Opened in the fall of 2010, on Thursday, the Amway Center got its golden ticket when the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) awarded the arena LEED Gold certification for its sustainable design and construction methods.
Orlando Magic, City of Orlando and OUC-The Reliable One commemorated the event with a monument dedication and garden planting in the Amway Center plaza.
“Amway Center is to be commended for their achievement of LEED Gold certification,” said U.S. Green Building Council President, CEO & Founding Chair Rick Fedrizzi. “It’s a team that started with the City of Orlando as owners, the Orlando Magic as the developers, and the community of fans and Orlando residents who will look to Amway Center as a source of civic pride and great entertainment.”
The arena’s designer, Populous; along with program manager, Turner Construction Company; construction manager, Hunt Construction Group; developer, the Orlando Magic; and owner/operator, the City of Orlando worked together to implement 39 points toward the arena’s certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the nationally-accepted benchmark for the design, construction, maintenance and operation of green buildings.
“Amway Center is living up to its expectations,” said Orlando Magic President Alex Martins. “We promised to create an arena that was civic-oriented, pedestrian friendly and added to downtown development. We promised a sustainable arena, and are proud to say that with today’s announcement and with great teamwork, we have surpassed our goal for LEED certification.”
“Through our Green Works Orlando program we have encouraged our community to develop environmentally friendly business practices and lifestyles,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “The Amway Center is one of our most visible examples of how the City and our partners are embracing sustainable practices and will allow us to further engage the community in the effort to “go green.”’
Amway Center’s site – a vibrant addition to downtown Orlando– was paramount to the arena’s sustainable success. The arena has created new life for a sleepy corner of downtown Orlando. Hosting not only the Orlando Magic, but also the Arena Football League Orlando Predators and countless concerts and family events, Amway Center has injected an incredible amount of foot traffic and interest in the arena and surrounding neighborhood. In fact, 12 new businesses have opened just on Church Street in the months since the arena opened in October 2010.
