MGM Mirage has gone outside Las Vegas to find an architect for the 4000-room casino resort that will anchor its ambitious City Center project that will replace the decidedly unambitious Boardwalk casino. It looks to be an interesting project.
From the LA Times:
Early plans envision two soaring glass towers of 60 stories. The use of glass, Pelli said, will give guests “extraordinary views” of the bustling Strip and the stark desert that lies in the distance.
Pegged as a four-star resort designed to fill the market between MGM’s Mirage and the high-end Bellagio, the new hotel will have a 150,000-square-foot casino, a 2,000-seat theater where MGM expects to launch another Cirque du Soleil production and 15 to 20 restaurants. MGM Mirage executives expect the cost to reach $2.5 billion.
The project is part of a vast development MGM Mirage launched in November that will include three smaller hotels, a 550,000-square-foot shopping complex and 1,650 condominium units.
MGM Mirage chose Cesar Pelli & Associates, a New Haven-based firm that has done some great work throughout the world. Check out the website to get a taste of what they do.
When they announced the project, MGM Mirage said they wanted an urban vibe for it. Given that Pelli has built in major cities from Tokyo to New York, they made a great choice. I am particularly intrigued by his 731 Lexington and Residencial Del Bosque projects, and watching the project take shape over the next five years will be a lot of fun.