party “Seal of Approval” for meeting facilities in regard to environmental criteria.” The unique factors in obtaining the gold level were substantiated by the additional points the facility earned for areas in energy conservation, sustainable purchases and innovation credits. The building received extra innovation points for developing Ergonomics training for staff, an Environmental Communication Program, which includes a compelling environmental awareness presentation on the 360-foot video wall, and an Energy Management Outreach project. Sustainability initiatives include several core programs such as recycling, water efficiency, energy efficiency and food and beverage that enable it to operate as efficiently as possible while reducing its impact on the environment. The facility was built on the location of the original Pavilion Convention Center, thereby reducing the cost of infrastructure improvements. Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, LLP (SOM), the building’s architects, in conjunction with their local partner, Norfolk-based Clark Nexsen, had the foresight to recycle materials from the former facility including steel, copper, aluminum, concrete and cinder blocks and reuse materials like asphalt in construction of the new facility. “We shared a commitment to excellence in all matters from design to operations. We would be gratified if this designation encourages the design community to continue working toward a better environment,” commented Leigh Breslau, Design Partner, SOM. The Convention Center’s Business Manager, Lori Herrick, earned the LEED Accredited Professional (LEED-AP) designation, which enabled her to facilitate the rating of the facility with the various LEED systems. The LEED-AP designation for Herrick is unique as most LEED-APs have engineering and architecture backgrounds while Herrick has a Masters in Business Administration. Typically, commercial facilities hire consultants to apply for the certification. However, under Herrick’s leadership, 77 percent of the work was completed by city staff including the Departments of Public Works and Planning. As the LEED program is predicated on third-party verification, the Convention Center worked with consultants on an as-needed basis for documentation of technical areas. The Convention Center’s LEED certification is in addition to several sustainability initiatives and programs the CVB and its hospitality partners have embraced as part of the Commonwealth’s Virginia Green campaign to promote environmentally-friendly practices in all aspects of the Virginia tourism and hospitality industry. Virginia Beach now has more than 100 Virginia Green certified hospitality businesses and is the Commonwealth’s first “Virginia Green Destination.” Currently, the Convention Center is competing against 14 commercial buildings in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA's) national competition to save energy and fight climate change. For more contest information, visit www.energystar.gov/BuildingContest. For a complete list of the Convention Center’s green initiatives, visit www.vbconventioncenter.com/green. For a complete list of certified businesses and Virginia Green partners as well as green tips, hotels, and activities that support maintaining the beauty of Virginia Beach, visit www.VirginiaBeachGreen.com. LEED Partners: Distinctive Gourmet (www.vbcatering.com), Swanson Security Services, LLC, 2D Innovations (www.2Dinnovations.com), Birsch Industries (www.birsch.com), Burns and Roe (www.roe.com), GeoEnvironmental Resources (www.geronline.com), Kerr Environmental Services Corporation (www.kerrenv.com), PACE Collaborative (www.pace-pme.com), Smith Turf and Irrigation (www.smithturf.com), Thermo-trol Systems (www.thermo-trol.com, Tidewater Fibre Corporation (www.tfcrecycling.com), and the Virginia Beach Department of Public Works and the Virginia Beach Department of Planning. The Virginia Beach CVB invites meeting planners to “Bring it to the Beach!” Virginia Beach is four hours southeast of Washington, D.C. by car and within a day’s drive or less from two-thirds of the U.S. population. For the latest information on the Virginia Beach Convention Center, visit www.vbmeetings.comand the new Bring It to the Beach blog at http://blog.vbmeetings.com. Media information and digital images are available at www.vbpressroom.com.

Facilities Update

Virginia Beach Convention Center is Nation’s First Convention Center to Achieve LEED® Gold Certification for Existing Buildings

Virginia Beach Convention Center is Nation’s First Convention Center to Achieve LEED® Gold Certification for Existing Buildings

Building is Virginia’s largest to accomplish this designation

The Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) announces that the Virginia Beach Convention Center is the first convention center in the country to achieve LEED® Gold certification for Existing Buildings. This achievement also signifies the facility as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s largest building (over 515,000 square feet) to achieve the LEED® Gold certified project for Existing Buildings.

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings, which was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). There are several types of certifications but two primary ones for commercial facilities - New Construction (NC) and Existing Buildings (EB). Since this facility was opened in 2007, the Convention Center’s application was under the Existing Building category. The LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) Rating System helps building owners and operators of existing buildings measure operations, improvements and maintenance on a consistent scale, with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts.

