EATTLE’S STUNNING NATURAL SET- tingandprogressive,green-thinking culture have established it as one of North Amer-
ica’s most environmentally committed cities. In 2008, SustainLane.com deemed it the third-most sustainable city in thecountry,while theBrookings Institution ranked it sixth-best in the U.S. for its small carbon footprint.That sameyear, theWash- ington State Recycling Association presented the Washington State Convention Center(WSCC)with Recycler of theYearAward, Public Agency. The seeds for Seattle’s environmental stew-
ardship were sown two decades ago. Since then, theWSCC has demonstrated an industry-leading commitment to recycle, reduce, and reuse. In 2010, the WSCC recycled 174 tons of cardboard; 186 tons of paper, plastic,and glass; 2,460 pounds of aluminumcans; and 12 tons of scrap metal. In August 2008,the facility inaugurated the country’s first 100-percent biodegradablewater bottles.The WSCCalso offers 100-percent compostable drink- ing and coffee cups, plates, and cutlery. Meanwhile, The Conference Center, which
opened within the WSCC complex last July, is expected to receive LEED Silver certification as a result of its use of sustainable construction practices, furnishings, and equipment.Wall and partition fabrics are GREENGUARD-certified, all food-service equipment is Energy Star–rated, and nearly 90 percent of all construction waste has been reclaimed and recycled. The striking linear ceiling treatment is made with Northwest- grown hemlock, while walls and doors are fin- ished in eucalyptus. Two boardrooms feature built-in, state-of-the-art equipment controlled from conference tables crafted of reclaimed 1,000-year-old Douglas fir. Seattle also has becomea leader in corporate
social responsibility through its voluntourism program, conceived by Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB) and the nonprofit Seattle Works,which plans a variety of volunteer projects —from planting gardens to helping to feed the hungry—for groups of all sizes. “This program exemplifies the ongoing benefit that tourism pro- vides to the local community, as well as the Seat-
LEADER OF THE PACK: The
seeds for Seattle’s environmental
stewardship were sown two
decadesago.
ONE OF A KIND: The unique
conference table in Room 201 of The Conference Center (above) ismade from
reclaimed 1,000-year- old Douglasfir.
tle tourism industry’s commitment to one-stop customer service,” saidTomNorwalk,SCVB pres- ident and CEO.“We plan to take an industry-lead- ing role in connecting meeting and tourism industry professionals with causes of concern here in Seattle.” Information about Seattle-area voluntourism opportunities can be found at www.visitseattle.org/meetings/voluntourism. Want to know more about green Seattle?
The SCVB recently launched a green microsite, www.visitseattle.org/green, as a resource for meeting planners and visitors.
At a Glance CONVENTION FACILITIES: TheWashington State Convention Center (WSCC) features 205,700 sq. ft. of exhibit space and 61 break- out rooms. The Conference Center offers an additional 71,000 sq. ft. of space. HOTEL ROOMS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF CONVENTION CENTER: 8,404 ATTRACTIONS: Argosy Cruises, Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour, Experience Music Proj- ect|Science Fiction Museum, Hiram M. Chitten- den Locks, International District, Museum of Flight, Olympic Sculpture Park, Pacific Science Center, Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, Ride the Ducks, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Center, SeattleWaterfront, Space Needle, TillicumVillage FOR MORE INFORMATION: Chris Mueller, Director of Sales; Seattle’s Convention and Vis- itors Bureau; (206) 461-5800; www.visitseattle.org