Palmer Events Center Earns U.S. Green Building Councils LEED Silver Certification

Austin Convention Center Department

March 24, 2020

AUSTIN, Texas – The Palmer Events Center, a 132,700 square foot multi-purpose flexible space venue, has earned the U.S. Green Building Councils – Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification under LEED v3.0 Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance.

The building’s green activities achieved positive outcomes for energy performance, efficient energy operations, water use reduction, responsible materials selection and waste management, and enhanced indoor environmental quality.

“We are extremely proud and credit the hard work and commitment of our staff in achieving LEED Silver at the Palmer Events Center,” said Trisha Tatro, Interim Director, Austin Convention Center Department. “Our environmental program and whole-building approach reflect our dedication to sustainability.”

Issued by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED designations are given to buildings that excel in environmental efficiency and resource conservation. At a maximum of every three years a building must recertify its LEED rating when using the Arc Performance Platform. Arc scores the sustainability performance in five categories: energy, water, waste, transportation and human experience.

“While the Palmer Events Center was not LEED certified as a new building in 2002, its energy and environmental levels of performance earned a Sliver LEED certification for an existing building,” said Camala Jones, Environmental Program Coordinator at the Austin Convention Center Department. “Being in the heart of Butler Park and Auditorium Shores at Town Lake, architects and engineers kept LEED goals in mind when designing the facility.”

According to USGBC, LEED buildings are linked to improved productivity, health and wellness as well as a space that provides clean and high-quality indoor air for employees and occupants.

One hundred percent of all the electrical power to the Palmer Events Center and the Austin Convention Center is supplied by Austin Energy’s GreenChoice program, generated by wind turbines.

Thirty-five percent of all waste generated at the Palmer Events Center is diverted from landfills through the buildings comprehensive recycling, reuse and composting program. The Austin Convention Center, a Gold LEED certification building diverts 50 percent of generated waste.

Located at 900 Barton Springs Road, the Palmer Events Center offers two column-free exhibit halls, equaling 70,000 square feet and 50,000 square feet of covered outdoor canopies.

The history of the site dates to 1940 when the City of Austin purchased an airplane hangar on the south shores of Town Lake. The hanger was then converted to an all-purpose City Coliseum that opened in 1949.

In 1959, Palmer Auditorium, known as the Municipal Auditorium, opened. In 1981, the City of Austin rededicated the auditorium to be named the Lester E. Palmer Auditorium in honor of his service as an Austin Council Member and as the Mayor of Austin (1961-67). A 1998 bond election, led to the Town Lake Park development, the building of the current Palmer Events Center, opening in 2002, and the parking garage.

The Palmer Events Center’s design resembles a “Pavilion in the Park,” and the gently asymmetrical sloping roof, forms a generous wrap-around porch, making additional outdoor event space.

Nearly 4 million people have attended 1,200-plus events since The Palmer Events Center opened. The venue, with an adjacent 4-story, 1,200-space parking garage and is within a three-mile radius of 11,000 hotel rooms in downtown Austin. The Palmer Events Center is one of two convention and meeting facilities operated by the Austin Convention Center Department.

Booking information and event schedules at The Palmer Events Center can be accessed at www.palmereventscenter.com..