“The Virginia Beach Convention Center staff has set a great example for other buildings within the industry and the resort area by working as a team to efficiently perform and operate to LEED standards,” stated James B. Ricketts, CVB Director. “We pride ourselves on being innovative and forward-thinking, and by protecting our environment, we can look ahead to a sustainable and clean future.”

”We are tremendously proud of this achievement. This certification is a clear sign of our commitment to the environment and our staff worked hard as a team to get us there,” stated Courtney Dyer, Convention Center General Manager. “By conserving energy and reducing our costs, we are better able to serve our community and meeting planners.”

“Our commitment to the environment is not only a preferred amenity, but a requirement for some meeting planners looking to book their events,” stated Al Hutchinson, vice president of Convention Sales and Marketing for the CVB. “They consider LEED to be the premier third-party “Seal of Approval” for meeting facilities in regard to environmental criteria.” The unique factors in obtaining the gold level were substantiated by the additional points the facility earned for areas in energy conservation, sustainable purchases and innovation credits. The building received extra innovation points for developing Ergonomics training for staff, an Environmental

Communication Program, which includes a compelling environmental awareness presentation on the 360-foot video wall, and an Energy Management Outreach project. Sustainability initiatives include several core programs such as recycling, water efficiency, energy efficiency and food and beverage that enable it to operate as efficiently as possible while reducing its impact on the environment.

The facility was built on the location of the original Pavilion Convention Center, thereby reducing the cost of infrastructure improvements. Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, LLP (SOM), the building’s architects, in conjunction with their local partner, Norfolk-based Clark Nexsen, had the foresight to recycle materials from the former facility including steel, copper, aluminum, concrete and cinder blocks and reuse materials like asphalt in construction of the new facility. “We shared a commitment to excellence in all matters from design to operations. We would be gratified if this designation encourages the design community to continue working toward a better environment,” commented Leigh Breslau, Design Partner, SOM.

The Convention Center’s Business Manager, Lori Herrick, earned the LEED Accredited Professional (LEED-AP) designation, which enabled her to facilitate the rating of the facility with the various LEED systems. The LEED-AP designation for Herrick is unique as most LEED-APs have engineering and architecture backgrounds while Herrick has a Masters in Business Administration. Typically, commercial facilities hire consultants to apply for the certification. However, under Herrick’s leadership, 77 percent of the work was completed by city staff including the Departments of Public Works and Planning. As the LEED program is predicated on third-party verification, the Convention Center worked with consultants on an as-needed basis for documentation of technical areas.

The Convention Center’s LEED certification is in addition to several sustainability initiatives and programs the CVB and its hospitality partners have embraced as part of the Commonwealth’s Virginia Green campaign to promote environmentally-friendly practices in all aspects of the Virginia tourism and hospitality industry. Virginia Beach now has more than 100 Virginia Green certified hospitality businesses and is the Commonwealth’s first “Virginia Green Destination.” Currently, the Convention Center is competing against 14 commercial buildings in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA's) national competition to save energy and fight climate change. For more contest information, visit www.energystar.gov/BuildingContest. For a complete list of the Convention Center’s green initiatives, visit www.vbconventioncenter.com/green. For a complete list of certified businesses and Virginia Green partners as well as green tips, hotels, and activities that support maintaining the beauty of Virginia Beach, visit www.VirginiaBeachGreen.com.
LEED Partners:

Distinctive Gourmet (www.vbcatering.com), Swanson Security Services, LLC, 2D Innovations (www.2Dinnovations.com), Birsch Industries (www.birsch.com), Burns and Roe (www.roe.com), GeoEnvironmental Resources (www.geronline.com), Kerr Environmental Services Corporation (www.kerrenv.com), PACE Collaborative (www.pace-pme.com), Smith Turf and Irrigation (www.smithturf.com), Thermo-trol Systems (www.thermo-trol.com, Tidewater Fibre Corporation (www.tfcrecycling.com), and the Virginia Beach Department of Public Works and the Virginia Beach Department of Planning.

The Virginia Beach CVB invites meeting planners to “Bring it to the Beach!” Virginia Beach is four hours southeast of Washington, D.C. by car and within a day’s drive or less from two-thirds of the U.S. population. For the latest information on the Virginia Beach Convention Center, visit www.vbmeetings.comand the new Bring It to the Beach blog at http://blog.vbmeetings.com. Media information and digital images are available at www.vbpressroom.com.