Greenbuild Swells With Capacity Crowds

CHICAGO — Greenbuild, the U.S. Green Building Council’s annual conference, swept through Chicago last week, cramming the facilities at McCormick Place with more than 21,000 attendees and 850 exhibitors.

The conference site appeared overwhelmed at times with limited space for educational seminars and attendees waiting in long lines to hear speakers and purchase food and beverages.

Many attendees found themselves stuck in corridors and hallways during educational seminars that were at capacity. Those who were able to get into the seminars shared cramped quarters with people sitting on the floor and standing against walls when seating was full.

The council received feedback about the overcrowding and it is working address the issues so they do not happen again, according Ashley Katz, communications coordinator for the event. However, the conference was a success, Katz says.

“It was the largest (conference) that we’ve ever had to deal with,” Katz says.

The conference opened with a speech from former President Bill Clinton that was attended by nearly 8,000 people. During the speech, Clinton introduced a new partnership with the USGBC and other organizations to retrofit schools and universities throughout the United States .

“Green Schools are a powerful demonstration of our commitment to our children’s future and it’s a powerful way to show the next generation how we can make a difference in this world,” says Rick Fedrizzi, USGBC president, CEO and Founding Chair.

Environmentalist, entrepreneur and author Paul Hawken spoke on the second day of the conference and a panel of mayors convened on the closing day.

Several of the 850 companies that exhibited — many of which consider Greenbuild the most important conference of the year — and the USGB used the venue to make important announcements about products and services.