A LEED Performance Report on the sustainable design and construction of the City of Austin's Convention Center

1. Austin Convention Center
LEED Performance Report
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE
OFFICE OF THE CITY ARCHITECT

2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The following Performance Reports were created in accordance with Council Resolution 20071129-045. The
City of Austin is a recognized international leader in sustainable building practices in which municipal building
strive to conserve energy, water, and other natural resources while promoting human health and safety. The
holistic approach to architecture creates high-quality and enduring structures that enhance the economic
value and reduce the lifecycle costs of a building.
Design and construction of buildings are driven by the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC)
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines and promote these goals. The following
reports provide information about municipal buildings, highlight LEED credentials, and promote sustainable
building achievements.
City of Austin
Office of the City Architect
Peter Davis, AIA, LEED AP
Peter.Davis@austintexas.gov
Theresa Cascio
Silvia Calderon Laiton
Angela Cai
2018

3. REDUCES
ENERGY
CONSUMPTION
REDUCES
POTABLE
WATER USE
DIVERTS
MATERIALS
FROM LANDFILL
PROMOTES
ALTERNATIVE
TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVES
INDOOR
EXPERIENCE
IACP pg. 191
IACP pg. 11
IACP pg. 53
IACP pg. 187
IACP pg. 205
The following can be found in The IMAGINE AUSTIN Comprehensive Plan (IACP)

4. AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER
500 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX, 78701
LEEDv2.0 O+M: Existing Buildings
AWARDED LEED GOLD NOV 2011
PAGE SOUTHERLAND PAGE
The Austin Convention Center (ACC) is the first convention center in Austin, Texas to achieve LEED Gold certification under
the LEED for Existing Buildings rating system. ACC is conveniently located in the heart of Austin, Texas' capital, in the
downtown area between the shores of Lady Bird Lake and the historic District Sixth Street. It provides visitor access to a
variety of entertainment and cultural options within walking distance.
Constructed in 1992 and expanded in 2002, the convention center stretches over six city blocks and 881,400 gross square
feet. It offers 370,957 square feet of meeting space, including 246,097 square feet of column-free exhibit space divisible
into five contiguous halls. Ballrooms of all sizes are included in meeting package options.
The facility is occupied 365 days a year with 159 full-time employees and approximately 300,000 visitors per year. The LEED
project site consisted of the four-story convention center, the ten-story Brazos Street parking garage, and a stormwater
detention/biological wet pond for a total of 15.83 acres. The building blocks created by LEED certification of the Austin
Convention Center will assist ACC in meeting the goals of the Austin Climate Protection Plan and the Austin Resource
Recovery's Zero Waste Plan. In addition, this significant achievement provides a road map for other City departments to
pursue LEED certification under the Existing Buildings rating system.

6. Emissions and cost are reduced by decreasing
energy use through improved design. Emissions
are further eliminated by contracting 100% of
the building’s energy to a renewable source.
REDUCES ENERGY CONSUMPTION
1
2
3
Staff education is available through energy audit
training, allowing employees to learn about potential
sustainability improvements
The Convention Center implemented a climate
change action plan and carbon footprint reduction
plan to continuously improve energy performance
The Convention Center established GHG reduction
targets, outlined a plan to monitor progression, and
introduced a financial investment in energy saving
Compared to other convention
centers:
9,746Metric tons of
GHG emissions
1,052
Energy consumed
by
Per year
Acres of forest11,479
Carbon sequestered
by
This annual savings
is equivalent to:
959 Times
Driving around
Earth
100%RENEWABLE
ENERGY USE
26%REDUCTION
ENERGY USE
AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER
500 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX, 78701
LEED GOLD 2011
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE
OFFICE OF THE CITY ARCHITECT
District Chilled Water:
3,170,235 ton hours
Total Energy Use
Electricity Provided by Austin Energy:
9,902,000 kWh
Natural Gas:
12,437,917 kBtu
STRATEGIES:

7. REDUCES POTABLE WATER USE
1
2
3
Reducing potable water also reduces energy used to
treat water supply and in domestic water heating
The City of Austin has long-term goals for potable
water reduction. Buildings such as the Convention
Center set precedent in reaching these goals
Low-flow, water-efficient systems used for kitchen,
lavatory, toilet, and urinal fixtures
ACC saves an
average of 1,590
gallons of water
per day!
Per year1,570
Drinking water
for
15 Average sized
swimming pools
7,063 Bathtubs
This annual savings
is equivalent to: 282.5kGal of
water
38%REDUCTION
INDOOR
POTABLE WATER
USE
AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER
500 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX, 78701
LEED GOLD 2011
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE
OFFICE OF THE CITY ARCHITECT
STRATEGIES:

