MGM Resorts International property is the world’s first resort in the gaming industry to achieve the highest LEED rating for a new construction project
LAS VEGAS, May 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) (“MGM Resorts” or the “Company”) today announced that MGM Springfield, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, has received the world’s first United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) New Construction Platinum level certification for a gaming resort.
MGM Springfield, which opened in August 2018, is the Company’s most recent development. Working closely with state and city officials, as well as the local community, MGM Resorts committed to designing and building a property that exemplifies the Company’s values in support of environmental sustainability and positive social impact while honoring local history and architecture.
Inspired to drive curiosity in local heritage for a new wave of locals and visitors, MGM Springfield’s design team incorporated architectural landmarks and hundreds of locally sourced vintage treasures into the resort. From recasting the former hotel to Presidents Polk and Buchanan into a sophisticated steakhouse to restoring a 19th century arsenal and a High Gothic-style church, the development thoughtfully merges new building with historic architecture, with a resulting aesthetic that is distinctly Springfield. Courtesy of MGM Springfield
A significant enabler of the LEED Platinum rating is the property’s new solar array, which will supply renewable electricity to the facility. In partnership with GE Solar, a subsidiary of General Electric that is based in Massachusetts, MGM Springfield will install a 1.13MW solar canopy on the 8th floor, on top of the MGM Springfield garage. This array is expected to generate more than 1,600 megawatt hours of electricity, helping reduce the property’s annual carbon footprint by approximately 410 metric tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent).
“As a values-driven company, we are immensely proud that MGM Springfield is the first resort in the gaming industry to achieve the LEED Platinum certification,” said Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International. “We are grateful for the response we have received from the community since opening our doors in August 2018, and we will continue to strive to be a good neighbor and explore innovative ways to improve operations, guest experiences and the surrounding areas. MGM has enjoyed a productive working relationship with city officials and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and we celebrate this achievement with them.”
MGM Springfield – Deluxe Garden Suite Private Courtyard. Courtesy of MGM Springfield
The sustainable design and development elements that helped MGM Springfield receive the LEED New Construction Platinum certification include:
- Redeveloped and revitalized a tornado impacted site in South Springfield, Mass.
- Integrated smart energy infrastructure and submeters through the facility to help monitor and control the property’s electrical and mechanical systems to support year-round energy efficiency.
- Designed for significant onsite electricity generation, including a 1.13MW solar canopy and a 450kw microturbine, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) central plant.
- Installed 50 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and 140 low-emitting-fuel efficient (LEFE) vehicle parking spaces in some of the most preferable locations of our guest and employee garages, to encourage the use of more environmentally preferable modes of transportation.
- Diverted more than 95% of construction and demolition waste by weight, from landfills during construction.
- Selected products from manufacturers that disclose information about the ingredients in their products, allowing us to make better-informed environmental, economic, and social decisions.
- Used interior finishes such as paints, sealants, coatings, adhesives, carpeting, and composite wood products with low / no volatile organic chemicals and free of urea-formaldehyde, helping to create healthier spaces for our guests and employees.
- Created a rainwater harvesting system and underground cistern to capture, store and treat rainwater onsite, allowing 100% of water for landscaping to come from this source.
MGM Springfeld – Lobby. Courtesy of MGM Springfield
Working with community partners, the MGM Springfield development project includes multiple buildings within the city of Springfield, including a daycare facility, entertainment venues etc. All aspects of this project have already achieved or are seeking a minimum of LEED Gold certification.
“The Legislature established strong energy goals in the Expanded Gaming Act for gaming establishments,” said Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chair Cathy Judd-Stein. “We are thankful to the City of Springfield and our fellow agencies for working closely with MGM Springfield to not only meet but greatly exceed our shared goal of achieving a world-class, sustainable facility. We extend our congratulations to MGM on this significant accomplishment.”
MGM Springfield – South End Market Entrance. Courtesy of MGM Springfield
MGM Resorts has nine other properties that have achieved LEED Gold certification, including National Harbor, Aria and T-Mobile Arena. MGM Cotai in Macau earned a prestigious Three-Star certification under the China Green Building Design Label by the China Green Building and Energy Saving (Macau) Association.
ABOUT MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 30 unique hotel and destination gaming offerings including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. Expanding throughout the U.S. and around the world, the company recently acquired the operations of Empire City Casino in New York and Hard Rock Rocksino in Ohio, which was rebranded as MGM Northfield Park. In 2018, MGM Resorts opened MGM Springfield in Massachusetts, MGM COTAI in Macau, and the first Bellagio-branded hotel in Shanghai. The 83,000 global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies®. For more information visit us at www.mgmresorts.com.
ABOUT MGM SPRINGFIELD
MGM Springfield covers three city blocks in the heart of downtown Springfield, Mass. Igniting a cultural and economic renaissance in a historic New England city, the resort, which combines new construction with revived historic buildings, offers more than 125,000 square feet of gaming space, a 250-room boutique hotel on Main Street, superior spa services, diverse retail and inspired dining headlined by award-winning Chef Michael Mina’s Cal Mare. MGM Springfield also features the seven-screen Regal luxury cinema complex, bowling lanes, a seasonal skating rink and outdoor marketplace displaying local art, events and talent. MGM Springfield opened on August 24, 2018. For additional information, please visit www.mgmspringfield.com.
ABOUT GE SOLAR
GE (NYSE: GE) is the global digital industrial leader founded by Thomas Edison that created the energy industry over 125 years ago. Today, GE Solar is part of the evolution to cleaner, secure, more customer-focused energy. As a highly experienced developer with a deep bench of solar industry talent, GE Solar provides customized turnkey PV energy and energy storage solutions to businesses, enterprises and institutions throughout North America. From analysis, through design and finance, to commercial operation, GE Solar delivers its customers long-term economic value that has real environmental impact. www.ge.com/solar
SOURCE MGM Resorts International
