During Renovations, the Venetian and the Palazzo Use Sustainable Wall System
During the renovation at The Palazzo casino and other parts of the property, the properties Sustainability team learned of an innovative product called Envy Walls, a temporary wall that is made of 100% recyclable and reusable materials. The manufacturing company states that every 700 square feet of Envy Wall reduces one ton of landfill debris compared to conventional framing, metal studs, and dry wall.
“Sustainability at its core was developed to do what its name implies – to sustain life or increase longevity of life,” Tim Brown, Senior Program Manager of Corporate Development at The Venetian and The Palazzo, said. “For sustainable buildings, it means they last longer with reduced operating and maintenance costs. For individuals working in sustainable buildings, it means they can breathe cleaner air which can reduce sickness and ultimately increase one’s lifespan.”
With the help the properties Facilities Project Manager, the property set out to find a temporary wall system that could reduce construction’s impact to guest’s experience. The Envy Walls were implemented to be constructed in a quarter of the time and was also 100 percent recyclable. The temporary walls for projects are constructed with less labor, saving tens of thousands in costs, while reducing construction waste by almost 30 tons in 2017 alone.
“That is something I’m very proud of, but it was only made possible by the input and joint effort of Venetian Facilities and my Development Department,” Brown said. “Though sustainable practice has always been a part of Development’s project criteria, improvements can always be made. Early this year, we set out to engage Sustainability with the expressed intent to improve our partnership in project delivery but more importantly to promote discussion and feedback on how we as a department can improve the sustainable practices currently in place.”
With renovations to last until June 2018, the walls not only reduce debris, but also help with air quality as there are no airborne pollutants caused by drywall installation and sanding. They also eliminate use of drywall mud, primer and paint. With the reduction of construction waste and also increasing recycling rate significantly, 100 percent diversion of construction debris generated was from the use of the temporary walls. The process also reduces labor and material costs.
“One of the easiest ways to ensure sustainability initiatives are properly documented is to use contractors and designers who are experienced in delivering sustainable projects,” he said. “Projects move quickly through construction and contractors unfamiliar with the additional documentation necessary for sustainable projects will not prioritize that requirement. The key is intentionally to be purposefully sustainable.”
Las Vegas Sands, through Sands ECO360 Global Sustainability, remains committed to our planet as a good corporate citizen. The programs strategy is designed to help minimize environmental impact, and it reflects the company’s vision to lead the way in sustainable building development and resort operations.
