There’s a lot of talk about wellness and sustainability out there, but a growing number of convention centers are committed to “walking the walk” of sustainability and community, prioritizing both people and the environment with state-of-the-art methods.
The Walter E. Washington Convention Center, for one, just announced its LEED Platinum Green Building Certification, a designation you might take for granted at this point, but consider the measures taken to achieve it, among them:
- Reducing its energy use by 25,306,767 kBtu—equivalent to removing approximately 440 cars from the road for a year—by upgrading lighting, heating and cooling systems and other efficiencies.
- With newly integrated water efficiencies throughout the facility, water consumption was reduced by 3,790,000 gallons, enough to fill about six Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The Center also was cited for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including site development, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
Good as Gold in Las Vegas
The Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) has achieved GOLD level certification to Events Industry Council (EIC) Sustainable Event Standards, providing event planners and suppliers with prescriptive actions for producing and delivering sustainable events.
The EIC Sustainable Event Standards specify performance criteria in the areas of organizational management, marketing, communications and engagement, climate action, water management, materials and circularity, supply chain management, diversity, equity and inclusion, accessibility and social impact. The venue standard is one of several comprehensive standards for environmentally sustainable events.
“The Las Vegas Convention Center’s achievement of GOLD level certification is a remarkable demonstration of their leadership in sustainability,” said Amy Calvert, president and CEO of the Events Industry Council in a media announcement. “In fact, the entire Las Vegas community is modeling the way forward for our industry in terms of sustainability, driving innovation and supporting their customers and partners along the way.”
Accessibility and Inclusion
In Calgary, Alberta, the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre has introduced and continues to refine “Pedesting,” a cutting-edge navigation app that provides accessible routes for both indoor and outdoor environments, ensuring that individuals with disabilities can navigate spaces easily.
Here’s how Pedesting enhances accessibility at events:
- Detailed Mapping: Pedesting offers comprehensive maps highlighting accessible routes, pick up and drop off points, entrances, elevators, and restrooms, allowing users to plan their journey effectively.
- Indoor and Outdoor Guidance: Pedesting excels in providing detailed turn-by-turn directions inside large venues, which is essential during complex events.
- Voice Guidance: The app supports audio instructions for people with vision loss.
- Community Contributions: Users can share their own accessibility experiences, helping to improve the accuracy and detail of the maps.
Specialized chairs designed to block noise and sensory overload at the TELUS Convention Center.
Celebrating its 50th year in 2024, the Telus Center also has worked to improve the meeting experience for all delegates with disabilities, providing quiet areas for the neurodivergent, strategic seating to minimize anxiety and a host of facilities catering to disabilities, from braille-equipped elevators with bumper safety systems and accessible buttons to wayfinding enhancements using contrasting colors and easily recognized symbols.
Transportation: Access for All
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released a pre-Paris Olympics video highlighting an ongoing federal infrastructure package—the All Stations Accessibility Program or ASAP—and how it improves access to public transportation for people with disabilities. The video features, among others, Matt Scott, a five-time Paralympian and gold medalist; Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt, a two-time Paralympian; U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth; and DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who discuss the challenges and triumphs of traveling while disabled.
The $350M ASAP program, which runs through 2026, recently awarded funding to eight transit systems in eight states to help make the nation’s oldest rail stations more accessible to those with disabilities.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Exclusive: Contracting for Sustainability
Exclusive: Talking Accessibility with Cvent’s Stephen Cutchins
Miami Beach Convention Center Named a Certified Autism Center
Marriott International Implements Neuroinclusive Practices for Meetings
