More pictures of Project City Center after the jump.

The first thing that strikes you about the design is its scale – it’s huge! OK, so most buildings along the strip are huge, too, but it’s the concentration of so many huge buildings that impresses with Project City Center.

One thing that might be a problem, though, is how these buildings will fit in to the overall feel of Las Vegas. Although Vegas’s existing hotels all look different to one another (and, indeed, to any other building on earth!), most of them share a sense of Vegas identity – largely, pure theatre!

The buildings in Project City Center, though, all appear to be standard glass towers like you’d find in any other major city. Although one or two towers wouldn’t be a problem, I’m a bit concerned that the sheer scale of City Center might overwhelm the strip, and start to turn one of the world’s great modern wonders into just another city center with the usual array of skyscrapers.

Fortunately, there’s usually quite a difference from the original renderings of a new hotel to the final constructed building, so let’s hope that Project City Center doesn’t spoil the strip by being too boring.

[Source: Rafael Vinoly Architects]

Now, obviously I know nothing about construction, but adding that much glass in the middle of a building site seems like asking for trouble! Not only can the glass be easily smashed with all that construction going on, but imagine being a construction worker walking under it? As if the risk of falling masonry wasn’t bad enough – is a hard-hat enough to shield you if one of the panes falls out?

Rather them than me!

More photos of Project City Center after the jump.

These next two pics were taken by Aaron Auxier of VegasCondoScene.com, and show the construction of the new Veer tower.

Veer isn’t your average straight-up kind of tower – as its name suggests, the shape of Veer actually twists as it rises.

It’s one thing seeing artistic renderings of the shape, but seeing the twisting support columns in the flesh, all bent at odd angles, certainly makes for an arresting sight.

[Source: VegasCondoScene, via VegasTodayAndTomorrow, SkyScraper Page]

Not quite. Sandwiched in the middle is a tiny WalGreens drug store (or what we in the UK called Chemist!). Apparently, WalGreens refused to sell their plot of land, and are quite happy running their little store as the western hemisphere’s most expensive privately financed project is built around them.

And who can blame them? There are 8,000 construction workers on Project CityCenter, and they’ll need to get their chapstick and skin cream from somewhere! And when the project’s completed, there’ll be over 7,000 rooms crammed full of guests, providing a captive market right on the their doorstep!

Whatever MGM Mirage offered WalGreen, it couldn’t have matched the long-term profits they can generate from having so many people on their doorstep.

[Source: Destination360]

This photo set, and others in our new Changing Vegas gallery, shows just how quickly the landscape of Vegas changes. The photo on the left was taken in April 2006, and shows The Stardust in all its glory, standing proudly beneath a glorious blue sky. Fast forward a year, and all that’s left is a smouldering heap of rubble – even the sky’s turned grey! The Stardust is no more, but from its ashes will rise the huge new Echelon Place. Another Vegas icon bites the dust, only to be resurrected as another Vegas mega-resort.

More pictures of the changing face of Vegas after the jump.



Perhaps more startling still is this next set of photos, which shows what’s happening around the old Stardust.

The photo on the left was again taken in April 2006, when The Stardust was still very much alive (though not sure if the same could be said for Debbie Reynolds!). The Wynn stands proudly as a shining beacon of modernity, without any neighbours of note, while the world-famous iconic Stardust sign was proudly telling the world that Debbie Reynolds had not, in fact, left the building (though hopefully she did before they imploded it!).

Again, fast forward a year, and The Stardust’s famous sign is now just a battered shell of its former glory, while The Wynn finds itself with new neighbours hastily being constructed, in the form of The Encore at Wynn (in front of The Wynn) and The Palazzo (behind).

Such is the pace of construction around the north end of the Vegas strip, that I’ve no idea what to expect when I return next year. The Palazzo is meant to be finished at the end of 2007 (though some doubt it will make this deadline), while the Encore at Wynn is scheduled to open at the end of 2008.

Meanwhile, the 5,280 room Echelon Place, the new $4 billion mega resort that’s being built on the ashes of The Stardust, isn’t due to open until 2010, but you can bet that this time next year, work will be well underway.

Vegas seems to be a different town every time you go, which can make for an unnerving visit at times, but certainly makes your pics more interesting. Sometimes it’s almost as though you only need to set your camera looking at a building dor a day or two before someone comes along and demolishes it!

