By Jude-Anne Spencer-Phillip
The Pennsylvania Convention Center announced that it has received its Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR reaccreditation for a second consecutive year.
GBAC STAR is considered the gold standard of healthy and resilient facilities. Reaccreditation is awarded to 
facilities following a comprehensive evaluation process of its cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention protocols over the past year to ensure that the venue remains committed to and effective at maintaining and delivering a program that supports a clean, safe, and healthy environment for workers and guests.
“The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority is proud to have, once again, earned the GBAC STAR reaccreditation,” said David A. Nasatir, Esq., Chair of the Board, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. “Since receiving our initial accreditation in 2020, and reaccreditation in 2021, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to the health, safety, and overall well-being of all who enter our facility.”
In the two years since first receiving its GBAC STAR accreditation, the Pennsylvania Convention Center implemented additional phases of its capital improvement projects and, in partnership with Siemens, is currently working on completing the installation of further HVAC upgrades and sensors connected to the air handling units which will monitor, in real time, the air quality, and system performance.
These upgrades not only maintain a healthy and safe environment for guests and workers but also help to facilitate the Center’s sustainability objectives.
“As a state-of-the-art facility, the Pennsylvania Convention Center has gone to great lengths to ensure the safety of our guests and staff while maintaining the highest levels of customer service and hospitality,” said John J. McNichol, President and CEO, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. “Simultaneously, as a steward of the public good, at the forefront of our operations is the commitment to the environment and the community in which we serve. For over 20 years we have partnered with Siemens to implement technology that strategically reduces the environmental impact of our operations and positions the Pennsylvania Convention Center as a leader in smart infrastructure and sustainability.”
Many of the Center’s upgrades, such as the connection of the facility’s two central heating and cooling plants, have also had a direct impact on the facility’s energy efficiency. Additionally, the Center has implemented further initiatives such as increasing its daily purchase of renewable energy certificates to 50%, increasing its waste diversion rate goal to 50%, and eliminating single use plastics in the venue, to further cement the Pennsylvania Convention Center as a “green” facility.
As an ASM Global managed facility, these sustainability initiatives form part of ASM Global ACTS, a corporate social responsibility program which was launched in October 2021 by the Center’s venue management partner.
“The ASM Global ACTS program focuses on three key pillars; protecting the environment, investing in people, and strengthening our communities,” said Kelvin D. Moore, Regional Vice President for ASM Global and General Manager at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. “The mission of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority aligns with the pillars of the ASM Global ACTS program, and the Authority has been a steadfast supporter of the various initiatives that are a part of the program. Being able to partner with the Authority in these and other initiatives, enhances our collective ability to deliver positive impacts to the community.”
Jude-Anne Spencer-Phillip is Senior Communications Manager at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
