When Mennonite Church USA members gather in Pittsburgh, PA, for their biennial convention July 4 – 9, 2011, they will meet in the world’s first convention center to achieve a LEED® gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The David L. Lawrence Convention Center was built on an urban brownfield. Ninety-five percent of demolition wastes were recycled; water conservation, natural lighting and use of local materials all help reduce the building’s environmental impact.
Daily operations also emphasize green practices. The Center uses vegetables and herbs from a rooftop garden and purchases food from local suppliers. Office staff use wooden pens with refillable soy ink.
Staff are trained to reward guests “caught” doing something green, like placing recyclables in the correct bin. These good deeds may earn attenders a green lapel pin made from a recycled bottlecap. read more