You can see more photos of The Stardust before and after its implosion in the Stardust/Echelon Place gallery, which shows the pics above in much bigger format.

All this construction work has been encircling the aged Circus Circus hotel, which already looks a bit shabby, but will soon look as bad as The Frontier does compared to its shiny new neighbours The Wynns.

Any thoughts that Circus Circus would be next on the implosion list are soon quashed, however, as its owners, MGM Mirage, are already spending $7.7 billion on Project CityCenter further south of the strip (between the Monte Carlo and The Bellagio), and not even the mighty MGM Mirage could afford to splash out on two huge multi-billion dollar projects at the same time…

…could they?…

MGM Mirage’s plans for Circus Circus

Well, as it happens, MGM Mirage do have plans for Circus Circus. Back in April, they bought two plots of land surrounding the hotel: a 25.8 acre plot opposite The Sahara for $444 million, and a smaller 7.6 acre plot for $131 million directly opposite the main Circus Circus hotel itself (see map, above, courtesy of ReviewJournal).

Before I continue, just think of those numbers: $131 million for just 7.6 acres! That’s $17 million per acre! Yet this still pales into insignificance compared with El Ad’s purchase of The Frontier, which cost them a staggering $33 million per acre. It’s no wonder the new hotels are being built tall with thousands of rooms and hundreds of condo units in them – it’s the only way they’ll get their money back.

With its latest deals in the bag, MGM Mirage now owns the entire 100 acres of land north from Circus Circus drive (just opposite the main Circus Circus hotel) up to Sahara Avenue. The question now is: what does it plan to do with all that land? Demolish Circus Circus? Not quite.

A new development around Circus Circus

Having committed $7.7 billion to building Project CityCenter, and then splashing out another half a billion on these new land deals, demolishing Circus Circus and building yet another multi-billion dollar project might be a step too far even for the world’s second largest casino operator. Although small compared with some of the leviathans of the strip, Circus Circus is still a huge hotel, with 3,770 rooms. Just the act of imploding it would be hugely expensive, let alone the cost of building a new hotel in its place.

Instead, MGM Mirage President and Chief Financial Officer Jim Murren has said “We intend to do with Circus Circus what we’ve done with the rest of our properties…We’re going to put some money into it and enhance and expand it over time. Circus Circus will be a gateway to our new development, similar to what Monte Carlo is to Project CityCenter.”

Hang on a minute – “new development”?

Yes, MGM Mirage haven’t just bought two strips of land for car parking – they have ideas for the new plots of land – big ideas!

A focus on middle income customers

MGM Mirage plan to demolish the tacky low-rise motel and recreational vehicle park that ajoins Circus Circus, which will free up another 44 acres to add to the new 34 acres they’ve just bought. According to Murren, “This land assemblage creates a very interesting and exciting opportunity for our company to create an integrated resort complex on the north end of the Strip.”

He sees a huge opportunity in mid-range resorts now that other mid-end resorts such as The Stardust and The Frontier have either been imploded, or soon will be. All the other major developments on the north end of the strip are super-luxury hotels, yet middle-income customers still want somewhere to stay on the strip – somewhere much more affordable.

Project CityCenter mark 2

Enter MGM Mirage’s latest plans. Although not yet fully revealed, the company plans to build a new mega-resort of some form on the land, which, according to ReviewJournal, will be similar to, and potentially larger than, Project CityCenter (above), with a newly-refurbished Circus Circus sitting firmly at the head of the new project.

Although no timetable was released for the new project, Murren suggested that work could begin on it before Project CityCenter was completed (currently scheduled for November 2009).

Financing the new development

So just how is MGM Mirage going to afford all this? Well, MGM Mirage is 56% owned by billionaire Kirk Kirkorian (left), and he’s just announced he’s in discussions to personally buy the Bellagio hotel and Project CityCenter from the company.

MGM Mirage would still manage the properties, so it could still manage the brands and the properties themselves, while the extra influx of cash could be used for other developments – namely, Circus Circus and its adjoining land.

All this means that despite spending billions on new projects, MGM Mirage is far from done, and intends to invest yet more billions in even more grand projects. Circus Circus is safe (at least for now), will get a new, and much needed lick of paint, there’ll still be hotels on the strip that mere mortals can afford, and another shiny new multi-billion dollar development is in the pipeline.

The north end of the strip is certainly where the action is right now, and MGM Mirage intends to be right there in the thick of it!

