UNITY VILLAGE, Mo.—The Unity Village Hotel and Conference Center, one of the country’s first “green” hotels, was completed November 10, 2006, and is open to guests for Unity retreats as well as to businesses and organizations for their meetings and conferences.  Hotel rooms are also available to the general public.  The building is designed to be environmentally friendly in its construction and in its day-to-day operations.

Groundbreaking for the $9 million project was held September 25, 2005.  The building was designed and built to strict LEED certification standards.  (LEED is an acronym which stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.”)  Unity is now seeking formal designation as a LEED-certified building.

LEED certification occurs after a review of the completed project by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which promotes design and construction practices that increase profitability while reducing the negative environmental impacts of buildings and improving occupant health and well-being. Buildings are rated based on 69 points, which are awarded in five categories:  sustainable sites, energy efficiency, materials and resources, energy and atmosphere, and indoor environmental quality.

The Unity Village Hotel and Conference Center was designed by Gould Evans Associates, LC, of Kansas City, and built by McCown Gordon Construction, to be environmentally efficient and conscientious through its construction and operation. Highlights of the green design include energy-efficient heating and cooling systems; recyclable, nontoxic building materials; environmentally friendly housekeeping practices; water conservation; indoor air quality enhancements; abundant natural lighting; and low-maintenance landscaping with indigenous plantings.  During construction, debris was recycled.  To protect air quality, during construction and in the future, off-gassing was reduced.  (Off-gassing refers to the volatile chemicals that are released into the air from paint, stains, varnish, carpet, insulation and flooring.) To further protect indoor air quality, the facility is 100 percent smoke free.

“Unity is pursuing LEED certification of the Unity Village Hotel and Conference

Center to reflect our deep concern for the environment as well as the well-being and comfort of our guests,” said Charlotte Shelton, president and CEO.  “Unity believes in being a good steward of all of our resources, including the beautiful natural setting we enjoy here at Unity Village.  We also believe in being a good servant to all of those who come here for rest and renewal.”

This is the first new building to be constructed at Unity Village since 1989.  It features 49 hotel rooms for double occupancy with queen-size beds, a VIP suite, a multi-purpose meeting and conference center that can be divided into four smaller meeting rooms with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment.  The entire building is WIFI accessible.  It is fully handicap-accessible with additional accommodations for anyone with vision or hearing impairment.  The Hotel is located on the beautifully landscaped grounds of Unity Village, a

National Historic Register site, located 15 miles southeast of Kansas City.  The building features tile roofs, stucco walls, courtyards and archways to blend in with the historic Mediterranean architecture of Unity Village.

The building utilizes a ground-source heat pump system for heating and cooling.  Thirty-seven ground wells were drilled to a depth of 350 feet.  The system uses the Earth’s temperature to heat and cool the building.  This is the most energy-efficient way to heat and cool a building and it is longer lasting than traditional heating and cooling systems.

The building was designed to match the historic Mediterranean architecture of Unity Village, including a clay tile roof consisting of more than 85,000 individual tiles that are Energy Star-rated for efficiency.  It is built with an all-steel interior structure designed to last 50 years and more.  Most new hotel construction is designed for a 10–15 year life span.

Water efficiency is a key component of the building with dual flush toilets, low-volume shower heads, rain gardens and bioswales to purify stormwater runoff.   Green cleaning products will be used throughout.  The bathrooms feature granite countertops and shower surrounds with tile floors and hand-held shower heads.  Guest rooms are furnished with flat-screen televisions, coffee makers, hair dryers and clothes steamers.

The lobby features donated Turkish marble.  There are two fireplaces and sitting areas and lounges throughout the building with a landscaped courtyard and patio area.

For a tour of the building or more information about rates and reservations, contact Cynthia Patterson in the Unity SpiritPath Department at (816) 251-3530.

RELEASE:     November 13, 2006                           
FOR RELEASE UPON RECEIPT
Contact: Tom Taylor, Manager Public Relations  Phone: (816) 251-3565
E-mail:  taylortc@unityonline.org    Web site:  www.unityonline.org

A transdenominational organization, Unity is dedicated to supporting people of all faiths on their spiritual journeys and to helping them apply positive spiritual principles in their daily lives. Unity is on the Internet at www.unityonline.org.  Unity helps people use the power of affirmative prayer through its prayer ministry, Silent Unity, which receives two million prayer requests each year.  Unity also publishes Daily Word, an inspiration magazine circulated in approximately 175 countries around the world   The Unity world headquarters are located at Unity Village, 15 miles southeast of downtown Kansas City, Mo.