Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/135798
VIA Rail Looking West Over the Living Roof Among the Vancouver Convention Centre's most distinctive design features are the dramatic floor-to-ceiling glass windows throughout the facility that capitalize on the scenic surroundings – as delegates leave a meeting room, they are treated to breathtaking harbour and mountain views, natural light and open space. The Vancouver Convention Centre has also made headlines for its innovative green design and a commitment to leading-edge sustainability practices. In fact, it was the first convention centre in the world to earn LEED® Platinum certification – the highest LEED® ranking possible. "Green" East Exhibit Hall features include a seawater heating and cooling system, an on-site water treatment plant and a marine habitat built into the building's foundation. Plus, a facility-wide recycling program that recycles an average of 180,000 kilograms of materials annually – nearly half of the total volume of waste generated. West Ballroom Vancouver Convention Centre photos: Hubert Kang; Samantha Lazarte But perhaps the most unique green feature is the Centre's six-acre living roof – visible inside and out, it captures the attention of delegates and the public alike. Landscaped with more than 400,000 indigenous plants and home to four beehives, whose bees produce honey for the facility's "scratch" kitchen, it is the largest living roof in Canada. convention facilities 25