Sustainable construction earns Omni Dallas Hotel the first LEED Gold for a Texas hotel

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by Shane Henson — June 6, 2012—Following a string of awards for its innovative design and sustainable features, the Omni Dallas Hotel has received what is perhaps its most notable achievement: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold for New Construction certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The hotel, which opened its doors in November of 2011 and is owned by the City of Dallas, is reportedly the first and only LEED Gold-certified hotel in Texas and the largest LEED Gold hotel in the United States outside of Las Vegas. According to the hotel’s developer, Jack Matthews of Matthews Southwest, this designation was made possible by the development and execution of a highly disciplined plan that included the use of recycled and regionally-sourced materials, reduced construction pollution and water conservation initiatives. Upon opening, the hotel has also instituted practices to operate at LEED Gold standards, he says.

Specific examples of sustainability efforts during the design and construction of the hotel include:

  • The construction team employed an aggressive recycling program for the removal of construction waste.
  • The interior design for the hotel’s restaurant, Texas Spice, included reclaimed timber and brick. Certified wood makes up 50% of the wood-based material to encourage environmentally responsible forest management.
  • The hotel’s design reduces the amount of stormwater runoff with a 25,000-gallon cistern to capture water as a means of irrigation in lieu of city water. The northwest corner of the property features a rain garden designed to help with runoff. The water softener system is tied to the cooling tower and reduces water and chemical usage.
  • Roof materials feature solar reflective indexes to help with heat island effects.
  • Systems for lighting and thermal control include guest rooms equipped with a key switching system. When a guest puts the room key into a slot by the door, it activates lighting as well as heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. When removed, the HVAC system sets back to a preset temperature and the lights automatically shut off.