The Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center (LBCEC) completed a $33 million sustainability initiative and three-phase infrastructure project in early April.
The final phase of the project included the installation of 5,355 solar panels across the convention center’s roof. The panels feed zero-emissions energy directly to Long Beach’s public grid and are capable of generating an estimated 4.6 to 4.8 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year. In addition, the full installation is expected to power 700 homes annually.
The 480,000-square-foot center’s sustainability initiative aligns with the City of Long Beach’s commitment to carbon reduction. The infrastructure improvements reflect a long-term goal in the city to modernize public assets, reduce operating costs and invest in a more sustainable community for the future.
"This project represents a transformative moment for the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. By replacing critical infrastructure that has served us for decades and adding a substantial solar installation, we're not just modernizing the facility—we're establishing a new operational standard for convention centers nationwide,” said Robert Smit, general manager of the LBCEC for Legends Global, in a press release.
“Guests will benefit from improved climate control and reliability, while the City of Long Beach gains a venue that actively contributes clean energy back to the community. It's an investment that will pay dividends for generations.”
[Related: Next-Level Event Sustainability and 4 Hotels Doing It Well]
Back to the Beginning
The infrastructure project began in Q3 2025. The first phase welcomed 566,000 square feet of specialty roofing. The new Cool Roof System helps to improve the campus’s insulation, prevents leaks and reduces the load-bearing weight of the structure by more than 707,000 pounds.
The second phase was completed by, December 2025. The venue replaced its HVAC system for the first time in 35 years. The installation brought greater efficiency, improving airflow by 20 to 25%.
"This $33-million infrastructure transformation at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center demonstrates our city's unwavering commitment to environmental leadership and fiscal responsibility,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a press release.
“By modernizing this iconic waterfront facility with cutting-edge HVAC systems and transforming our roof into a solar power plant, we're not only reducing operational costs for taxpayers—we're generating clean energy that powers hundreds of Long Beach homes. This project exemplifies how we can upgrade our public assets to serve today's needs while building a more sustainable future for generations of Long Beach residents.”
[Related: Green Gatherings: Meetings and Offsite Activities in Eastern Iowa Are Prioritizing Sustainability]
Sustainability Statistics
Here are more of the center’s environmental efforts to recycle and save energy and water.
- An LED lighting project replaced 230 LED lamps in the exhibit halls, saving an estimated 62 kilowatt hours annually.
- Motion sensors in the meeting rooms control all the lighting to reduce electrical usage.
- Five EV chargers are located in the venue’s parking garage.
- The venue’s rain-catch system is utilized to water greenery.
- Landscaping waste is composted.
- Biodegradable and compostable serviceware is used.
- Food is sourced from local Southern California farms whenever possible.
- Plastic straws are banned.
- Each year, the facility recycles approximately 72 tons of cardboard, 1,200 wooden pallets, nine cubic yards of office paper and six cubic yards of glass and plastic.
The LBCEC’s campus features various indoor/outdoor spaces including three exhibit halls, a 3,000-seat terraced theatre, 34 meeting rooms and four ballrooms. The largest ballroom is the 42,000-square-foot Pacific Ballroom that can accommodate 4,000. The center hosts hundreds of events annually, including the Long Beach Grand Prix festival headquarters and media center during the three-day racing schedule each April.
