Published:
Vail Resorts' Planned Ever Vail Base Village Project Design Receives 'Platinum' Rating by U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Neighborhood Development Program
BROOMFIELD, Colo., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vail Resorts, Inc.
(NYSE: MTN) announced today that its $1.5 billion planned Ever Vail village
development project to be located in the westernmost base area of Vail
Mountain, has been awarded the highest rating possible -- Platinum -- under
the first stage of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for
the Neighborhood Development (ND) rating system. EverVail is one of only two
planned projects in the U.S. that has been certified at the highest level of
green building standards under the pilot LEED-ND rating system and the only
one in the Rocky Mountain Region.
"Being awarded the highest level of green building certification by the
U.S. Green Building Council speaks to the commitment Vail Resorts has to the
environment and to the dedication, hard work and creativity of our Company's
development design team," said Rob Katz, chief executive officer of Vail
Resorts. "Once completed, Ever Vail will become an iconic example in the U.S.
for not only sustainable mountain resort development, but for offering an
exceptional employee, resident and guest experience at the nation's premier
ski destination."
The LEED-ND rating system, launched in February 2007, was developed to
encourage environmentally superior development that brings elements together
into a neighborhood and relates the neighborhood to its larger region and
landscape. The Vail Resorts Development Company, along with a design team led
by Callison and supported by sustainability consultants Paladino & Company,
both ofSeattle, Wash., have worked for more than a year to develop a project
plan for Ever Vail that incorporates sustainable practices at all levels of
design. Several strategies under consideration include:
-- Restoring and enhancing of Red Sandstone Creek and associated onsite
wetlands to protect ecological communities and restore wetlands
degraded by previous development
-- Designing a compact, pedestrian friendly development with public spaces
and diversity of uses to support a year-round vital community
-- Selecting a previously developed and environmentally degraded site as
opposed to using a previously undeveloped site
-- Creating onsite affordable housing for Vail Resorts employees and other
Vail Valley residents
-- Designing and constructing buildings to use 20-30 percent less energy
and 30-50 percent less water than conventional construction
-- Using renewable energy sources, including solar hot water and biomass
energy from beetle-kill pine trees harvested in the local forests
-- Incorporating solar thermal collectors to provide most domestic hot
water needs and supplement space heating
-- Using local materials to reduce carbon emissions from transportation
and to support local economies experiences
-- Incorporating environmentally friendly storm water management systems
-- Using high-recycled content materials throughout the project
-- Designing mixed-use buildings of varying scales and street widths for a
variety of pedestrian
-- Committing to sustainable operations of each building that includes
waste, water and energy management programs
-- Connecting to local and regional bus systems and providing a
complimentary community bicycle program and public education program on
living sustainably
-- Certifying that at least 80 percent of the buildings will meet LEED-NC
(New Construction) standards
The planned Ever Vail project will be located on an 11-acre site in West
Lionshead at the base of Vail Mountain, and will consist of over one million
square feet of mixed-use space including residences, a Rock Resorts hotel, a
destination spa, offices, retail shops and restaurants, mountain operations
facilities, a public parking garage, a new gondola and related skier portal
and a public plaza.
As an important piece in creating a vibrant, year-round community in Ever
Vail, Vail Resorts is proposing to include over 100 beds within the project in
what will likely be the most desirable affordable, deed-restricted housing
available for purchase in the Vail Valley. The one- and two-bedroom units will
range in size from approximately 700 to 1,300 square feet and will be designed
to attract singles, couples and families interested in living in a
sustainable, pedestrian-friendly community with a mix of retail, restaurants
and public amenities all within walking distance at the base of Vail Mountain.
The Ever Vail development project is currently in the planning stages and
is subject to receipt of governmental approvals and finalization of necessary
agreements. Visit http://www.evervail.com for more information.
About Vail Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc. is the leading mountain resort operator inthe United
States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties of
Vail,Beaver Creek,Breckenridge andKeystone mountain resorts inColorado,
the Heavenly Ski Resort in theLake Tahoe area ofCalifornia andNevada, and
the Grand Teton Lodge Company inJackson Hole, Wyo. The Company's subsidiary,
Rock Resorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant
properties across the United State sand theCaribbean. Vail Resorts
Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction
subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company
traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company
website is http://www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is
http://www.snow.com.
SOURCE Vail Resorts, Inc.
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