CityCenter
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| CityCenter Las Vegas | |
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| Facts and statistics | |
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| Address | 3750 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 |
| Opening date | December 16, 2009 |
| Theme | Urban |
| Signature attractions | The Crystals Mall |
| Casino type | Land |
| Owner | MGM Mirage and Dubai World |
| Previous names | Boardwalk Hotel and Casino |
| Website | www.citycenter.com |
CityCenter is a 16,797,000 sq ft (1,560,500 m2) mixed-use complex on 76 acres (31 ha), currently under construction by MGM Mirage on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The project straddles Harmon Avenue and is bordered by (listed clockwise): Las Vegas Boulevard, a CVS pharmacy, the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, Interstate 15, the Bellagio, and The Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino which is currently under construction. The site was formerly occupied by the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, the Bellagio employee parking lot, and several standalone commercial structures. The project will be connected to the Bellagio and the Monte Carlo by a people mover system.[1]
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[edit] General design
Unlike other themed resorts along the strip, the CityCenter is set to include multiple high-rise buildings with contemporary urban design. The project will also include $40 million (US) worth of modern sculptures and installations by world famous artists.
The conceptual master plan was designed by Ehrenkrantz Eckstut and Kuhn Architects, laying out the project with approximately 2,650 condominium and condo-hotel units and approximately 4,800 hotel rooms, distributed within several high-rise and mid-rise towers around The Crystals, a retail and entertainment district. It is designed to have all commodities for daily life, featuring a 4,000-room hotel and casino, two 400-room boutique hotels (The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, with 227 residential condo units, and the Harmon Hotel and Spa), a purely residential offering (Veer Towers), a condo-hotel (Vdara Condo-hotel) and a 500,000 sq ft (46,000 m2) retail and entertainment district which will house the first grocery store on the Strip. The multi-use project is being designed with green technologies to make it one of the world's largest environmentally sustainable urban communities. Plans include the use of reclaimed water, and an on-site power plant. MGM Mirage will pursue LEED certification for the project as outlined by the U.S. Green Building Council. Siemens is to design and build $100 million 9-megawatt central energy plant to help power and cool CityCenter.
With a total cost of approximately $11 billion,[2] CityCenter is the largest privately financed development in the United States. The original cost estimate was $4 billion, but it was pushed up by rising construction costs and design changes. CityCenter is expected to open with approximately 12,000 employees and is planned to open in phases beginning in August 2009.
[edit] Financial troubles
Dubai World sued its joint venture partner MGM Mirage for breach of contract and thus decided to not make its payment of US$200 million in financing, required to keep the project on track.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] As of Friday April 17, MGM Mirage and Dubai World have agreed to a set of terms that would ensure the completion of CityCenter.[10][11]
[edit] Construction
The Perini Building Company is lead contractor on the project, with Tishman Construction Corporation serving as the executive construction manager. Gensler is the executive architect overseeing the project. The project is being built in three blocks. Block A consists of the CityCenter Casino & Resort and surrounding facilities (HKS, Inc. is architect of record); Block B (Leo A. Daly - AOR) holds the Vdara; and Block C (Adamson Associates - AOR) the Mandarin, Veer, Crystals and Harmon structures.[1]
The last remaining permanent building on the project site, the Boardwalk Casino's mid-rise hotel tower, was imploded May 9, 2006. After most of the design process was complete, construction began without an official groundbreaking ceremony in June 2006. Most renderings of the project were released in September 2006 and some delayed until February 2007. Construction started taking shape on June 26, 2006, when the first concrete was poured. Prior to this all of the work was site preparation, including utilities and other infrastructure.[citation needed] A number of construction discrepanices have been found in the project.[12]
[edit] Accidents
Six deaths have occurred since construction began. On Feb. 6, 2007, a 3,000 pound steel wall used as a concrete mold fell from a crane, hitting another wall which struck four workers, killing two. On Aug. 10, 2007, a worker died when the counterweight for a construction elevator came down on him as he oiled the machine. On Oct. 5, 2007, a worker fell approximately 50 feet while working on the main resort tower.[13] On April 26, 2008, a worker fell approximately 20 ft (6.1 m) in the south tower of the ARIA Hotel & Casino.[14] On May 31, 2008, a worker was crushed and killed when caught between the counter-weight system and the track of a crane.[15]
[edit] Walk off
At midnight on June 3, 2008, construction workers shut down construction (which had been continuous 24-hours-a-day) by walking off the job to protest safety conditions at the project. The Southern Nevada Building and Construction Trades Council demanded that the general contractor take three steps before they would begin working again: agree to pay for additional safety training for workers, allow national union researchers to examine root causes of safety problems on the site, and allow union leaders full access to the work site. [16]
On the afternoon of June 3, 2008, Perini Building Co. agreed to all of the Southern Nevada Building and Construction Trades Council's demands and workers resumed work several hours later at midnight, June 4, 2008.
