Since opening our doors in 1991, the Convention Center has hosted more than 5 million guests and more than 5,500 meetings. We have fostered longstanding relationships with a variety of organizations who choose to host their events at the Convention Center year after year since the building’s opening, such as the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Fort Lauderdale Home & Design Show and the Tropical Plant Industry Exposition.
Expansion, enhancement and excellence have been the hallmarks of the past 20 years, with our Convention Center team unwavering in its commitment to winning the loyalty of every meeting planner and guest every time they visit. Growing from 270,000 to 600,000 square feet of space with state-of-the-art technology and new amenities keeps us on the leading edge of facilities.
Our latest building enhancements include an innovative light sculpture by famed artist Larry Kirkland that now greets guests at the entryway to the Convention Center in our two covered skywalks. Exterior enhancements include a new lush landscape of verdant plants and trees indigenous to South Florida, and renovations to the building's front walkway, which now features colorful pavers in a beautiful design reflecting the facility’s motif.
The revamped landscape not only looks beautiful but also reduces our irrigation needs. The new plants and trees and less water-dependent turf grass are irrigated by an efficient micro-drip system that uses an estimated 65 percent less water than the previous sprinkler system, contributing to our overall goal of reducing the Convention Center's water usage for irrigation from 10 million gallons annually to less than 5 million.
We have been at the forefront of sustainability in the meeting planning industry since the creation of our multi-faceted recycling program in 1992. The facility is on track to complete the comprehensive Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification process by the first quarter of next year. Upon achieving certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for operations and management of an existing building, our facility will become one of only 20 LEED-certified convention centers in the country!
On the culinary front, SAVOR, our creative team of food and beverage professionals at the Center, supports our initiative to achieve LEED certification. Known for our use of the highest-quality ingredients and innovative recipes, the eco-friendly culinary team follows a number of sustainable practices in the kitchen, from energy-efficient food preparation and non-toxic cleaning, recycling and water conservation to purchasing locally produced food and beverages whenever possible.
With enthusiastic support from the Broward County Board of County Commissioners and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, we are committed to completing the conversion of the 600,000-square-foot Convention Center into an energy-efficient and environmentally sound, carbon neutral building.
After 20 years of servicing Broward County, we continue to take pride in all of our accomplishments and look forward to our continued growth and success in years to come!
This article was previously published at the www.ftlauderdalecc.com blog.
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