[Source: ReviewJournal, LasVegasSun]

But no matter how crazy you think Vegas is today, just wait until you see what’s coming! Las Vegas is in the middle of a boom, with even more outlandish mega-casinos being built, and tens of billions of dollars being pumped into construction.

Here’s a list of the top 5 Las Vegas mega-casinos that are currently under construction.

5. Las Vegas Montreux

The new Las Vegas Montreux will be a $1.9 billion, 2,750 room hotel and casino complex based on a Swiss theme. To me, a Swiss theme means mountains, but there aren’t any planned for the Montreux, and looking at it, I’m not entirely sure where the Swiss influences are!

What the Montreux will offer, though, is a giant 465-foot observation wheel similar to the London Eye, giving outstanding views across the Las Vegas strip. In addition, the Montreux will feature a 104,000 square foot casino, and a giant shopping mall that links directly to the existing Fashion Show giant shopping mall.

The Fashion Show is already huge. The thought of having two interlinked giant malls next to each other makes the mind boggle. Just how much shopping does one person need to do?!

Located on the site of the old Frontier (which was demolished a while ago), The Montreux will be an upmarket hotel, featuring bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

Given its location immediately opposite the new Wynn Encore and in front of the new Echelon Place (both new mega-casinos currently under construction), it’ll have to be upmarket, though, as a downmarket place in an upmarket neighbourhood is not going to draw the crowds.

The Las Vegas Montreux is expected to open in early 2009.

4. Cosmopolitan Hotel and Resort

Further up the north end of the Las Vegas strip, the new Cosmopolitan Hotel and resort is under construction. Situated next to the famous Bellagio Hotel, the Cosmopolitan will be a $2 billion hotel and casino featuring 3,000 condo units, 800 hotel rooms, a 75,00 square foot casino and over 300,00 square feet of retail space. It will even boast 40,000 square feet for a spa!

The Cosmopolitan will be the last word in luxury, and will boast stunning views of the famous Bellagio fountains. Opening late 2009, the Cosmopolitan has no theme, unlike the Montreux, just sheer exclusivity.

3 . Palazzo

The Palazzo is a new extension of the famous Venetian Hotel, which, as its name suggests, is a replica of many of the famous sites of Venice (complete with Gondliers that meander in and out of the main hotel). I say extension – it’s actually a completely independent building, but as it joins The Venetian at various points, the two buildings together will form the world’s largest hotel, offering 7,074 hotel rooms and suites.

The Palazzo also focuses on luxury (a common theme in the latest Vegas hotels), and will feature a 60 foot glass domed entry lobby, flanked by fountains that reach two-stories high.

Everything about the Palazzo is impressive. Built to the same stunning attention to detail as The Venetian, it will offer;

• 3,025 rooms in its 50-floor hotel tower
• a 105,00 square feet casino that will have room for 1,900 slot machines
• 450,000 sqaure feet of meeting space and convention space
• 375,000 square feet for shops.

Yes, you read that right – on top of the huge amount of retail space offered by the Fashion Show mall and the forthcoming Montreux, plus the existing shops in The Venetian, The Palazzo is adding even more shops to the strip – and that’s not including the huge Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace, and the 1.3 miles of shops at the Miracle Mile mall in the Planet Hollywood hotel opposite the Bellagio.

Las Vegas used to be the place you came to gamble, but now it seems it’s the place to go to shop!

There’s even an underground car park for guests. Unlike other hotels around the world, though, the Pallazo will make sure you’ll be able to find a parking space – it has room for 4,000 cars, all beneath the building!

The Palazzo is costing $1.8 billion, and its construction is currently well under way, as you can see from the pics above (the photo immediately above shows the Palazzo to the left, with the steaming heap of rubble at the bottom being the old Stardust that’s about to become the new Echelon Place – see below).

The grand opening is expected to be late 2007, early 2008.

2. Echelon Place

Now we start moving up the scale a bit, with the new Echelon Place. Situated on the site of the old Stardust Hotel, which was imploded in early 2007, Echelon Place is vast. Costing $4 billion, Echelon Place will feature a series of 5 distinct hotels, offering 5,280 rooms over 87 acres of land.

