The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) has earned the first LEED Platinum certification in its history, with its North-South Building achieving LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance certification at the program’s highest level.
The U.S. Green Building Council awarded the certification Aug. 5. OCCC says the North-South Building is now among the largest LEED Platinum-certified convention facilities in the world and that only seven other convention centers worldwide currently hold Platinum certifications.
North-South Building moves from Gold to Platinum
The North-South Building previously earned LEED Gold certification in 2013 and again in 2018.
OCCC says the move to Platinum reflects continued improvements in energy efficiency, water conservation, waste diversion, indoor air quality, and building operations.
“This achievement is a direct reflection of our commitment to sustainability and our ongoing efforts to lead by example in responsible convention center operations,” said Mark Tester, executive director of OCCC. “Reaching LEED Platinum is an extraordinary milestone for a building of this magnitude, and it reinforces our position as one of the world’s premier sustainable destinations.”
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building certification program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Certification covers major event facility
The certification applies to OCCC’s North-South Building, part of a convention center that hosts significant annual event traffic.
In recent years, OCCC has averaged nearly 200 events annually, including 115 conventions and tradeshows. Those events attract more than 2.3 million attendees to the region, according to the convention center.
OCCC also estimates that it generates approximately $5 billion in annual economic impact for Central Florida.
The Orange County Convention Center is a convention and tradeshow venue in Orlando, Florida. For more information, visit occc.net.
Press release submitted by Orange County Convention Center. Edited by Exhibit City News for clarity, length, and style.
