FEA Consulting Engineers Facilitates Sustainable Design Certification

LAS VEGAS – The Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix Pit Building has been awarded LEED Silver® certification. FEA Consulting Engineers, which provided the mechanical, engineering, plumbing, low voltage, lighting services and environmental services for the project, facilitated the award. 

Granted by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED certification signifies that a building’s design incorporates environmentally friendly practices. Projects earn points by meeting standards in areas such as carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health, and indoor environmental quality.  

“Promoting sustainability is at the heart of our design process,” said Robert Finnegan, president and owner of FEA Consulting Engineers. “We strive for our team to structure designs in ways that reduce energy use, conserve water, minimize waste and overall lower our carbon footprint.” 

The certification highlighted three key factors for the achievement:  

• Innovation: Sustainable practices, including responsible site management, eco-friendly cleaning policies, green building education, and a commitment to social equity within the project team, set a new standard for environmental responsibility. 

• Water Efficiency: Designed for conservation, the facility features drought-resistant landscaping, energy-efficient cooling systems, and high-performance water fixtures to minimize usage in Nevada’s dry climate. 

• Location and Transportation: Conveniently located near the Las Vegas Strip, Grand Prix Plaza supports eco-friendly transit options such as the zero-emissions Las Vegas Monorail, rideshare services, and pedestrian accessibility, helping to reduce environmental impact. 

“Facilitating the achievement of a LEED Silver certification for the Grand Prix Plaza was a significant milestone in my career,” said Chad Langille, environmental consultant of FEA Consulting Engineers. “This incredibly rewarding experience took years of carefully coordinated, environmentally conscious design and construction decisions, with an emphasis on water conservation, energy efficiency, and carbon footprint reduction. A special thank you to our team at FEA Consulting Engineers, the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix team, Klai Juba Wald Architecture + Interiors, Miller Project Management and The PENTA Building Group, all of whom were a driving force in promoting sustainably focused strategies critical to our success.” 

The Las Vegas Grand Prix also incorporated a first-of-its-kind atmospheric water generator (AWG), with mechanical and electrical engineering designed by FEA Consulting Engineers. This innovative AWG captures water that would have otherwise evaporated from a cooling tower. The system produced enough water to offset the amount used for washing down the track before the race. 

For more information about the Las Vegas Grand Prix and its sustainability efforts, please visit www.f1lasvegasgp.com/community.