Black Meetings & Tourism - Doors Open Atlas Cruces' First Convention Center: Efforts Taken To Achieve LEED Certification

Facilities Update
Doors Open Atlas Cruces' First Convention Center: Efforts Taken To Achieve LEED Certification
It Has Been a Long Time Coming, But the City's First Convention Center is Now Open The Las Cruces Convention Center hosted its first event on December 1, less than a year and a half after breaking ground in June 2009. "We have been waiting a long time for this day," said Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Ken Mompellier. "Countless legislators, councilors, City staff and dedicated members of the Las Cruces hospitality and business communities worked extremely hard over the last several years to make this facility a reality for Las Cruces; we would not be here if not for them." The center is 55,000 sq. ft. with just over 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. The facility features a 15,000-sq. ft. exhibition hall as well as a 9,360sq. ft. ballroom. There are 6 break-out rooms totaling over 3,000 sq. ft. Additionally, there are over 5,000 sq. ft. of outdoor space and 2,000 sq. ft. feet of indoor pre-function space. "This facility is a state-of-the-art meeting facility ready to serve the professional meetings industry as well as the community," said Mompellier. "It will be a tremendous asset to advance the economic development of Las Cruces." Although the level has yet to be determined, the facility will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified and features a variety of renewable energy efforts including low water usage landscaping materials that were used to landscape the facility, the reserved parking spaces for alternative energy vehicles and rows of bicycle racks to encourage alternative forms of transportation. The roof was painted a light color to reflect heat and photovoltaic cells are used to convert sun energy to electricity to further reduce energy costs for the facility. Inside, energy-efficient lighting was used throughout as well as low-flow plumbing to reduce water consumption. Heavy emphasis was also placed on recycling from the start of construction including, the use of construction materials made from recycled products, recycling the left-over construction materials and the placement of recycling bins throughout the building. The City of Las Cruces and the Las Cruces Convention Center will be hosting a series of grand opening events beginning with a ribbon cutting ceremony on January 13 and concluding with a public open house on the 15. The convention center is located at 680 E. University Avenue, on corner of University Avenue and Union Avenue. For more information contact the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau at (575) 541-2150, or cfaivre@las-cruces.org.

Facilities Update

Doors Open Atlas Cruces' First Convention Center: Efforts Taken To Achieve LEED Certification

It Has Been a Long Time Coming, But the City's First Convention Center is Now Open

The Las Cruces Convention Center hosted its first event on December 1, less than a year and a half after breaking ground in June 2009. "We have been waiting a long time for this day," said Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Ken Mompellier. "Countless legislators, councilors, City staff and dedicated members of the Las Cruces hospitality and business communities worked extremely hard over the last several years to make this facility a reality for Las Cruces; we would not be here if not for them." The center is 55,000 sq. ft. with just over 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. The facility features a 15,000-sq. ft. exhibition hall as well as a 9,360sq. ft. ballroom. There are 6 break-out rooms totaling over 3,000 sq. ft. Additionally, there are over 5,000 sq. ft. of outdoor space and 2,000 sq. ft. feet of indoor pre-function space.

"This facility is a state-of-the-art meeting facility ready to serve the professional meetings industry as well as the community," said Mompellier. "It will be a tremendous asset to advance the economic development of Las Cruces." Although the level has yet to be determined, the facility will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified and features a variety of renewable energy efforts including low water usage landscaping materials that were used to landscape the facility, the reserved parking spaces for alternative energy vehicles and rows of bicycle racks to encourage alternative forms of transportation. The roof was painted a light color to reflect heat and photovoltaic cells are used to convert sun energy to electricity to further reduce energy costs for the facility. Inside, energy-efficient lighting was used throughout as well as low-flow plumbing to reduce water consumption.

Heavy emphasis was also placed on recycling from the start of construction including, the use of construction materials made from recycled products, recycling the left-over construction materials and the placement of recycling bins throughout the building. The City of Las Cruces and the Las Cruces Convention Center will be hosting a series of grand opening events beginning with a ribbon cutting ceremony on January 13 and concluding with a public open house on the 15.

The convention center is located at 680 E. University Avenue, on corner of University Avenue and Union Avenue. For more information contact the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau at (575) 541-2150, or cfaivre@las-cruces.org.