July 7, 2026 — McCormick Place, known as the largest convention center in North America, has become the first facility to achieve Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) Green Building + Sustainability Certification with Honors from ISSA, The Association for Cleaning and Facility Solutions, marking a major milestone for sustainability leadership in the meetings and events industry and helping set the standard for what responsible, accountable cleaning practices look like at scale.
Owned and operated by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), McCormick Place welcomes approximately 3 million visitors each year and hosts some of the world’s largest and most attended conventions, meetings and trade shows. Located along Chicago’s lakefront, the combined facilities offer 2.6 million square feet of exhibition space and feature 173 meeting rooms, the 4,249-seat Arie Crown Theater, and one of the largest ballrooms in the world.
The designation recognizes McCormick Place’s commitment to measurable, third-party-verified sustainable cleaning and facility management practices, including environmental stewardship, sustainable operations, and continuous improvement.
CIMS Sustainability Certification provides an independent framework that validates how organizations manage sustainable cleaning operations across people, processes and performance, while meeting the five core pillars of the CIMS standard — Quality Systems; Service Delivery; Human Resources; Health, Safety and Environmental Stewardship; and Management Commitment — plus CIMS-Green Building (GB) criteria for green cleaning practices.
Unlike self-reported claims, CIMS Sustainability Certification is independently audited, providing confidence to visitors, exhibitors, event organizers and stakeholders that sustainable and effective cleaning and facility management practices are backed up by credible systems and documented results.
ISSA Executive Director Kim Althoff stated:
McCormick Place’s achievement represents a defining moment for the meetings and events industry. As the first facility team to earn CIMS Sustainability Certification, McCormick Place demonstrates that sustainable cleaning and facility management is built on verified practices — not promises — and [serves as] a model that other facilities can follow.
As expectations for sustainability and healthy indoor environments continue to increase, major venues and facilities are looking for ways to demonstrate accountability, transparency, and performance. CIMS Sustainability Certification provides organizations with a trusted framework to document progress, support reporting requirements, and signal leadership to clients and partners.
Cullyn Doerfler, Senior Sustainability Manager at McCormick Place, pointed out:
This achievement would not have been possible without our strong collaboration with the Aramark team. This certification reflects our campus-wide commitment to sustainability, from implementing green cleaning practices and environmentally responsible products to prioritizing the health, safety, and well-being of both frontline staff and campus visitors.
Daniel Martinez, Aramark District Manager, remarked:
The Aramark/Globetrotters team was proud to be part of this process. Our training programs, rigorous safety protocols, and meticulous chemical and equipment tracking reflect industry-leading best practices. We were honored to work closely with the accreditors, showcasing the procedures that help ensure an environmentally responsible campus environment.
Althoff also noted that ISSA has hosted its ISSA Show North America Show at McCormick Place and “experienced firsthand their commitment to best practices, sustainability, operational excellence and accountability.” The show will be returning to McCormick Place in 2028.
For more information about CIMS Sustainability Certification, visit ISSA/CIMS. Headquartered in Rosemont, IL, USA, ISSA has regional offices in Milan, Italy; Toronto, Canada; Sydney, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China, and represents more than 11,000 member organizations and professionals worldwide.
