Albany Capital Center Takes Steps To Maximize Indoor Air Quality

Albany Capital Center

The Albany Capital Center (ACC) has announced that the installation of the Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization Technology has been completed and tested. This system is a proactive initiative to continue providing the highest quality attendee experience. An important capital improvement funded and contracted by the Albany Convention Center Authority (ACCA) as the result of a public bid, this new system actively and continuously purifies indoor air quality reducing airborne and surface contaminants, pollutants and viruses including COVID-19.

The Bipolar Ionization technology, specified by CHA Consulting, Inc., supplied by Wm. Jacobs & Sons and installed by ASM Global technical staff, offers a comprehensive indoor air quality solution utilizing equipment manufactured by Plasma Air. While the ACC has remained open throughout the pandemic and has already installed more restrictive MERV-13 air filters per the NYS Public Health Guidelines, the facility is committed to minimizing the risk of coronavirus transmissions and help restore attendee confidence especially for those larger in-person meetings, events, conventions and trade shows that the Albany Capital Center was purposed for.

“CHA’s engineers are committed to supporting the Albany Capital Center as it implements improvements to its internal systems to welcome visitors back to events,” said Rich Amadon, senior vice president, CHA Consulting, Inc.

Plasma Air Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization technology has been tested and proven safe and effective in dozens of independent studies. It is proven that Plasma Air Ionization reduced coronavirus surrogate (MS2 Bacteriophage) by 99%. Plasma Air’s HVAC unit-mounted ionizers use proactive air purification technologies to deactivate airborne viruses safely. The needlepoint, brush and tube-style products create millions of positive and negative ions, a proven method of virus removal, while producing no measurable Ozone, an identified environmental hazard and respiratory irritant.

“The management of indoor air quality is important to our efforts in providing for the best attendee experience at the Albany Capital Center, and the investment in this technology is but one step that the Albany Convention Center Authority has taken to assure that is always the case,” said Michele Vennard, chair, ACCA.

“The Albany Convention Center Authority is committed to maintaining the best conditions for attendees at the Albany Capital Center and enhanced indoor air quality management will be an important part of that guest experience,” said ACCA Board Member, NYS Assembly Member John T. McDonald III RPH.

The added improvement to air quality parlayed with existing measures, such as the stringent standards of ASM’s Venue Shield program afforded the ACC its recent GBAC (Global Risk Advisory Council) Accreditation - the only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation in the facilities industry. Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR-accredited facilities indicate the rigorous cleaning disinfection and prevention guidelines critical in keeping spaces clean and safe for visitors.

“Indoor air quality has become increasingly important to our guests and is something clients enquire about,” said Shannon Licygiewicz, general manager, Albany Capital Center. “When clients become more in tune with the importance of air quality, we can confidently say we are providing industry-leading safety and air quality to all who enter our building.”

The venue has hosted 145 events in 2021 to date which include, hybrid meetings, sporting events and meetings; there are an additional 23 events contracted through the end of 2021 with more expected.  To learn more about the ACC, visit  www.albanycapitalcenter.com.