As part of a new Environmental Plan implemented by Exhibition Place, in Toronto,  has converted a concrete landscape on the east side of the venue to an environmentally conscious and more aesthetically pleasing green space featuring trees, multi-colored container plants, and artistic statues. The makeover is a part of the Urban Forestry Program, which preserves and renews the urban forest on the grounds. The initiative included the removal of blocks of concrete and replacing them with a softer surface of grass, wood chips and mulch, giving the exterior building a greener and more environmental landscape. Transforming the concrete area into a more natural setting is part of the venue’s overall goal of environmental responsibility, in terms of energy production and waste reduction, to be be reached by 2010.  Exhibition Place includes Ricoh Coliseum, BMO Field and Direct Energy Center, which features more than 1 million square feet of exhibition and meeting space. Opening in 2009 will be the Allstream Centre – A Conference & Convention Centre at Exhibition Place, featuring a 44,000-square-foot divisible ballroom with a capacity of 3,000 attendees and 20-state-of-the-art meeting rooms, which is in addition to the existing 22 meeting rooms in the Direct Energy Centre.