Overhead view of the park at Miami Beach Convention Center

Miami Beach Convention Center Receives LEED® Silver Certification

(MIAMI, FL) – August 27, 2020 – The Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) is proud to announce it has received LEED® Silver certification, an exciting achievement recognizing environmentally-friendly infrastructure and practices installed at the venue as part of its $620-million-dollar renovation that was recently completed.  

“This exciting milestone for the MBCC represents the culmination of a long journey, demonstrating the MBCC’s serious commitment to resiliency and sustainability,” said Freddie Peterson, General Manager.

LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the preeminent program for the design, construction, maintenance and operations of high-performance green buildings. LEED uses a point system based on six categories of building and operational sustainability, evaluating a venue’s green practices and infrastructure such as water efficiency, indoor air quality, energy efficiency, material resources, and innovative designs.  The City of Miami Beach’s Rising Above commitment to sustainability and resiliency includes a Green Building Ordinance, requiring LEED® certification for all new public projects, including the MBCC.

“Our environment is our most important resource and the City of Miami Beach incorporates resiliency into every decision we make,” said Mayor Dan Gelber. “LEED Silver certification for the Miami Beach Convention Center is an incredible achievement and yet another example of the City’s longstanding commitment to sustainable, environmentally friendly practices, like our Plastic Free MB program and other initiatives.”

Fentress Architects, designers of the MBCC’s renovation and expansion project, also shared excitement over the achievement. “The Miami Beach Convention Center’s LEED Silver certification exemplifies the significant coordination, innovation and green building leadership that was demonstrated among the entire project team,” said Deborah Lucking, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Director of Sustainability at Fentress Architects. “This project stands as a testament of resilient, sustainable and forward-thinking design that will serve as a commitment to the community now and well into the future.”

The MBCC’s $620-million-dollar expansion project includes many environmentally friendly features to support green initiatives that achieve LEED® Silver certification. The site itself offers easy access to alternative transportation, including public transportation options and charging stations for fuel efficient vehicles. The site maximizes open spaces, transforming six acres of asphalt into a vibrant public park, thereby reducing heat island effect and relocating parking to the venue’s roof. The landscape design preserved more than 200 existing trees and planted a new canopy of 1,300 more, promoting incorporated irrigation and environmental stabilization through plant species selection.

Installation of reduced flow water faucets and flush fixtures at the MBCC increase water efficiency, with an expected 36% reduction in water consumption, translating into an annual savings of about 115,000 gallons of water. Reduced energy consumption (of about 15% overall) is supported by sun-shading “fins” along the exterior perimeter of the building preventing excessive solar heat gain. The venue leverages daylight in public spaces to reduce the need for artificial lighting and uses high efficiency LED lighting and occupant light sensors throughout the venue to achieve reduced energy consumption.  

Approximately 69% of the MBCC building is retained and renovated, and over 90% of the construction waste from the project was recycled, re-used, or otherwise diverted from the waste stream. Recycled steel content accounted for over 75% of the structure steel in the project.  There is also recycled content in the finishes, metal framing, curtain wall systems, and doors and hardware systems. 

The stormwater drainage system for this project intended to reduce or eliminate water pollution by increasing on-site filtration, removing contaminants from the stormwater runoff prior to outfall through a series of catch basins and conveyance system to two different outfalls, with the Collins Canal as the final receiving waterbody. Two storm water pump stations with high water quality treatment systems are on site, designed to capture and treat 100% of the average annual site rainfall and further reduce water pollution by removing 80% of the total suspended solids that enter the pumps.

Sea-level rise (a critical concern for the City of Miami Beach) is addressed in several ways. Mangrove habitats and native vegetation was restored along Collins Canal Park. Critical building systems such as emergency generators, communication systems, electrical switchgear, electrical panels and emergency responder radio enforcement systems were raised above new flood level requirements. In addition, the first floor of the venue was raised by four inches to meet the current building code requirements.

The (MBCC) is the centerpiece to Miami Beach’s meetings and conventions industry. Re-imagined following a $620-million-dollar renovation, the expanded MBCC includes a new 60,000 square-foot Grand Ballroom, almost 500,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, an expanded Grand Lobby, pre-function areas that are bathed in natural light, up to 84 breakout rooms, almost 2,100 miles of cabling to support all IT communications, $7.1 million dollars’ worth of art curated by the City of Miami Beach Art in Public Places program, nine-acres of public green space that can serve as incremental event space, and much, much more. For general information, visit www.miamibeachconventioncenter.com or call 786-276-­2600.