[edit] The ARIA Resort & Casino
The 61-story ARIA Resort & Casino will be CityCenter's central feature.
[edit] Vdara
Vdara, designed by Rafael Vinoly of RV Architecture, LLC, will be the complex's only condo-hotel, located between the ARIA Resort & Casino and the Bellagio, Vdara's 57-story tower will house 1,543 residential units, ranging from 500 sq ft (46 m2) to 1,750 sq ft (163 m2). The architect of record is Leo A. Daly in association with Detroit based Hamilton Anderson Associates. Peter Schroeder of Tishman Construction Corporation is serving as senior project manager. The Vdara is scheduled to open in October 2009.
The Vdara was the first of the six high rises in the project to be topped out on May 14, 2008 after the 57th story was added.[17]
[edit] The Harmon Hotel and Spa
In early stages known as the Lifestyle Hotel, The Harmon Hotel and Spa was designed by Lord Norman Foster & Partners as a non-gaming boutique hotel and will be operated by Andrew Sasson's The Light Group. Later named The Harmon Hotel, Spa & Residences, it was planned for an elliptical layout and is set to have a highly reflective exterior and located on the northeast corner of the project at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard South and Harmon Avenue. The hotel's pool deck will be perched 100 ft (30 m) above the Strip. The tower was planned to have 400 hotel rooms and approximately 207 condominium residences from 800 sq ft (74 m2) to 2,900 sq ft (270 m2) on 49 floors. The design was by Norman Foster.[18][19]
[edit] Reduction in Project Scope
In late 2008, work on the hotel was stopped after inspectors discovered construction defects: county inspectors discovered improper installation of critical steel reinforcements (rebar) after 15 stories of the building had already been erected.[18] The error caused a major change in the building's design; instead of being 49 stories, it was reduced to 28 stories and the condominium element was removed entirely.[20] At the time, 88 of the 207 condominiums were reserved by buyers who had put 20 percent down, those buyers were offered refunds or the chance to buy in other buildings.[18] Due to the delay and alterations to the design, the building has been delayed past the other CityCenter projects and is scheduled to be finished in 2010.[20][18]
[edit] Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas
Part of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, the hotel was designed by KPF Architects, with mixed Residential interiors that have been designed by firms of Kay Lang & Associates, and Page & Steele Interior Architects. Living spaces will be characterized by an eastern approach to design. This is to be a luxury hotel. The Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas is scheduled to open November 2009.
The Residences at Mandarin Oriental will feature approximately 227 condominium residences situated on the upper floors of the 400-room hotel tower, with a private owner's lobby and clubroom. Parking for this area is provided by an 8-level parking structure located south of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and a one-level subterranean parking structure underneath a shopping center. The Residences at Mandarin Oriental were released for purchase in February 2007.
[edit] The Veer Towers
The Veer Towers will be two towers leaning in opposite directions (five degrees from center) that will rise adjacent to the Crystals, Retail and Entertainment District, and across the street from the Mandarin Oriental tower. They were designed by Helmut Jahn's Office based in Chicago. The twin 37-story towers will each house 337 luxury condominium units ranging from 500 to 1,500 sq ft (46 to 140 m2). Atop each tower, there will be an amenities floor including a pool, fitness center, spa, cabanas and a patio for outdoor entertaining. Lobbies and public spaces have been developed by designer Francisco Gonzalez-Pulido and will showcase works by natural light. The team of Dianna Wong Architecture & Interior Design, Inc. are designing the residences. In early stages of the project they were known as the Sobella Residential Towers.
