MGM Springfield- Resort and Casino with Notable Sustainability Features
Project Background:
MGM Resorts International manages 9 LEED Gold properties and has committed to reducing its portfolio’s energy use intensity (EUI) by 20% by 2020. The MGM Springfield, in collaboration with the City of Springfield and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, pursued aggressive sustainability and economic development goals.
Project Services:
SWA provided sustainability consulting and construction administration services to AECOM Tishman, the project’s construction manager. Our scope of work included tracking LEED construction credits, monitoring site erosion controls and indoor air quality, overseeing MGM’s zero-construction-waste initiative, and documenting all achievements for GBCI review. By incorporating some of the measures outlined below, in addition to other sizable efforts, the project has received a LEED New Construction Platinum rating.
Primary Sustainable Building Features:
In the construction phase, the project accrued points in two key categories to reach the highest level of achievement in the LEED program. In the Materials & Resources category, the MGM Springfield Resort earned the maximum number of points for the recycled content, regional materials, certified wood, and construction waste management credits. 30% of building materials was derived from pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled content, and 30% of materials were harvested and manufactured regionally. Additionally, 90% of new wood purchased for the resort was certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), ensuring that only healthy and well-managed forests supplied the project.
The project also recognized traditional aesthetics by incorporating several reused and repurposed ornamental and structural components. Using existing materials reduces the burden from extracting, transporting, and disposing of materials. Finally, the project sorted construction waste and kept over 37,000 tons of debris from landfills, earning a zero-waste designation attested to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. These material-focused efforts—along with the innovative use of more than 250,000 carbon-capture CMU blocks—substantially lowered the carbon footprint of construction.
In the Indoor Environmental Quality category, the MGM Springfield Resort earned all available points for the low-emitting material credits. All interior adhesives, sealants, paints, and coatings met the stringent volatile organic compound (VOC) limits established by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). Additionally, all flooring materials were tested in compliance with the California Department of Health Standard Method v1.1-2010 to ensure they would not off-gas harmful chemicals. And, finally, no composite wood installed in the resort contained added urea formaldehyde, a compound associated with respiratory problems and increased cancer risk. All of these initiatives required careful coordination between the design and construction teams, and their successful implementation ultimately translates to a healthy indoor environment for MGM guests and employees.