The Seattle Convention Center (SCC) announced that its Summit building has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as part of the council’s New Construction (v3) rating system.
Opened in January 2023, Summit nearly doubled the center’s capacity by adding 573,770 square feet of event space. This latest LEED certification builds on SCC’s longstanding commitment to maintaining environmentally sound and sustainable facility operations.
“We are honored to be awarded LEED Platinum for the Summit building,” said SCC President and CEO Jeff Blosser. “The center holds itself to high standards across its campus, and this certification recognizes the incredible measures we’ve undertaken to ensure our energy efficiency, water saving, transportation options, and broader systems in Summit operate in accordance with our environmental stewardship goals and provide our guests with a healthy, comfortable place to meet.”
SCC has earned three LEED certifications. In addition to Summit, the center’s Arch at 705 Pike building achieved LEED Silver for Operations and Maintenance, and Arch at 800 Pike achieved LEED Silver for Sustainable Construction Practices, Furnishings, and Equipment.
To achieve LEED certification, a project earns points by adhering to standards in a variety of categories. A few of the measures taken in the Summit project that resulted in earning LEED Platinum, the highest level, include:
- Reclaimed wood from the building that previously occupied a corner of the site, an automobile dealership, was repurposed as railings throughout the building.
- Rainwater is captured in tanks, filtered, and used for landscaping irrigation as well as toilet flushing.
- The lobby and pre-function areas feature a hybrid radiant heating and cooling system. Water pipes in the floors provide cool circulated water to absorb the sun-generated heat during warmer months and, conversely, circulate warm water to generate heat in the cooler months.
“LEED is a transformative tool that ensures a building is designed and operated to achieve high performance, improve human health, and protect the environment,” said USGBC President and CEO Peter Templeton. “By prioritizing sustainability, SCC is leading the way in their industry and helping USGBC continue towards our goal of green buildings for everyone within this generation.”