It’s no surprise the 2019 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition will be held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC). Like many convention centers, Columbus’ premier conference building is located downtown and filled with event stages, meeting rooms, exhibit halls and cafés. However, there are a several unique features, that set our city’s meeting location above the rest. Don’t believe us? Northstar Meetings Group recently named the GCCC one of the top convention centers in the Midwest for the second consecutive year. We strive to offer a truly unforgettable conference experience; and it all starts inside our convention center. Check out these interesting facts about the location of your 2019 annual meeting:
“As We Are”
Located at the far north end of the GCCC stands a 14-foot, 3D sculpture shaped like a human head. The interactive art piece was created by Columbus College of Art & Design’s, Mathew Mohr, and is made from over 25 ribbons of ultra-bright LED screens. At the back of the sculpture, you’ll find a 360-degree photo booth. Guests enter the booth for a brief photoshoot and then emerge to see their portrait displayed on the massive “As We Are” face. The portrait is displayed for about 30 seconds before it is stored in a database and appears randomly in a continuous rotation. Give it a try while you’re between sessions during ASAE.
Smart Farm
Installed in 2017, Smart Farm is the nation’s first indoor hydroponic farm at a convention center. Located in the North Building, you’ll find vertical shoots of edible plants and colorful LED lights beaming from behind plate glass. Smart Farm grows a variety of “crops” including basil, chives, kale, mustard greens, celery and more, which supplement cuisine sold at catered events and cafés within the convention center. The farm yields a whopping 5,000 pounds of herbs and vegetables per year, providing plenty of fresh and sustainable greens for all the conventions center’s daily guests. Any usable leftover food is then donated to a local partner, Lifecare Alliance, which distributes to programs like Meals on Wheels.
LEED Certified
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, is considered the most widely used green building certification in the world. However, only 60 convention centers have earned this prestigious certification worldwide; and the GCCC is proud to be one of them. Following an extensive renovation in 2016 that kept environmental design at the forefront of its focus, the GCCC incorporated several green practices and initiatives, including Smart Farm, a centralized building automation management system, battery electric vehicles, single-stream recycling, Green Seal cleaning products, paperless documents, and more. The GCCC and its vendors go above and beyond to ensure the universal commitment to environmental responsibility. Be sure to look for these eco-friendly practices during your stay!
