CONVENTION CENTER HIGHLIGHTS

Mennonite Church USA deserves a lot of credit for choosing to hold our 2011 gathering at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center (DLCC). The location of a convention often guides and constrains how much or how little environmental impact a large gathering will have.  This structure in downtown Pittsburgh is the world's first convention center to earn a gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. Why?  What makes this building so “green”?

Let’s look at the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle.

REDUCE

We Mennonites love good food, and we care how it’s grown.  So does the DLCC.  They not only support the Buy Fresh, Buy Local food program in southwestern Pennsylvania, but they grow some of their own food on the roof of the convention center!

Unlike many convention centers that provide thousands of bottles of water, the DLCC provides bulk water containers instead.

While many convention centers seem to keep every light on all the time, the DLCC adjusts its energy usage (lighting, temperature, escalators, etc.) based on the amount of use different areas of the building are actually receiving.

More than 75% of the DLCC is lit by natural lighting – skylights and glass walls.
The native plant landscaping requires no irrigation, relying solely on rainfall.

REUSE

The DLCC was built on an urban “brownfield” site, reusing an already paved, urbanized site in close proximity to public transit.

The DLCC has its own on-site water reclamation plant, allowing it to reuse millions of gallons of water from sinks and drinking fountains for use in flushing toilets.

RECYCLE

At the DLCC, they recycle the usual items, but also less common items such as light bulbs, batteries, water and food. (They donate leftover food and compost waste food).
The DLCC purchases recycled and environmentally friendly items, such as office supplies, cleaning products, low or no-volatile organic compound (VOC) paint and carpeting, and plates, flatware, and paperware for food service.

Not only does DLCC think “greenfirst” in all that they do, they encourage the event planners and exhibitors who come to the convention center to think and act in green ways as well. Attenders will be inspired by this impressively “green” convention center.

LINKS

About Lawrence Convention Center:

What is g1 (greenfirst)? 

Building design

Daily operations

To other MCCN pages prepared for Pittsburgh 2011:

Bridging Cross and Creation: Why care about greening our conventions?

Greening Convention Ideas for Youth Groups

Greening Convention Ideas for Adults

Green Guidelines for Conference Planners (2.72 MB PDF)

Mennonite Church USA sustainability page and convention web site

 

"The biblical concept of peace embraces personal peace with God
peace in human relations, peace among nations
and peace with God's creation."

Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, 1995 more

Mennonite Creation Care Network
PO. Box 263 Wolf Lake, IN 46796
PHONE 260-799-5869
FAX 260-799-5875

Luke Gascho provides leadership for MCCN.
Call the # above or email lukeag@goshen.edu.

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