Sometimes lost in the debate of should Cleveland build a new convention center, is what type of building can transform the region by offering a vision of what buildings can be in the 21st century? How has green building technology helped some cities — most notably, Pittsburgh — create forward-thinking convention centers instead of giant, single-purpose, energy intensive boxes? How will the design of a Cleveland convention center determine its ability to act as an economic catalyst by creating vibrancy on the street and downtown? And if Cleveland is selected to receive it, would a year-round exhibition center for medical equipment and devices insure financial viability?
A good summary of green and urban-friendly criteria for a new convention center was issued in November 2007 by Positively Cleveland (the Convetion and Visitors Bureau). Here are the key points:
Ultimately, Positively Cleveland envisions a convention center campus with stunning architecture that makes a bold, dynamic statement about the city. It will be state-of-the-art, possessing all the latest technology. It will be “eco-friendly,” incorporating both green practices and green building design. It will operate as a viable business, offering parking, copy centers, retail opportunities and other visitor experiences within its complex. It will be accessible, connected to a headquarters hotel, easily reached by public transportation and within walking distance of entertainment options like dining, sporting events, concert venues, theaters and shopping. And it will be designed for future use, ensuring the community’s continuing return on investment by being flexible (changing meeting rooms), expandable (future growth), adaptable (multiple and mixed use) and upgradeable (implementation of yet-to-be-discovered technologies).
Read the entire Positively Cleveland report here.
Resources
- EcoCity Cleveland ideas for a green convention center
- Positively Cleveland "Convention Center Facilities Overview," November 2007
- Cleveland Planning Commission resolution calls for green convention center
- Green expansion for Oregon convention center
- Pittsburgh's convention center - the "largest green building in the world"
- Plain Dealer article on Cleveland's hunt for medical mart
- Vancouver's green convention center