Echelon Place will feature the following:

• a main hotel (the Echelon Place Hotel), comprising 2,600 rooms;
• the 700 room Echelon Place suites tower;
• the 1,000 room Mondrian Hotel;
• the 600 room Delano Hotel;
• the Shangri-La Hotel, offering 400 rooms.
• the third largest casino in Las Vegas (a whopping 140,000 square feet)
• two theatres (one with 4,000 seats)
• a 750,000 square feet convention centre
• and, yes, 350,000 square feet of shopping space.

Where do they find all the shops to fill these massive shopping malls that are seemingly springing up at every new hotel?

If none of that takes your fancy, it’ll also offer over 30 restaurants and bars.

Echelon Place is the most interesting new hotel for me, as it’s right next to Circus Circus, which is where I normally stay whenever I’m in Vegas. The great thing about Circus Circus is, it’s cheap, with big rooms costing from just $36 a night. The bad about Circus Circus, though, is it’s cheap, and you certainly don’t want to hang around any of its bars for entertainment!

The closest hotel for decent entertainment is Treasure Island, but that’s a good 20 minute walk away. With Echelon Place opening in 2010, I’ll soon have 30 bars and restaurants right on my doorstep! Excellent news for the budget-minded Vegas traveller!

1. Project CityCenter at Las Vegas

Naturally, I’ve saved the best until last. If you’re blown away by the billions being spent on the hotels I’ve just mentioned (and remember, these hotels and casinos are all currently under construction – they’re not just a designer’s pipe-dream), wait until you hear about Project CityCenter.

The brainchild of the giant MGM Mirage Group (who, incidentally and rather oddly, also own Circus Circus) , CityCenter aims to be a complete city center in one enormous complex of hotels, casinos, shops, condos, entertainment venues, parks and rooftop gardens. It’s so big, it even features it’s own power station and firestation!

Situated on the site of the old Boardwalk, opposite the Planet Hollywood hotel (the old Aladdin), CityCenter will contain over 7,000 hotel rooms across 5 separate buildings, the largest of which, the 4,000 room CityCenter resort and casino, will tower some 60 stories high. It will also offer a 165,000 square foot casino, a 70,000 square-foot spa, 2,000 seat theatre, and, yes, some shopping.

Obviously shopping – it’s what Vegas is becoming famous for – but on a scale unlike anything you’ve seen before. CityCenter will offer over half a million square feet of shopping space!

And don’t worry about not being able to find a parking space. If you thought The Pallazo’s 4,000 space car park was impressive, CityCenter will offer 7,500 spaces! No wonder the main strip is a nightmare to drive through at peak times.

Each part of CityCenter has been designed by some of the world’s top architects, including Rafael Viñoly, Lord Norman Foster, James Cheng, Art Gensler, Cesar Pelli and Kohn Pedersen Fox. As you can see form the conceptual designs, there will be a mix of the usual towers, and some stunning new building designs that will be enhanced by light shows projected onto the buildings themselves.

And the cost of all this contruction? A whopping $7.7 billion! CityCenter is the largest privately-owned construction site in the western hemisphere, and will have 8,000 construction workers and 39 cranes in operation at its peak. It will also employ 12,000 members of staff, and have 900,000 square feet reserved just for back room use.

The first phase of CityCenter is expected to open in 2009.

Summary

So there you have it. Five of the most impressive new mega-casinos currently being in Las Vegas, and all due to open in the next three years.

But don’t think that’s all that’s going on in Las Vegas at the moment. I didn’t get a chance to mention the new $1.8 billion Wynn Encore that’s being built next to the Wynn, or the 63-storey $2.8 billion Fontainebleau being built opposite Circus Circus (yet more places to go close to my regular hotel!).

And that’s just the buildings that are under construction. Already there are plans for a 1,888 feet Las Vegas Tower that will cost $5 billion, and a London-themed mega-casino based on Harrods of London (which might, I guess, offer some shopping space, because if there’s one thing Vegas needs right now, it’s more shops!).

I’ll write about these other new projects (and there are still many more I haven’t listed) in later posts, so checking back for more details on these amazing new mega-casinos and hotels.

Las Vegas is in the middle of a transformation right now, the likes of which even this insane city has never seen before. If you’ve never been to Vegas, you have to go, as there’s no other place on Earth like it. Go now, and then again in 2010, and compare and contrast the two, as Vegas in just 3 years time will be utterly transformed.

(Note: This post is taking part in Darren Rowse’s latest Group Writing Project over at ProBlogger.net.)

[VegasTodayAndTomorrow, Wikipedia, Wired]