The Phoenix Convention Center held a ceremony announcing that the convention center’s West Building has been awarded LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the USGBC’s leading rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings.

The West Building, which opened in June 2006, was designed by Leo A Daly and HOK to achieve LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies.

Elements that helped achieve this certification include:

“I am so proud of this certification, representing our commitment to protect the environment,” said Mayor Phil Gordon, a champion of sustainability initiatives for Phoenix. “This investment will bring countless benefits to Phoenix and will help us sustain our great quality of life for generations to come.”