8. DIVERTS MATERIALS FROM LANDFILL
1
2
3
The Convention Center is committed to continually
divert at least 50% of total waste stream
The Convention Center also diverts at least 95%
of all batteries and fluorescent light bulbs from
the landfill
Continuously improving beyond target goals of waste
diversion also reduces the greenhouse gas emissions
associated with occupancy waste
This savings is
equivalent to: 983Metric tons of
GHG emissions
106
Energy consumed
by
Per year
Garbage trucks49
Times
Driving around
Earth
97
63%REDUCTION
LANDFILL WASTE
AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER
500 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX, 78701
LEED GOLD 2011
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE
OFFICE OF THE CITY ARCHITECT
STRATEGIES:
Wood
58% 29%
Paper
8%
Metal
5%
Other
A CLOSER LOOK
AT DIVERTED WASTE:

9. REDUCE AND REUSE OF MATERIALS
1
2
3
The Convention Center committed to using
sustainable purchasing guidelines for at least 50% of
all office materials
Sustainable cleaning products are healthier
alternatives for staff and occupants
Sustainable products such as interior paint is not
just an environmentally responsible decision, but
it also improves the indoor air quality.
100%SUSTAINABLE
IAQ COMPLIANT
PRODUCT
PURCHASES
100%SUSTAINABLE
CLEANING
PRODUCT
PURCHASES
AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER
500 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX, 78701
LEED GOLD 2011
Total Office Material Purchases:
$29,850
97% Sustainable Purchases:
$29,093
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE
OFFICE OF THE CITY ARCHITECT
STRATEGIES:

10. PROMOTES ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION
1
2
3
131 bike stalls available for the 159 full-time
employees
30 alternative fueling stations are reserved for
3% of the available parking spaces
42 of the 159 full-time employees committed to a
carpooling program, saving over 14,000 miles of
commuting per week
What about shared transportation?
There are 6
Capital Metro
lines within
¼ mile of the
building.
AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER
500 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX, 78701
LEED GOLD 2011
131 30
=
Alternative transportation includes:
734,136
+ = 587,650Alternative fuel
charging spaces
Bicycle stalls Miles of commuting
per year
Miles of commuting
per year
This savings is
equivalent to:
Metric tons of
CO2 emissions539
42Carpool & telecommute
participants
Bicycle Stalls: 131
82%
of Users have Access to
Bicycle Stalls
Total Full-time
Employees:
159
26%
of Users are Participating
In Carpool/Telecommute
Carpool/ Telecommute: 42
3%
of Parking Reserved for
Alternative Transportation
Total Parking Spaces:
991
Alternative Fuel Charging Spaces: 30
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE
OFFICE OF THE CITY ARCHITECT
STRATEGIES:

11. ENTRYWAY
SYSTEMS
IMPROVES INDOOR EXPERIENCE
1
2
3
Low environmental impact policies improve the
indoor air quality of a building
Zones of occupancy controls maximize thermal
comfort rate for daily users
Indoor environmental comfort increases
productivity rate of full-time employees
LOW
IMPACT
CLEANING
POLICY
LOW
IMPACT
PEST
CONTROL
3 OUT OF 5
GREEN CLEANING
CREDITS RECEIVED
2011:
4.4%
2007:
10.65%
PRODUCTIVITY IMPACTS:
Decreasing Staff Turnover Rate
93%INDIVIDUAL
WORK SPACES
WITH LIGHTING
CONTROLS
AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER
500 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX, 78701
LEED GOLD 2011
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE
OFFICE OF THE CITY ARCHITECT
STRATEGIES:

12. RESOURCES
Leedatx.com
USGBC
Website
usgbc.org/leed
Project Profile
usgbc.org/projects/austin-convention-center-dept
Imagine Austin
Imagine Austin Vision
austintexas.gov/department/imagine-austin
Comprehensive Plan
ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/npzd/ImagineAustin/IACP_corrected2018.pdf
EPA
Waste Reduction Model
epa.gov/warm/versions-waste-reduction-model-warm#WARM Tool V14
GHG Conversion Calculator
epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator
Public Works Department
Website
austintexas.gov/department/public-works
PWD Capital Green Infrastructure
austintexas.gov/page/green-capital-improvement-projects
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE
OFFICE OF THE CITY ARCHITECT
Office of the City Architect
Contact Us
pwdcityarchitect@austintexas.gov
Team
Peter Davis, AIA, LEED AP
LEED/Sustainability Project Manager
Peter.Davis@austintexas.gov
Theresa Cascio
Silvia Calderon Laiton
Angela Cai