The Omni Dallas Hotel, which opened its doors on 11/11/11, has received LEED Gold New Construction (NC) certification, making it the first and only LEED Gold hotel in Texas and the largest LEED Gold hotel in the U.S. outside of Las Vegas. 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.
Examples of sustainability efforts during the design and construction project include:
- The construction team employed an aggressive recycling program for the removal construction waste.
- The interior design for the hotel’s restaurant, Texas Spice, included reclaimed timber and brick. Certified wood makes up 50 percent of the wood-based material to encourage environmentally responsible forest management.
- The hotel’s design reduces the amount of storm water run-off 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 run-off. 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 and HVAC systems. When removed, the HVAC system sets back to a preset temperature and the lights automatically shut off.
The LEED Gold certification is a major milestone for the acclaimed project. Earlier this month, the hotel also received a 2012 Design Award from Lodging Hospitality. The Omni Dallas Hotel offers a luxurious, warm and sophisticated design, which reflects the essence of Dallas, with a contemporary, reflective glass exterior and local textures, art and other materials inside. Guests and locals alike now have access to five culinary selections, including the celebrated Bob’s Steak & Chop House, The Owners Box and a farm-to-table restaurant, Texas Spice, for a casual dining experience as well as retail space, lounges, a signature Mokara Spa, urban pool deck and more. In-room technology includes flat screen TVs as well as TV monitors embedded within the bathroom mirrors.
Connected via a skybridge to the Dallas Convention Center, the Omni Dallas Hotel incorporates more than 110,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. Included among its 39 meeting rooms are the Dallas and Trinity Ballrooms, encompassing 32,000 and 15,000 square feet respectively. The hotel can comfortably accommodate groups of more than 3,300 attendees at any given time.