Accolades

The Walter E. Washington Convention Center achieved LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance: Existing Buildings Gold certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Green buildings allow companies to operate more sustainably and give the people inside them a healthier, more comfortable space to work.

The Capital Emmy Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognizes outstanding individual achievement in the Washington, DC region by conferring annual awards of merit. In 2022, Events DC was awarded a Capital Emmy in the category of Best Historical/Cultural Short Form Content for Embassy Chef Challenge: Afghanistan. The honor marks the first Emmy award for a program produced by Events DC, created for and hosted on GATHER, Events DC’s new hub for dynamic live and on-demand event programming from the worlds of sports, entertainment, culture, hospitality, and more.

The WELL Health-Safety Rating is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating for all new and existing building and space types focusing on operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans to address a post-COVID-19 environment now and into the future. The Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Entertainment and Sports Arena and the DC Armory have earned their Well-Health Safety Rating, with the Convention Center being the first convention center in the world to receive the rating.

In August 2020, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center became the first convention center in the northeast corridor to achieve GBAC Star accreditation for preeminent cleaning, disinfection and infection prevention strategies, The award was recertified for 2021 & 2022. To earn this accreditation, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center successfully completed 20 program elements with specific performance and guidance criteria met. The GBAC STAR™ accreditation provides third-party validation that facilities are implementing thorough cleaning and disinfection programs.

The Walter E. Washington Convention Center was awarded a Gold Stella Award from Northstar Meetings Group as the best convention center in the Northeast region. The Stella awards are the highest honor of the meeting industry, recognizing hotels, convention centers, conference centers, airlines, cruise lines, destination marketing organizations and convention and visitor bureaus that consistently deliver quality service and innovation to meeting and event professionals.

The Walter E. Washington Convention Center was named one of EXHIBITOR Magazine’s 2021 Centers of Excellence. The Convention Center was recognized as one of the best convention centers in North America for trade shows and events as well as for its health and safety protocols for safe return to live events.