Microsoft Theater Becomes First Southern California Theater to Receive GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation

Microsoft Theater has received the Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s (GBAC) GBAC STAR facility accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities, it was announced by the respected international organization comprised of leaders in the field of microbial-pathogenic threat analysis, mitigation, response and recovery.

In receiving this important designation, Microsoft Theater has become the first mid-size theater in Southern California to receive the highest level of accreditation as determined under the guidance of GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association. The 7,100-seat theater is located in Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE directly across the street from STAPLES Center which recently became the first arena in the world to receive the GBAC STAR facility accreditation.

The GBAC STAR facility accreditation insures the public that the venues have created and implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention throughout the venue. To achieve GBAC STAR accreditation, Microsoft Theater and STAPLES Center were required to demonstrate compliance with the program’s 20 core elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness and response measures. Learn more about GBAC STAR accreditation at www.gbac.org.

Microsoft Theater hosts over 120 music, family, dance and comedy acts, award shows, televised productions, conventions and product launches with over 500,000 guests passing through the doors annually.

As the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation, GBAC STAR helps organizations establish protocols and procedures, offers expert-led training and assesses a facility’s readiness for biorisk situations. The program verifies that Microsoft Theater and STAPLES Center implement best practices to prepare for, respond to and recover from outbreaks and pandemics.

“We know that when the time is right for our guests, athletes, artists and our team members to experience the incredible energy within out venues again that our GBAC STAR accreditation demonstrates that we are taking the proper precautions to protect everyone once it is safe to resume hosting events,” said Lee Zeidman, President, STAPLES Center and Microsoft Theater. “We are honored to be one of the first GBAC STAR accredited arenas and theaters of its size leading the way in maintaining cleanliness and continuing to make the safety of everyone our number one priority.”

“GBAC STAR accreditation empowers facility owners and managers to assure workers, customers and key stakeholders that they have proven systems in place to maintain clean and healthy environments,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “By taking this important step to pursue GBAC STAR, both Microsoft Theater and STAPLES Center have received third-party validation that it follows strict protocols for biorisk situations, thereby demonstrating its preparedness and commitment to operating safely.”

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic the safety of the guests, athletes, artists and team members was and will remain STAPLES Center’s and Microsoft Theater’s number one priority. With the enhanced cleaning and sanitization procedures along with existing partnerships with ABM, AtmosAir, BELFOR Property Restoration and BluEco LCT System, the protocols in place will continue to ensure everyone’s safety moving forward.

STAPLES Center and Microsoft Theater partners ABM and BELFOR Property Restoration are leaders in venue cleaning and sanitizing services, providing services to venues of all sizes. STAPLES Center’s and Microsoft Theater’s enhanced sanitization procedures provide the safest environment to host events and ensure the safety of the athletes, artists, performers, team members and guests.

STAPLES Center’s and Microsoft Theater’s sanitization protocols will continue during live events with or without guests inside the buildings and throughout the office work spaces. Dedicated restroom attendants equipped with enhanced products work constantly to keep these high-touch areas clean. A team of “sanitization monitors” are constantly auditing and evaluating all areas, especially high-touch guest areas such as in arena seats and arm rests, escalator & stair handrails, faucets, soap dispensers and restroom fixtures which have been modified, where appropriate, to touchless. The highest care and attention is also used in our food and beverage areas, ensuring food safety is carefully considered with EPA-approved sanitization methods.

STAPLES Center’s Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning system is equipped with AtmosAir Bipolar Ionization. Airflow passes through the patented AtmosAir bipolar ionization tube. The tube energizes the air to form bipolar — positive and negative — air ions. Unlike most air purification systems, AtmosAir seeks out and neutralizes the contaminants at their source. This is vastly superior to most air purification methods because it works “in the space” where we work and play. AtmosAir doesn’t wait for the pollutants to find their way into the filter within the air handler. Instead, air ions go to the contaminants in the space where you breathe, just as in nature.

BluEco LCT System, the proprietary Liquid-Crystalline Turbex (LCT) technology, is a molecular level airflow, indoor climate management system. This innovative processor produces the highest quality of water while at the same time efficiently managing the interior airflow, cleansing the air from particulates, and allowing for significant energy savings. Additionally, the technology eliminates an arena’s reliance on the municipal water systems to create and maintain its ice sheet. BluEco LCT is a stand-alone “plug and play” system which seamlessly integrates into venues without the necessity of replacing existing HVAC systems, is extremely efficient and operates in all climates. The system also naturally cleanses air of particulates, microorganisms and odors, and the system has no parts that can become breeding grounds for mold and bacteria.