Grand Prix Plaza, home of the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix, has been awarded LEED Silver certification for new construction by the U.S. Green Building Council. This milestone underscores Las Vegas Grand Prix Inc.’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is among the most widely used green building rating systems in the world. The certification highlights the Grand Prix Plaza’s achievements, most notably in three key categories:
- Location and Transportation: Situated near the iconic Las Vegas Strip and its many resorts, the facility promotes sustainable transit options such as the zero-emissions Las Vegas Monorail, rideshare, and walkability, reducing environmental impact.
- Water Efficiency: Water-saving systems, including drought-tolerant landscaping, mechanical cooling, and high-efficiency fixtures, minimize consumption in the arid Nevada climate.
- Innovation: Several sustainability strategies include site management and green cleaning policies, green building education, and social equity within the project team.
“We’re proud to see Grand Prix Plaza recognized for its sustainable design and commitment to a greener future for motorsports,” said Emily Prazer, president and CEO of Las Vegas Grand Prix Inc. “This important achievement aligns with our commitment to positively impact our local community.”
In addition to securing LEED Silver certification, Las Vegas Grand Prix Inc. has made other notable contributions in reducing its carbon footprint.
In partnership with MGM Resorts and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, a “first-of-its-kind” atmospheric water generator (AWG) was built to capture water that would have otherwise evaporated into the atmosphere from one of MGM Grand’s cooling towers. The amount of water generated from the AWG each year is enough to offset Grand Prix Plaza’s annual consumptive water use, making it a net-zero consumptive water use facility.
Other noteworthy sustainability initiatives include donating over 171,000 pounds of food and beverage items to local food banks and recycling an additional 75,000 pounds of food scraps after the 2024 race.