McKinstry and Lumen Field Honor Three Zero+ Champions of Sustainability 

Puyallup School District, Alexandria Real Estate Equities and Sabey Data Centers recognized for advancing sustainable building practices, reducing carbon emissions and strengthening community resiliency. 

SEATTLE – [Nov. 11, 2025] – McKinstry and Lumen Field partnered to honor Puyallup School District, Alexandria Real Estate Equities and Sabey Data Centers as Zero+ Champions of Sustainability with awards presented on November 9 at the Seattle versus Arizona football game. A panel of industry judges selected the three organizations for their efforts in advancing sustainable building practices, reducing carbon emissions and strengthening community resiliency.

The Zero+ Champions of Sustainability Awards emerged from an ongoing collaboration between Lumen Field and McKinstry to advance sustainability within the Seattle sports venue. The partners designed the award program to honor local efforts around sustainability and decarbonization. Increasing building performance on a large scale takes tremendous discipline and commitment. By highlighting local achievements, McKinstry and Lumen Field hope to inspire other organizations to strengthen their own initiatives while showcasing how teamwork can drive lasting results.

“Innovating waste out of the built environment is challenging, but the results are incredibly rewarding,” said Mark Jonson, executive vice president of construction at McKinstry. “Through this partnership with Lumen Field, we recognize the efforts of local organizations and celebrate the leaders demonstrating real impact every day.”

Here’s how each of the winners is advancing sustainability and decarbonization:

Puyallup School District is currently updating 34 school facilities to meet Washington Clean Building Performance Standard requirements, reducing costs by saving more than $163,000 in annual utility expenses along the way. Through its PowerED program in partnership with McKinstry, Puget Sound Energy and Tacoma Power, the district has already optimized HVAC schedules, upgraded lighting and controls and retro-commissioned facilities. The result reduces emissions and improves learning environments for students across the district.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. pioneered a large-scale wastewater heat recovery system at its South Lake Union life science campus, creating a replicable model for urban, mission critical energy-intensive buildings. The system is expected to supply up to 70 percent of the campus’s heating and reduce carbon emissions by over 90 percent, compared to Seattle’s average laboratory building.

Sabey Data Centers is redefining what sustainable growth looks like in our digital age. Known for building and operating some of the industry’s most energy-efficient data centers, Sabey powers its Seattle facilities with carbon-free electricity and has set an ambitious goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2029. Through national benchmarking programs, Sabey is proving that large-scale data centers can keep us on track for a sustainable, low-carbon future.

“Our partnership with McKinstry shows what’s possible when we work together toward a common goal,” said Christy Briggs, sustainability manager at Lumen Field. “Celebrating these champions at Lumen Field is a reminder that sustainability is a team effort that reaches far beyond the stadium and into our communities.”

Additional Zero+ Champions of Sustainability Award winners will be recognized over the next several years as part of the ongoing partnership between McKinstry and Lumen Field.

About McKinstry

McKinstry is a national leader in designing, constructing, operating and maintaining high-performing buildings. From new construction and ongoing operations to adaptive reuse and energy retrofits, the company provides a single point of accountability across the entire building lifecycle. McKinstry focuses on people and outcomes to ensure the built environment serves owners, operators and occupants alike. McKinstry is your trusted partner for the life of your building. Learn more at www.mckinstry.com.

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