LAS VEGAS, Dec. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MGM Resorts
International (NYSE: MGM) today announced that the U.S. Green
Building Council has awarded the Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design™ (LEED) Gold certification to MGM National
Harbor, the company's newest resort. Located minutes from
Washington D.C., in Prince George's County, Maryland, the resort
is scheduled to open December 8.
The LEED Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted
benchmark for the design, construction and operation of
high-performance green buildings. Meeting the rigorous
environmental standards of this designation is a testament to the
complete integration of sustainable principles throughout the
design and construction of MGM National Harbor.
"Environmental responsibility is a commitment that extends
across all levels of our organization. Achieving our ninth LEED
certification exemplifies MGM's long-standing effort to implement
sustainable and responsible practices across our resorts," said
Cindy Ortega, Senior Vice President
and Chief Sustainability Officer for MGM Resorts International.
"MGM National Harbor embodies the Company's dedication to
environmental leadership in our industry."
The resort will incorporate a variety of environmentally minded
practices and sustainability elements, making MGM National Harbor a
premier eco- luxury destination.
"As we approach MGM National Harbor's grand opening, earning
this coveted designation is a meaningful source of pride for our
team," said Lorenzo Creighton,
President and COO for MGM National Harbor. "It is another example
of how MGM National Harbor is helping to charter a new course for
sustainable growth in Maryland."
MGM National Harbor is situated just off the banks of the
Potomac River, in the Chesapeake Bay region. One priority of the
MGM National Harbor team was to protect the water resources in and
around the project site. MGM designed and implemented a range of
innovative approaches to store, reuse and reduce consumption of
water to help protect the local ecosystem.
Environmental attributes of MGM National Harbor that supported
the LEED Gold rating include:
- Rainwater Harvesting: MGM National Harbor designed and
constructed a 700,000 gallon cistern to collect, store and treat
rainwater captured from the roof structures. The repurposed water
will be used for the resort's irrigation, cooling and sanitary
needs and will reduce the amount of water taken from the
Prince George's County water
supply.
- Water Conservation: High-efficiency fixtures,
including automatic faucets, low-flow toilets and shower
fixtures help reduce the property's water consumption by more than
45 percent. An on-site well provides recalculated water to help
further minimize water loss due to evaporation.
- Energy Efficiency: MGM National Harbor was built with
comprehensive integration of LED (light emitting diode)
high-efficiency lighting technology. The use of these lighting
systems not only allows for less direct lighting energy to be
consumed, but also a significant reduction of cooling energy
required throughout the building.
- Resiliency: MGM National Harbor designed and built one
of the largest privately operated combined heat and power (CHP)
energy plants in the Washington
D.C. region. The system works to generate on-site
electricity for the resort. By creating its own energy, MGM
National Harbor improves reliability, minimizes energy losses in
transmission and reduces demand on the local energy grid.
- Alternative transportation: To encourage the use of
alternative transportation, MGM National Harbor has installed 28
electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and 185 low-emitting-fuel
efficient vehicle parking spaces. These attributes help to
promote the use of alternative transportation modes for both our
guests and employees.
- Waste and Recycling: More than 96 percent, or over
15,000 tons, of construction waste was diverted from landfills
during the building of MGM National Harbor. Construction and
demolition waste makes up approximately 40 percent of landfills in
the United States.
Located at the intersection of I-95 and I-295 in Prince George's County, Maryland, MGM National
Harbor will encompass 308 hotel rooms, a 125,000-square-foot
casino, 12 world-class food and beverage venues, a
27,000-square-foot spa, a flexible 3,000-seat theater and 18,000
square feet of high-end luxury retail space.
About MGM National Harbor
The newest addition to the MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM)
portfolio, MGM National Harbor's unrivaled setting offers stunning
panoramic views of the eastern shore of the Potomac River in
Maryland. The $1.4 billion resort sits a short distance from
Washington, D.C. to the north and
historic sites, including George
Washington's Mount Vernon
estate across the river in Virginia. The 24-story, 308-room resort will
feature premier amenities and experiences for locals as well as
visitors from around the world including a dynamic casino with over
125,000 square feet of space that includes slots, table games and
poker; a world-class spa and salon; an entertainment theater with
flexible seating for up to 3,000; high-end branded retail; 50,000
square feet of meeting space; and restaurants from renowned local,
national and international chefs. MGM National Harbor is scheduled
to open December 8,
2016.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. MGM National Harbor
has based these statements on management's current expectations and
assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples of these
statements include statements regarding the expected opening date
of the casino resort and scope of the amenities to be offered. A
number of important factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements,
including effects of economic and market conditions, competition
with other destination travel locations throughout the United States and the world, and the
design, timing and costs of the projects and risks relating to
permits, licenses, financings, approvals and other contingencies
and additional risks and uncertainties described in the MGM Resorts
International Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports (including
all amendments to those reports) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. In providing forward-looking statements, MGM
National Harbor is not undertaking any duty or obligation to update
these statements publicly as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise, except as required by law.
U.S. Green Building Council
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S.
Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable
future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving
green buildings. With a community comprising 80 local affiliates,
more than 18,000 member companies and organizations, and more than
167,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving
force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product
from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of
builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit
organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and
teachers and students. Buildings in the
United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40%
of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per
year, making green building a source of significant economic and
environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85%
of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to
green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American
jobs.
LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building
certification system is the foremost program for the design,
construction and operation of green buildings. Over 100,000
projects are currently participating in the LEED rating systems,
comprising over 8 billion square feet of construction space in all
50 states and 114 countries. By using less energy, LEED-certified
buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce
greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment
for residents, workers and the larger community. USGBC was
co-founded by current President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune
500 executive. Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has
become the preeminent green building, membership, policy,
standards, influential, education and research organization in the
nation. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.
About MGM Resorts International
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's
leading global hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of
destination resort brands including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay
Bay and The Mirage. The Company is in the process of developing MGM
National Harbor in Maryland and
MGM Springfield in Massachusetts.
MGM Resorts controls, and holds a 76 percent economic interest in
the operating partnership of MGM Growth Properties LLC (NYSE: MGP),
a premier triple-net lease real estate investment trust engaged in
the acquisition, ownership and leasing of large-scale destination
entertainment and leisure resorts. The Company also owns 56 percent
of MGM China Holdings Limited (HK: 2282), which owns the MGM Macau
resort and casino and is developing a gaming resort in Cotai, and
50 percent of CityCenter in Las
Vegas, which features ARIA Resort & Casino. MGM Resorts
is named among FORTUNE® Magazine's 2016 list of World's Most
Admired Companies®. For more information about MGM Resorts
International, visit the company's website at
www.mgmresorts.com.
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SOURCE MGM Resorts International