submitted by Heather Anderson, Director of Marketing & Communications, Huntington Place
DETROIT— February 22, 2024 – Today, Becky Bixby, interim general manager for Huntington Place/ASM Global, is pleased to announce that Huntington Place is currently meeting several 2024 operational goals and objectives that will propel the venue’s sustainability offering further in line with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals for this year.
Among the new developments, Huntington Place’s very own Al Vasquez, engineering and facility services director, has just started a 2-year term as the Detroit 2030 District’s board of directors chairman. The Detroit 2030 District is part of a national movement to create high-performance buildings district by reducing the environmental impacts of building construction and operations while increasing building owners’ return on investment, promoting economic development and supporting environmental justice. The Detroit 2030 District is the third largest District in North America, with over 62 million square feet of commercial space (500 building owners & managers) working together to reduce carbon emissions from the built environment.
“Al’s experience and exceptional knowledge of energy efficiency and sustainability make him a great person to have in this role,” said Connie Lilley, executive director of Detroit 2030 District. “His accomplishments in reducing operating expenses and creating a high-performance building with Huntington Place is an excellent example for other building owners and managers in Detroit to follow. We are excited to have him with our organization.”
The addition of Vasquez to the Detroit 2030 District signifies a noteworthy stride in ASM Acts’ steadfast commitment to the city of Detroit and Huntington Place’s dedicated focus on environmental stewardship. The ambitious, measurable, and transparent initiative aligns intricately with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, underscoring the organization’s dedication to broader global objectives.
In a collaborative effort to fortify sustainability endeavors, ASM Acts has partnered with Honeycomb Strategies, a company renowned for their expertise in sustainable solutions for the event industry. Together, they aim to propel the venue towards a greener horizon by identifying and pursuing sustainable goals, engaging stakeholders, establishing robust data management systems, and implementing programs that actively measure and enhance the environmental impact.
Honeycomb Strategies conducted an Impact Assessment of the Huntington Place sustainability program in November, that included successes and opportunities for the venue, and recommendations for next steps and actions to take and make an impact on venue, community and global ecosystems.
These strategic collaborations stand as a testament to ASM Acts’ and Huntington Place’s collective determination to foster positive change, ensuring that every event hosted at the venue becomes a catalyst for a more sustainable and resilient future.
“Huntington Place takes immense pride in the accomplishments and dedication of our engineering and facility services director, Al Vasquez,” said Bryan Crowe, regional vice president of ASM Global, “As he embarks on his role within the Detroit 2030 District, we eagerly anticipate the positive impact his expertise and commitment to sustainability will have on our venue and the broader community. With great confidence, we look forward to witnessing Al’s progress and contributions as he navigates this important initiative, reinforcing our commitment to a more environmentally conscious and sustainable future.”
About Huntington Place
With 723,000 square feet of exhibit space, Huntington Place, Detroit’s convention center, boasts one of the largest contiguous exhibit floor spaces in North America and has the largest ballroom in Michigan with 40,000 square feet. It is a LEED Gold certified venue and has received numerous industry awards for excellence including the 2020 USGBC Leadership Award for Building Performance, making it the only convention center in the history of the award to receive it. It is the 16th largest convention center in the United States. Visit online at huntingtonplacedetroit.com
About ASM Global
ASM Global is the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences. It is the global leader in venue and event strategy and management—delivering locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to achieve maximum results for venue owners. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 350 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, performing arts venues, and convention and exhibition centers, including The Moscone Center, San Francisco; ICC Sydney, Australia; Olympia London; Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, China; and P&J Live in Aberdeen, U.K. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. asmglobal.com.
