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PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER RECOGNIZED FOR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY

PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER RECOGNIZED FOR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY, WELCOMES GREENBUILD 2024

(PHILADELPHIA – Nov. 22, 2024) — Pennsylvania Convention Center, managed by the world’s No. 1 development, full-service venue and live-events company, ASM Global, has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) v4.1 O+M: Existing Buildings Silver certification.

This latest certification is the second for the facility, which achieved the LEED Gold certification for New Construction in 2011.

LEED certifications serve as a crucial benchmark for organizations selecting sites for future events that align with their corporate sustainable-development goals and meet the expectations of the next generation of attendees for sustainable events.

Pennsylvania Convention Center focused on meeting stringent standards for energy, water and waste efficiency as well as the quality of the human experience at the facility. By successfully implementing initiatives, such as increasing its annual purchase of renewable energy certificates to 50% of all energy consumed, increasing its waste diversion rate goal to 50%, and reducing the use of single-use plastics, the venue was able to reach this significant milestone.

Additionally, in 2023 the center was also awarded the Events Industry Council Sustainable Event Standards Gold certification for venues and was recertified by the EIC in July 2024.

“This latest certification underscores our long-standing commitment to hosting environmentally friendly and sustainable events that minimize waste, reduce energy usage and deliver event attendees the best possible experience,” said John J. McNichol, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. “We recognize that sustainability is a high priority for many of our customers, and we share those values. We are committed to being one of the leading sustainable venues in the country, which is why our team is constantly evaluating new technologies and implementing new best practices.”

Pennsylvania Convention Center is a recognized leader in sustainable meetings and events practices and is supported by the ASM Global Acts program, under which it has enforced a robust sustainability and social impact plan.

“Green-building standards, such as LEED, are a key aspect of our sustainability strategy, providing both accountability and a clear framework to guide our efforts,” said Lindsay Arell, chief sustainability officer, ASM Global. “They ensure we measure progress against global standards, fostering transparency and continuous improvement. At ASM Global, we believe these benchmarks are essential for driving meaningful change and demonstrating our commitment to a sustainable future."

Based on the venue’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility and supported by the recent LEED certification, the center was recently selected to host the prestigious 2024 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the largest gathering of green-building professionals worldwide, which took place Nov. 12-15. The center partnered with event organizers to achieve sustainability objectives, including energy use and waste-diversion management and reporting from move-in to move-out.

“For Greenbuild and Informa Connect, it is vital for us to know that when we select a convention center to host our events, the venue will also partner with us to host our attendees in the most sustainable manner possible,” said Katie Gillham, event director, Greenbuild. “Achieving LEED certification assures us and our attendees that Pennsylvania Convention Center is committed to being that partner for us and the many events they host each year.”

With its commitment to innovation and growth mindset, ASM Global is transforming its portfolio of over 400 venues into the most sustainable in the world, setting a new standard for delivering exceptional and environmentally friendly experiences at its venues around the globe. Recently acquired by Legends, a global premium experiences company, ASM Global is dedicating its full resources to achieving measurable results throughout its business through developing a comprehensive and unified sustainability tracking system and advancing sustainability practices at its venues. Currently, over 50 venues in the company’s global portfolio have a sustainability certification. In August 2024, ASM Global also signed an international Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge with over 700 stakeholders from 60 countries, with a goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

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