SPRINGFIELD, Mass.,
April 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/
-- MGM Springfield today hosted U.S. Green Building
Council CEO & President Mahesh
Ramanujam, Massachusetts
Gov Charlie Baker, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and other government and community
leaders for an Earth Day ceremony celebrating the resort's multiple
certifications under the United States Green Building Council's
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) program.
MGM Springfield is the first private sector hospitality
development to earn LEED Neighborhood Development certification at
the site level. This recognition was partly earned due to MGM's
decision to convert a brownfield site hit by a tornado in 2011 and
create a human-scale, compact and walkable development with a light
touch on the urban fabric.
The development also has four building-level LEED certifications,
all rated LEED Gold or Platinum:
- The main resort including a 250-room hotel that is one of just
a handful of LEED Platinum hotels in the world
- The Armory, a LEED Platinum certified event space for concerts,
meetings and comedy shows
- The Springfield Chapel, a LEED Gold certified retail and dining
space
- The MGM Daycare, a LEED Platinum certified Child and Family
Center for local residents
Driving sustainability efforts at MGM Springfield and at MGM
Resorts properties throughout the country is the company's
ambitious social impact and sustainability program, Focused on
What Matters. The program is guided by guided by United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals and the company's commitment to
leading with environmental sustainability, diversity and inclusion,
community investments and volunteerism and giving.
"Before plans for this resort were even put to paper, MGM
Resorts committed to designing and building a resort that supported
environmental sustainability and positive social impact, while also
honoring the history, architecture and culture of Springfield," said MGM Resorts Northeast Group
President Chris Kelley. "I can say
confidently that we not only delivered on that vision but pulled
out all the stops to make MGM Springfield the world-class
destination and responsible environmental steward that it is
today."
In addition to Ramanujam and Gov. Baker and Mayor Sarno, leaders
from MGM Springfield and its parent company, MGM Resorts, were
joined by Massachusetts Gaming Commissioner Cathy Judd-Stein and other community leaders and
partners – all highlighting their collaboration and shared goal
of charting a new course for sustainable growth in
Western Massachusetts.
"I want to congratulate MGM Springfield President and COO
Chris Kelley and his entire team on
this acknowledgement and certification. This is no small feat
and a great achievement for our MGM Springfield in becoming a
national leader in energy and environmental design and efficiency,"
said Springfield Mayor,
Domenic Sarno. "What MGM Springfield
has achieved complements my administration's continued commitment
to working with energy and environmentally effective and efficient
development projects across the city, from our public schools to
housing and economic development projects."
A significant enabler of the LEED Platinum rating and MGM
Springfield's sustainability efforts is the property's
1.13-megawatt 3,000-panel solar array. Built in December 2019 as part of a partnership with GE
Solar – a subsidiary of Massachusetts-based General Electric – the
array is designed to generate more than 1,600 megawatt hours of
electricity annually. That's enough to power nearly 10% of the 2
million-square-foot casino, hotel and entertainment complex.
MGM Resorts has been recognized for its significant
investments in sustainability and commitment to clean energy. In
addition to MGM Springfield's sustainability efforts, nine MGM
Resorts properties have achieved LEED Gold certification, including
MGM National Harbor in Maryland
and ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa and T-Mobile
Arena in Las Vegas. In
Macau, MGM Cotai earned a
prestigious Three-Star certification under the China Green Building
Design Label by the China Green Building and Energy Saving
(Macau) Association.
"We are immensely proud that MGM Springfield has achieved this
prestigious LEED Platinum certification," said Jyoti Chopra, Chief People, Inclusion and
Sustainability Officer for MGM Resorts International. "MGM Resorts'
environmental journey began many years ago and, as a values-driven
company, our philosophy and approach centers on embracing humanity
and protecting the planet. We believe that environmental
leadership and stewardship is essential to the long-term viability
of corporations and our planet. We are firmly committed to
accelerating progress in the years ahead."
Other environmentally sustainable design features that helped
MGM Springfield receive multiple LEED certifications include:
- Cogeneration Plant: A 450kw cogeneration plant produces
electricity from turbines and the heat generated is used to heat
water for the resort.
- E.V. Charging Stations: 50 electric vehicles
charging stations are provided as well as 140 parking spots for
fuel-efficient vehicles.
- Daylighting: The South End Market restaurant hall has
floor to ceiling windows to improve indoor environmental quality
and reduce the total energy needed for lighting and space
heating.
- Public Transportation: The site is easily accessed by
public transit and is both pedestrian and bicycle-friendly.
- Adaptive Reuse: As part of our commitment to historic
preservation we adapted many existing building and interior
structures for reuse instead of demolishing them. This approach was
followed at 95 State Street and other parts of the resort,
including the Armory and the Springfield Chapel.
- Salvaged Materials: Throughout the hotel, including
lobby, lounge, and stores, salvaged materials are creatively
incorporated into the interior design.
- Green Open Space: In partnership with the City, MGM
Springfield created Da Vinci Park to provide access to open green
space and a location for local art.
- Water Efficiency: Water efficient landscaping in the
park complements a wider use of water efficient equipment and
appliances throughout.
- Rainwater harvesting: A rainwater harvesting system
captures and stores rainwater that is then used for 100% of the
onsite landscaping.
The MGM Resorts solidified its ongoing focus on environmental
sustainability in 2007 during the creation of CityCenter, the 17
million-square-foot resort in Las
Vegas. Upon opening in 2009, the Company earned six LEED
Gold certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council. In 2021,
CityCenter remains the largest privately funded green development
project in the world.
ABOUT MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL
MGM Resorts
International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P
500® global entertainment company with national and
international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos,
state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live
and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of
restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates
immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts
portfolio encompasses 31 unique hotel and gaming destinations
globally, including some of the most recognizable resort brands in
the industry. The Company's 50/50 venture, BetMGM, LLC, offers U.S.
sports betting and online gaming through market-leading brands,
including BetMGM and partypoker. The Company is currently pursuing
targeted expansion in Asia through
the integrated resort opportunity in Japan. Through its "Focused on What Matters:
Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet" philosophy, MGM
Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while
striving to make a bigger difference in the lives of its employees,
guests, and in the communities where it operates. The global
employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being
recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine's World's
Most Admired Companies®. For more information, please
visit us at www.mgmresorts.com. Please also connect with us
@MGMResortsIntl on Twitter as well
as Facebook and Instagram.
ABOUT MGM SPRINGFIELD
MGM Springfield covers
three city blocks in the heart of downtown Springfield, Mass. The largest lodging
project in the United States to
certify LEED™ Platinum in 2020, MGM Springfield offers
more than 125,000 square feet of gaming space, a 240-room boutique
hotel on Main Street, superior spa services, diverse retail and
inspired dining headlined by Costa and The Chandler Steakhouse. MGM
Springfield also features a seven-screen Regal luxury cinema
complex, bowling lanes, and a seasonally programmed outdoor plaza
displaying local art, events and talent. For more
information, visit mgmspringfield.com, the MGM
Springfield Newsroom, call (413) 273-5000, or find us
on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Photos from the event may be viewed/downloaded
HERE
MEDIA CONTACT
Callie
Driehorst
Media@mgmresorts.com
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SOURCE MGM Resorts International