Marlins Park Is First Retractable Roof Building In the World to Earn LEED Gold Certification

The Miami Marlins today announced that Marlins Park has achieved LEED^® Gold Certification under the New Construction rating system. The ballpark is the first Gold Certified retractable roof facility in the world.

LEED-NC (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction) is a rating system that was designed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to guide and distinguish newly constructed, high performance buildings that have less of an impact on the environment, are healthier for those who use the building and are more efficient to operate than their conventional counterparts.

“Populous is proud to have designed a ballpark that is innovative in multiple ways, especially in its environmental impact, said Earl Santee, Populous Senior Principal and Marlins Park designer. “Achieving LEED Gold Certification is a monumental feat, and we hope Marlins Park continues to positively impact its surroundings and its community for years to come.”

The Miami Ballpark District, comprising Marlins Park and four City of Miami public parking garages, set forth the initial goal of achieving LEED Silver Certification. By incorporating a comprehensive sustainability strategy throughout the design and construction process, including site selection benefits, water use reduction, energy use reduction, an event recycling program, regionally-sourced and recycled content materials, construction waste management and care in the design of healthy interior environments, the Miami Ballpark District was able to earn Gold, surpassing the initial goal of LEED Silver.

Sustainable site selection:

– Marlins Ballpark District is located in the Little Havana neighborhood on the former Orange Bowl site, resulting in community connectivity and multiple alternative transportation options (multiple bus lines and 319 bike racks).

– The District includes the four city of Miami public parking garages, which cover more than 72% of parking spaces from the intense Florida sun.

Water efficiency:

– Plumbing fixture design and operational strategies will reduce water use by an estimated 52% when compared against a similar project.

– Landscape design featuring native plant species, as well as species which have lower water demands, achieved a 60% potable water use reduction for irrigation purposes when compared against a similar project.

Energy and atmosphere considerations:

– Through the thoughtful design of the building envelope as well as the mechanical, electrical, lighting, heating and cooling systems, the Miami Ballpark District achieved a 22.4% (by cost) energy use reduction when compared against a similar project.

– For the refrigeration systems at Marlins Park, no CFC-based refrigerants were used, which can cause depletion to the Earth’s Ozone layer.

Materials and resources:

– The implementation of a comprehensive Event Recycling Plan ensures that Marlins Park will be one of the leaders in recycling efforts throughout Major League Baseball. Materials to be recycled include plastics, metals, paper, cardboard and glass.

– Through the combined efforts of Hunt-Moss Joint Venture and Suffolk Construction, the Miami Ballpark District was able to divert or recycle greater than 75% of construction waste from ending up in a local landfill

Indoor environmental quality:

– The interior thermal and lighting systems were designed to allow adjustment to suite individual or space needs.

– Marlins Park is a smoke-free environment, with smoking prohibited within 25 feet of the building.

– Through the incorporation of low-emitting interior finish materials (including paints, coatings, sealants, adhesives, carpet systems and composite wood components), Marlins Park assures a healthy indoor environment for employees and visitors.

For further information please contact:
media@populous.com