News & Events

News Date: 7/21/2009
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First sports arena in North America to be awarded LEED® Gold Rating
by the U.S. Green Building Council

KENT, Wash. – July 21, 2009 – The City of Kent learned today ShoWare Center, its new multi-purpose sports and entertainment facility, has been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This designation makes ShoWare Center, managed by SMG, the first sports arena in North America to achieve such a rating.

“I’m extremely proud of this achievement,” said Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke. “Receiving LEED Gold certification reaffirms our efforts to balance economic development with being good stewards of the environment. It’s also pretty cool to be the first on the continent!”

LEED is a voluntary, consensus-based national certification program for developing high-performance sustainable buildings that provide immediate and measurable results for building owners and occupants.

Points are awarded in six environmental categories as defined by LEED: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation and design.

Ben Wolters, Kent’s Economic Development Director and project lead for the City said throughout planning and construction, the City, along with Mortenson Construction, LMN Architects, and Seattle Thunderbirds were targeting a Silver rating, requiring 33 points. “Because of a tremendous commitment by the entire team, the project earned 40 points, with a perfect score for innovation and design,” Wolters added.

Highlights of ShoWare Center’s green features include:

• Premium parking for fuel-efficient vehicles and car and vanpools
• Low-flowing water fixtures and dual-flush toilets exceed 40% water savings when compared to similar buildings
• Native plant landscaping that doesn’t require watering
• Energy efficient lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation and ice-making equipment reducing energy use by over 37%
• More than 90% of the construction debris was recycled
• Constructed using more than 50% Forest Stewardship Council certified wood
• Low volatile organic compound paints and adhesives were used to minimize indoor contaminants that exacerbate respiratory problems
• Excess heat rejected from the ice-making equipment is used to warm the ground under the ice rink to maintain the integrity of the foundation

Designed by LMN Architects with consultation by Paladino and Company, one of the leading green building consultants in the United States, the City went above and beyond the minimum requirements to achieve a “Silver” rating for the building.

“While building “green” costs significantly more upfront, ultimately the City will see a cost savings in the long run,” Wolters said. “LEED buildings cost less to operate and maintain and are energy and water efficient.”

ShoWare Center has received several awards since opening in January including the American Institute of Architects Civic Design Award and Green Building of America Award by the Real Estate & Construction Review.

Additional information on Center’s green building features and images are available at www.ShoWarecenter.com.

More information on the LEED green building certification system is available at www.usgbc.org/LEED.

The City of Kent is the fourth largest city in King County, Washington with a population or 88,380. As a culturally rich destination, Kent’s dynamic quality of life features captivating neighborhoods, award-winning parks, an exceptional school district, and nationally accredited police and fire departments. In recent years, Kent has experienced impressive economic growth, and is nationally known as a prime location for manufacturing. For more information about the City of Kent, please visit www.choosekent.com.