[edit] Crystals, retail and entertainment district
Designed by Studio Daniel Libeskind and interior architecture by Rockwell Group, CityCenter's 500,000 square feet (46,500 m2) retail district will feature fashionable clubs, gourmet restaurants, retailers, galleries, incidental offices and support areas. For the interior architecture, the Rockwell Group will create an experiential environment that complements the overall city scene. This neighborhood of retail shops, dining and entertainment venues will form the core of this project.
There will be a flagship 20,000 sq ft (1,900 m2) Apple Store located within Crystals.
[edit] Auxiliary structures
The project also includes several support structures including a fire station, an on-site power plant, and a 6,900 car parking garage.
[edit] Photo gallery
[edit] Construction
 Late February 2009 - North End |
 Late February 2009 - Center |
Late February 2009 - South End |
 December 2008 |
 December 2008 |
 December 2008 |
 Eiffel Tower Picture, late June 2007. |
 Mandarin, Veer and Casino & Resort under construction, Monte Carlo in background. |
 The CityCenter Casino & Resort, June 2007. |
 Drilling work on the Casino & Resort, in June 2006. |
 The Casino & Resort, October 2006. |
 The Vdara Condo Hotel, June 2007. |
 The Mandarin Oriental, June 2007. |
 The Harmon Hotel, June 2007. |
 Harmon Hotel, June 2007. |
 The Veer Towers, June 2007. |
 The Veer West Tower, June 2007. |
 Parking Garage, April 2006. |
[edit] Design
 Model of the Project CityCenter, 2006. |
 Model of the Project CityCenter, September 15 2005. |
 Various sections of the Citycenter Project, September 2005. |
 Model of the Veer Towers, 2006 |
[edit] References
- ^ Benston, Liz (2008-05-09). "CityCenter still selling condos despite slowdown". Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/may/09/citycenter-mgm-mirages-life-preserver-lean-times/. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
- ^ Benston, Liz (2008-05-16). "CityCenter will not all open at once after all". Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/gaming/2008/may/16/citycenter-will-not-all-open-once-after-all/. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- ^ Bloomberg.com - MGM Mirage Is Sued Over Dubai World Las Vegas Project (Update5)
- ^ "CityCenter future in doubt after Dubai partner sues MGM Mirage". Las Vegas Review-Journal. http://www.lvrj.com/news/41688037.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-07.
- ^ "Despite lawsuit, MGM Mirage plans to finish CityCenter". Las Vegas Review-Journal. http://www.lvrj.com/business/41816557.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-07.
- ^ The National - Infinity takes MGM to court over Vegas project
- ^ Khaleej Times - Dubai World Unit Sues MGM Mirage
- ^ CNBC.com - MGM Vegas Project Considers Bankruptcy: Report
- ^ Bloomberg.com - MGM Mirage Hires Restructure Counsel; Payment Due (Update1)
- ^ The National - MGM pays up for Las Vegas venture
- ^ Yahoo! News - MGM Mirage, Dubai reach deal on CityCenter: report
- ^ NOT-SO-QUICK FIXES: Report reveals discrepancies at MGM CityCenter project
- ^ 'Iron worker falls to death on Strip',Brian Haynes,Las Vegas Review-Journal,October 6, 2007.
- ^ 'CityCenter worker dies in fall',Las Vegas Review-Journal, April 29, 2008.
- ^ 'Sixth worker dies at Vegas CityCenter project',Reno Gazette-Journal, May 31, 2008.
- ^ Berzon, Alexandra (2008-06-03). "Workers walk off CityCenter site in protest". Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jun/03/workers-walk-citycenter-site-protest/. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- ^ Stutz, Howard (2008-05-14). "THE RACE TO BREAK THE CLOUDS". Las Vegas Review-Journal. http://www.lvrj.com/business/18924644.html. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
- ^ a b c d Steve Friess, Tower Rising in Las Vegas but Now, Not So High, The New York Times, February 11, 2009, Accessed February 13, 2009.
- ^ Harmon inspectors blame breakdowns in communications for problems
- ^ a b Joe Brown, Adaptation or ‘disaster’?, Las Vegas Sun, February 8, 2009, Accessed February 13, 2009.
[edit] External links
- Official CityCenter website
- ARIA Resort and Casino website
- MGM Mirage company website
- VegasTodayAndTomorrow's CityCenter page
- Citycenter Agenda Sheet
- Pictures from the beginning of the project to present
- Sign of the times
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Coordinates: 36°06′28″N 115°10′33″W / 36.107725°N 115.17574°W
