The new Santa Fe Convention Center, scheduled for completion in late summer of 2008, faces all the hurdles of municipal construction plus a few more, owing to its location in a historic city and the desire to build and operate the center in as 'green' a manner as possible.

In a town poised to commemorate the 400th anniversary of its founding, the impact of new construction on its most historic district is taken seriously. In a time of increasing awareness about the global consequences of local actions, large-scale construction is best done in a considered, earth-friendly manner. In an era when "green" is the watch word for the future, taking advantage of new technology today makes both economic and environmental sense.

Within this framework, the new Santa Fe Convention Center is being built in the most responsible manner best practices allow, while being designed to exceed the needs and expectations of national and local meeting planners, their clients, and groups. From the initial archeological survey of the site to the anticipated LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification of the final structure, Santa Fe has strived to limit both the environmental impact of the construction and future operation of the center, while maximizing the building's functionality and flexibility.

Steps taken to reduce the impact of construction and operation include:
- The new building was constructed on the site of the old center
- 88 percent of the demolition material was recycled
- 75 percent of the new construction waste will be recycled
- The center will have rooftop gardens to better control heat absorption and transmission
- A 45,000 gallon water catchments system will help supply the facility's irrigation needs
- Non-volatile carpet, paint, and cleaning products will be used throughout
- Occupancy lighting sensors will be used to turn lights off in unoccupied rooms
- All exterior lumber will be recycled from the Sierra Blanca forest fire
- Skylights will be used extensively
- Exterior walkways will be porous to reduce run-off
- Three recycling centers will be placed within the facility

Santa Fe raised the bar for green design overall as the first U.S. city to sign the Architecture 2030 Challenge, a national effort to systematically reduce and finally reverse the amount of greenhouse gas emissions created during construction and operation of buildings by 2030. All of these efforts have already begun to attract attention from groups interested in holding a future meeting in Santa Fe, specifically because of the city's green posture.

Functionally, the center is a highly adaptable, state-of-the-art facility in which to gather and work. Features of the 72,000 square foot center include outdoor meeting areas, fireplaces in some rooms, underground parking, an open interior courtyard, wireless connectivity, high-speed data lines, and flexible meeting space to provide multiple events with their own exhibition area, breakout rooms, and meal function areas. For groups between 200 and 2,000, the Santa Fe convention center is an exceptional choice.


For information on holding meetings in Santa Fe, contact Mara Saubers, 505-955-6210, sales@santafe.org

For further information on the convention center itself contact Keith Toler, 505-955-6209, kwtoler@santafenm.gov

For press information contact Steve Lewis, 505-473-9002, slewisnm@earthlink.net