COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER ACHIEVES GOLD LEED CERTIFICATION

DENVER - MAY 15, 2014 - The Colorado Convention Center has improved its LEED status to LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council through the recertification process required every five years. The venue is now the largest existing building in the region to attain LEED Gold within the Existing Building Operation and Maintenance (EBOM) criteria through recertification. Owned by the City and County of Denver and managed by SMG, the team at the Colorado Convention Center achieved LEED Gold through their efforts and continuous commitment to sustainable operations, which include:  Maintaining the building to be more energy efficient than 83% of similar building types Allowing for a rooftop solar array 54% of all waste generated was diverted from landfills through recycling, composting and donations Over 50% of Convention Center employees utilize mass-transit or other forms of alternative transportation to commute to work. Diverted 100% of reusable items that are leftover from conferences and convention center operations Operating the Blue Bear Farm, which produces fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey (from on-site beehives) "The City of Denver has a commitment to sustainability in all of our venues and we're especially proud of the trailblazing being done by SMG and our partners at the Colorado Convention Center," said Kent Rice, executive director of the City's Denver Arts & Venues division.  "The Colorado Convention Center staff's forward thinking on sustainability issues are in keeping with Colorado's image as a clean, vibrant state and we're pleased that image resonates with visitors and residents alike." LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability. The LEED green building rating system, developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, is intended to promote designs that reduce the environmental impacts of a building and improve the health and well-being of its occupants. The four certification levels are Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. These levels correspond to the number of credits accrued in six categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process. "The Colorado Convention Center's improvement to LEED Gold certification demonstrates tremendous leadership in Colorado's green building industry," said Sharon Alton, Executive Director of the U.S. Green Building Council Colorado. "The magnitude of this facility's sustainable initiatives should pave the way for other commercial building owners to realize the benefits of analyzing their own sustainable possibilities related to resource, energy and water savings. The Colorado Convention Center is a leader in sustainability, with a number of firsts including being the first facility of its kind to receive LEED certification (2010) blazing the trail for other Centers across the country. The Center was also the first event and conference venue in the world to be certified to the international sustainability standard introduced in 2012, the ASTM Certification E2774-11. John Adams, General Manager of the Colorado Convention Center said "The achievement of GOLD continues our commitment to sustainability and overall occupant health for the facility."   ### About the Colorado Convention Center The Colorado Convention Center is a top economic engine to Colorado and home to over 250 events which attract nearly 1 million people annually. The center is owned by the City and County of Denver and operated by SMG the world leader in venue management, marketing and development.