Seattle Convention Center’s Summit Building Awarded Prestigious LEED Platinum Sustainability Certification 

Summit becomes one of the very few convention centers in North America to achieve this designation

Seattle, WA – The Seattle Convention Center (SCC) announced today that its Summit building has earned LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as part of the Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) New Construction (v3) rating system. This achievement builds on SCC’s longstanding commitment to maintaining environmentally sound and sustainable facility operations.  

“We are honored to be awarded LEED Platinum for the Summit building,” said SCC President & CEO Jeff Blosser. “The Center holds itself to high standards across its campus, and this certification recognizes the incredible measures we’ve undertaken to ensure our energy efficiency, water saving, transportation options, and broader systems in Summit operate in accordance with our environmental stewardship goals and provide our guests with a healthy, comfortable place to meet. We are proud to uphold Seattle’s commitment to sustainability as we share this achievement with our clients and retailers who support and engage in these actions.” 

SCC has earned three LEED certifications. In addition to Summit, which opened in January 2023, the Center’s Arch at 705 Pike building achieved LEED Silver for Operations and Maintenance, and Arch at 800 Pike achieved LEED Silver for Sustainable Construction Practices, Furnishings and Equipment.  

To achieve LEED certification, a project earns points by adhering to standards in a variety of categories. A few of the measures taken in the Summit project that resulted in earning LEED Platinum, the highest level, include: 

• Reclaimed wood from the building that previously occupied a corner of the site, an automobile dealership, was repurposed as railings throughout the building. 
• Rainwater is captured in tanks, filtered and used for landscaping irrigation as well as toilet flushing. 
• The lobby and pre-function areas feature a hybrid radiant heating & cooling system. Water pipes in the floors provide cool circulated water to absorb the sun-generated heat during warmer months and, conversely, circulate warm water to generate heat in the cooler months. 

“LEED is a transformative tool that ensures a building is designed and operated to achieve high performance, improve human health and protect the environment,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC. “By prioritizing sustainability, SCC is leading the way in their industry and helping USGBC continue towards our goal of green buildings for everyone within this generation.” 

Summit’s LEED Platinum certification is the latest reaffirmation of Seattle’s reputation as a leading environmentally conscious meetings destination. In 2023, the United Nations selected Seattle as the only U.S. city to participate in Green Restoration, a collaboration with 18 other role model cities around the world that will share best practices to advance urban habitat via sustainable initiatives. Some key climate measures implemented by Seattle include: 

• An electrical grid utilizing 90% renewable hydroelectric power – the first carbon-neutral utility in the U.S. 
• A 60% waste diversion rate – nearly double the national average 
• Converting all cruise terminals to electric shore power 
• Mandatory household and commercial composting 
• Banning single-use plastic bags, straws, and utensils 

Seattle Convention Center photos available here. 

About Seattle Convention Center
Through the power of meetings and conventions, Seattle Convention Center elevates the city’s global reputation, drives economic benefits for Seattle, King County and Washington State, and contributes significant civic benefits for the community. It asserts, with industry partners, a commitment to financial stability, workforce development, sustainable operations, and a distinct level of customer service excellence. For more information, visit seattleconventioncenter.com. 

About the U.S. Green Building Council 
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a healthy, resilient and equitable future for all through the development of green buildings, cities and communities. For more than 20 years, USGBC has been advancing green building practices through the development of LEED, the world’s most widely used green building program. For more information, visit usgbc.org. 

About Visit Seattle
Visit Seattle has served as the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Seattle and King County for more than 50 years. A 501(c)(6) organization, Visit Seattle enhances the economic prosperity of the region through global destination branding along with competitive programs and campaigns in leisure travel marketing, convention sales and overseas tourism development. Visit visitseattle.org.